Introduction: A Tribute to Jean-Claude Piris, Director-General of the Legal Service of the Council of the European Union

On the occasion of his retirement, the Fordham International Law Journal is dedicating this issue on topics concerning European Union law to Jean-Claude Piris, who brilliantly served as Director-General of the Legal Service of the Council for the last twenty-three years. The Legal Service, currently composed of around 120 lawyers, not only provides legal advice to the Council itself and all of its supporting committees and staff, but also reviews all draft legislation and other legal acts of the European Union and represents the Council in proceedings before the Court of Justice of the European Union.