Nicola Catalano (1910-1984) : eurolawyer extraordinaire

Abstract

Over the last seventy years, ‘Eurolawyers’, i.e. jurists with a particular expertise in Community law, have contributed to the European integration process in different capacities, e.g. as treaty drafters, members of the ECJ, legal advisors to the European institutions, private lawyers, pro-European activists, legal scholars, etc. Nicola Catalano, however, is rather unique in that has served in all of those capacities and can thus be regarded as a ‘Eurolawyer extraordinaire’. This paper outlines his biography and seeks to assess his contribution to the European integration process, notably in three areas: the autonomy of Community law, the primacy of Community law, and the EEC preliminary ruling procedure.