For me, it is a real pleasure to present Dr. Anthi Beka's monograph devoted to The Active Role of Courts in Consumer Litigation – Applying EU Law of the National Courts ‘ Own Motion, as it was a pleasure for me to supervize her doctoral research during her four years at the University of Luxembourg. The book, published today, is a revised version of her PhD thesis which revealed her outstanding research qualities. It was presented to, and discussed, by a prestigious European committee composed of: Prof. Dr. Vassilios Skouris, then-President of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU); Prof. Dr. Norbert Reich, University of Bremen, who is considered the father of German consumer law; Prof. Dr. Eleftheria Neframi, University of Luxembourg, a renowned expert on EU law; Prof. Dr. Christian Twigg-Flesner, University of Warwick, a consultant on the UK's Consumer Rights Act; and Dr. José Mar í a Fern á ndez Seijo, Judge at the Commercial Court of Appeal, Barcelona, who made the very first CJEU reference for preliminary ruling on the matter of the role of the courts in consumer proceedings, followed by other such important requests in connection with Spanish consumer law. Since then, Dr. Anthi Beka has worked as a legal administrator in the chambers of a Member of the Court of Justice. Dr. Beka did not, however, abandon the world of legal research as confirmed by her most recent publications.”

Her monograph on the“ Active Role of Courts in Consumer Litigation” is more evidence of the excellence of her scientific production. It transforms a young researcher's work, already quite remarkable by reason of its scientific quality, into a mature work that describes, analyzes and provides a critical appraisal of the complexity of the relationship which exists between national legal orders and the EU legal framework. Beyond the extremely valuable contribution of Dr. Beka's study to the doctrine of active courts in consumer litigation, her book brings to light the very essence of the relationship which exists between judges – whether they operate at a national level or at a regional level – and citizens. It is more than a legal study; it is a social study. It is the narrative of human and judicial bondage.