A special evaluation committee in Luxembourg has rejected Tomas Davulis, dean of Vilnius University’s Faculty of Law, as Lithuania’s candidate to the General Court of the European Union.
“We have received information that the committee is giving an unfavourable opinion on Tomas Davulis’ candidacy,” Government Chancellor Giedrė Balčytytė told BNS on Tuesday.
She would not comment on the reasons why the candidate was rejected.
Davulis is the second candidate nominated by Lithuania that has been rejected by the committee. In January 2019, it blocked the candidacy of Gediminas Mesonis, then a judge of the Constitutional Court.
Davulis was nominated by the Lithuanian government after a special selection procedure, having been pre-approved by the parliament and President Gitanas Nausėda.
Introducing himself to Lithuanian lawmakers, Davulis spoke about his interest in EU law since his studies, pointing out to a close link of his academic work and professional ties with EU law.
Currently, the EU General Court has two judges from Lithuania – Rimvydas Norkus, a former judge of Lithuania’s Supreme Court appointed in 2019, and Virgilijus Valančius whose term expired in October 2021. The latter continues to work amid disagreements over his replacement.
The EU’s General Court mainly hears complaints related to EU legislation, including member states’ lawsuits against the European Commission. Judges at this court are appointed for a six-year term.
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