17 Apply to Sit as Judges at European General Court

Seventeen candidates have submitted documentation for the national selection process aimed at appointing two new judges to the General Court of the European Union. According to the Justice Ministry’s press center on Monday, the application deadline concluded on April 24. The pool of candidates includes a mix of legal professionals, comprising lawyers, judges, and law professors.

Among the applicants are current employees of the European Commission and the European Parliament, as well as legal assistants from the Court of Justice of the EU. The Justice Ministry’s website has published the complete roster of candidates. Minister Andrey Yankulov stated that this represents the initial phase of the selection procedure.

A specialized selection committee will be formed to manage the process. This committee will comprise experts in EU law and proficient in French, nominated by the nation’s law faculties, the presidents of the supreme courts, and the Supreme Bar Council. The composition will further include two sitting judges and an academic scholar specializing in EU law.

Subsequent steps involve assessing the candidates’ eligibility, holding public hearings for those who qualify, conducting evaluations, ranking, and finally, the committee announcing its selections. These nominees will then be presented to the Council of Ministers for approval, a process scheduled for after the caretaker government’s term ends. The General Court, which comprises 54 judges (two from each Member State), is a constituent court of the Court of Justice of the European Union.

It handles actions brought by individuals and member states challenging acts of EU bodies, alongside cases initiated by Member States against the European Commission. The court also addresses preliminary references concerning VAT, customs duties, and passenger compensation.

Topics: #european #judges #court