Special committee in Luxembourg rejects Lithuania's candidate to EU General Court

VILNIUS – 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 unfavorable opinion on Tomas Davulis' candidacy," Government Chancellor Giedre Balcytyte told BNS on Tuesday without providing the reasons why the candidate was rejected as she has not gotten acquainted with all received information.

Davulis is already Lithuania's second rejected candidate after the same committee rejected Gediminas Mesonis, then a justice of the Constitutional Court, in January, 2019.

Davulis was nominated by the Lithuanian government after a special selection procedure, having been pre-approved by the Seimas and President Gitanas Nauseda.

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 of Lithuania, appointed in 2019, and also Virgilijus Valancius whose term expired in October, 2021. The latter continues to work amid disagreements over his replacement.

The EU's General Court mainly hears cases involving complaints related to Eu legislation, including states' lawsuits against the European Commission. Judges at this court are appointed for a six-year term.