Former AG elected president of European court chamber

Former Attorney General Anthony Borg Barthet was yesterday elected to preside over one of the six chambers of the European Court of Justice.

Judge Borg Barthet has been serving as a judge at this court since Malta's accession to the EU. The court meets very rarely in plenary formation and most of the work is done by the individual chambers consisting of three to five judges each.

Judge Borg Barthet was elected to preside over the sixth chamber consisting of three judges and is the only judge from a new member state to occupy such a post.

Contacted by The Times in Luxembourg following his election, Judge Borg Barthet said he felt "very honoured and also a bit apprehensive as this appointment will involve more work coordinating the functioning of the chamber and that of all other members of the court".

Judge Borg Barthet was born in 1947 and graduated in law at the Royal University of Malta in 1973. Prior to his appointment as judge at the Court of Justice he served as Attorney General since 1989. He also used to lecture civil law at the University of Malta.

The Court of Justice of the European Communities is made up of 25 judges and eight advocates-general. They are appointed by common accord of the governments of the member states and hold office for a renewable term of six years. It is the responsibility of the Court of Justice to ensure that the law is observed in the interpretation and application of the treaties establishing the European Communities and of the provisions laid down by the competent Community institutions.