Malta's third candidate for EU Court judge rejected by expert panel
David Ciliberti followed Edward Zammit Lewis and Veronique Dalli
Malta’s candidate for the European Court has again been rejected, Times of Malta can confirm.
David Ciliberti, a lawyer who has worked in EU institutions since 2008, was the third Maltese candidate to be rejected for the position in the General Court of the European Union.
Former justice minister Edward Zammit Lewis was the government’s first choice, followed by lawyer Veronique Dalli.
That means that Malta still has no successor for Judge Ramona Frendo, who has moved up to the European Court of Justice.
"I can confirm that the Panel did not endorse my nomination to the General Court. While my experience in EU law and within EU institutions was acknowledged, the Panel concluded that I have not yet developed, at this stage, the technical specificity required for the role," Ciliberti told Times of Malta.
Several Member States have faced similar outcomes, Slovakia, for instance, had five subsequent nominations rejected; Slovenia, Lithuania, Italy, and the Netherlands also had nominees who were not endorsed, some with significant institutional credentials, he pointed out.
Edward Zammit Lewis’s nomination was rejected in December. The Nationalist Party had criticised that nomination, saying it was patently clear that Zammit Lewis was unsuited because of his roles in Muscat-led governments and closeness to Yorgen Fenech.
Veronique Dalli, Minister Miriam Dalli’s sister, was the next nominee, but she withdrew her nomination to the General Court, claiming the interview panel led a process that felt “pre-determined”.
The expert EU panel is tasked with providing a negative or positive recommendation, but the final decision rests with the EU’s Council of Justice and Home Affairs Ministers. That decision must be unanimous.
Unlike Zammit Lewis and Dalli, Ciliberti has built his career in the EU. He currently works as a legislative officer in the European Commission, in the Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers.
Before that, Ciliberti worked as Justice and Home Affairs Ministry attaché at the Maltese Representation to the EU.
On Sunday, lawyer Jason Azzopardi said on social media that the Justice Ministry should comment on Malta’s third rejection.
“It would be appropriate and in the public interest for the Justice Minister to tell us whether it’s true that the third person he nominated as judge to the European Court of Justice also failed the scrutiny process in Luxembourg. PS: I already know the answer — the third nomination was also rejected. So why were you afraid to tell us, Minister? Those who have something to hide, hide...,” he said.