The candidacies of I. Jarukatis and R. Norkaus for positions at the EU Court of Justice were presented to the Seimas

Irmantas Jarukaitis is proposed for another term as a judge of this court, the judge of the EU General Court Rimvydas Norkus is proposed for the General Advocates of the CJEU.

As reported by the Seimas, according to the procedures, all three institutions participate in this process – the Government, the President, and the Seimas. After the latter approves the candidacies, the Government takes the final decision and submits it to the institutions of the European Union.

“For the past 27 years, I have been working with EU law in very different positions, both combining national law with EU law, and after 2004 representing the Government of Lithuania in EU courts. I had to work in the European Commission, since 2010 I have worked in the Supreme Administrative Court of Lithuania (the work was directly related to EU law),” said I. Jarukaitis while presenting to the members of the Seimas.

He said that he has 19 years of teaching experience, and his scientific activities are also related to EU law. I. Jarukaitis has been working as a judge of the ECJ for the past five and a half years.

The applicant in the selection was the only one who overcame the barrier of the established requirements.

According to established practice, in order to enter the ECJ, at least 20 years of experience in high positions and knowledge of the French language are required. According to the lawyer, the biggest problem is the French language, because 98 percent students today learn English, and the working language at court is French.

R. Norkus, who is running for the position of the general advocate of the EU Court of Justice, admitted that this position is unknown in Lithuania, because there is no general advocate in the country’s courts.

According to the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, the Advocate General is a member of the Court of Justice, and he provides an impartial and independent opinion in public hearings on cases in which he is required to participate according to the Statute of the Court of Justice.

“The task of the Advocate General is to help the Court of Justice to make a decision, to reveal the wider context of the case, to present various options for the interpretation of the law and, of course, to propose a solution that best meets the EU’s long-term goals, that is to promote peace, to promote its values ​​and the well-being of its people”, – said R. Norkus.

The lawyer said that he is ready to contribute to the legal strengthening of the EU.

The Court of Justice consists of one judge from each EU country and 11 advocates general. They are appointed for a term of six years with the right to appoint them for another term.

Judges and advocates-general are selected from persons whose independence is beyond doubt and who meet the requirements of their respective country for the highest judicial office, or who are legal specialists of recognized competence.

The candidacies will be further considered by the committees of the Seimas, the final vote on them is planned for Thursday.