To make the selection process public and transparent, the ministry published the names of the candidates for the first time. They include Tadas Antanaitis, Darijus Beinoravicius, Tomas Davulis, Lyra Jakuleviciene, Saulius Lukas Kaleda, Mazvydas Michalauskas, Virgilijus Valancius and Lijana Visokaviciene.
According to the ministry, the candidates will now be assessed by a special working group, and the best candidates will be nominated for the government's approval. If approved, the parliament will be consulted on the specific candidate who will also need the president's approval. Eventually, Lithuania's selected candidate will be evaluated by a special committee formed under EU law.
Preliminary, Lithuania's proposed candidate would assume the new position in the second half of this year.
Two judges represent EU member states at the General Court.
Lithuania is currently represented at the General Court by Rimvydas Norkus, a former Supreme Court judge appointed to the EU court last year, and Virgilijus Valancius. The latter's term of office ended in October 2019, but he is staying on until a new candidate has been approved.
Last October, the then Prosecutor General Evaldas Pasilis was nominated for the position but was eventually rejected by President Gitanas Nauseda. Earlier, Nauseda refused to back Valancius for a second term, and the Luxembourg-based assessment committee rejected the then Constitutional Court Justice Gediminas Mesonis for the position.
The General Court deals with cases lodged by individuals, businesses or organizations against acts by EU institutions and bodies, cases filed by EU countries against certain decisions of the European Commission or the Council, and other cases.