Chief Justice Silvio Camilleri has failed the screening process to sit on the European Court of Justice, Times of Malta has learnt.

The government confirmed that Mr Justice Camilleri did not satisfy the requirements to serve as a European Court judge because of the level of expertise needed in European law. He was praised for his integrity and experience.

The government said it is nominating Prof Peter Xuereb instead. Prof Xuereb is head of the Department of European and Comparative Law at the University.

The screening, which is part of the selection process, consists of an oral interview and a written examination. It is not yet known which of the two Dr Camilleri had failed.

Dr Camilleri had applied for the post to the General Court, which used to be known as the Court of First Instance in the European Court of Justice. It is based in Luxembourg.

Malta's current judge on the General Court is Eugene Buttigieg, who succeeded Ena Cremona, who retired five years ago. 

Dr Camilleri graduated as a lawyer in 1975. He served as attorney general and was appointed chief justice in 2010 succeeding Vincent de Gaetano who was nominated to the European Court of Human Rights.

When contacted, Mr Justice Camilleri would not confirm or deny whether he had been rejected for the post.

He simply said that “the government will be issuing a statement on the subject. I suggest you await that statement.”