Justice Minister Owen Bonnici has expressed his “full confidence” in Chief Justice Silvio Camilleri, a day after it became known that he had failed to secure a position at the European Court of Justice.

Chief Justice Camilleri failed the screening process and the government nominated Peter Xuereb, head of European law at the University, instead.

The news that the government’s first choice had not made it to the Luxembourg-based court was communicated to members of the judiciary at a meeting with the Chief Justice on Wednesday.

Minister Bonnici said Dr Camilleri had not satisfied the criteria for the post. The objection, he said, was over his level of expertise in European law and not over his experience or integrity.

But answering questions by the Times of Malta yesterday, Minister Bonnici refused to comment on whether he was concerned that Malta’s Chief Justice was not conversant with European law. “I have nothing more to add,” Dr Bonnici said curtly, as he stressed that he had full confidence in Dr Camilleri.

Sources close to the legal profession told this newspaper that Dr Camilleri’s failure to make it to Europe derailed the government’s plans on his replacement. The sources said the government had earmarked Attorney General Peter Grech as a possible candidate for the bench, possibly as chief justice.

This would have made it possible for the government to appoint an attorney general of its own choice.

Dr Grech was appointed to the post in September 2010, replacing Dr Camilleri when he was promoted to chief justice.