Andria Buhagiar appointed judge at EU General Court

The Office of the State Advocate has announced that Deputy State Advocate Andria Buhagiar has been appointed judge at the General Court of the European Union.

Buhagiar has served as deputy state advocate since 8 January 2020, having previously worked as a senior lawyer within the Office of the Attorney General.

Throughout her career, she has advised government and public bodies on a wide range of matters relating to Malta’s obligations under EU law, including the transposition and implementation of EU directives and regulations. She has also contributed to a significant number of legal drafting projects.

Buhagiar has also served as an agent for Malta before the Court of Justice of the European Union, representing the government in a number of proceedings, as well as in various EU and international fora.

Earlier in her career, she worked as a legal officer at the Office for Fair Competition within the former Consumer and Competition Division, where she handled cases concerning Maltese and EU competition law.

She holds a Doctor of Laws degree and a Magister Juris in European Union and Comparative Law from the University of Malta.

Buhagiar has also lectured at the University of Malta and supervised theses on various aspects of EU law.

She previously served as a member of the Committee for Advocates and Legal Procurators, which assesses whether applicants are fit and proper to be granted warrants to practise as advocates or legal procurators in Malta. The committee also investigates potential ethical breaches and may impose penalties.

The General Court is one of the two courts that make up the Court of Justice of the European Union. It is composed of 54 judges, with two appointed from each EU member state for renewable six-year terms.

It mainly hears cases brought by individuals, companies and member states challenging decisions by EU institutions and bodies. Its work includes disputes involving state aid and trade, intellectual property appeals, EU employment cases and claims for damages arising from unlawful conduct by EU institutions.

Since 2024, the General Court has also been able to give preliminary rulings on certain questions referred by national courts concerning the interpretation or validity of EU law. These rulings assist national courts in determining how EU law applies before they deliver their final judgments.

State Advocate Christopher Soler congratulated Buhagiar on her appointment and thanked her for her years of service to the Republic of Malta, while wishing her continued success in her new role.