• March 28, 2024

Dalli wants resignation request annulled

The former EU health commissioner, John Dalli, wants the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in Luxembourg to annul a request by Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso that Dalli resign over allegations that he had held secret meetings with Swedish Match, according to an EUObserver story.

Dalli wants the commission to pay a symbolic €1 in damages for the “nonfinancial” harm he has suffered, and compensation for his loss of earnings as a commissioner.

Dalli left office in 2012 amid allegations of solicited bribes, allegations that he has always strenuously denied.

Barroso is due to appear at the ECJ today to answer judges’ questions as a witness, before lawyers from both sides present their arguments tomorrow.

Barroso’s head of cabinet, Johannes Laitenberger, is also expected to be in Luxembourg, as is the head of the commission’s legal services, Luis Romero Requena.

Dalli’s former head of cabinet, Joanna Darmanin, and former spokesperson, Frederic Vincent, are also due to attend.