Virgilijus Valančius
Senior international expert of the component “Support to EU Integration Process in the Justice Sector” of the EU Project “Pravo-Justice”. Mr. Virgilijus Valančius graduated in law at the Vilniaus universitetas (Vilnius University, Lithuania) in 1986 and obtained a doctorate in law at the Mykolo Romerio universitetas (Mykolas Romeris University, Lithuania) in 2000. He submitted his application for a habilitation degree in 2008 to the Mykolo Romerio universitetas, which awarded him that qualification in 2008. In 1986, Mr Valančius began his professional career as Public Prosecutor, a position he held until 1990. From 1991 to 1994, he subsequently joined the judiciary in his native country as a judge, and then, from 1993 to 1994, as Vice-President of the Vilniaus miesto apylinkės teismas (Vilnius City District Court, Lithuania). Between 1995 and 2002, he was appointed as a judge at the Lietuvos apeliacinis teismas (Court of Appeal of Lithuania), he also chaired the Civil Chamber of that court. From 2002 to 2013, he was a judge at the Lietuvos vyriausiasis administracinis teismas (Supreme Administrative Court of Lithuania), of which he was President between 2002 and 2008. Since 1997, Mr Valančius has also devoted himself to teaching as a lecturer at the Vilniaus universitetas. In addition, he taught at the Mykolo Romerio universitetas as a lecturer from 1998 to 2000, then as Associate Professor from 2000 to 2008. Between 2002 and 2006, he served as Head of the Civil Procedure Department, and has been appointed as Professor since 2008. From 2006 to 2008, he was President of the European Association of Judges (EAJ) and held the office of Vice-President of the International Association of Judges (IAJ) from 2006 to 2014. He was also a member of the Consultative Council of European Judges (CCJE) from 2000 to 2014, and held that position at the Board of the Association of the Councils of State and Supreme Administrative Jurisdictions of the European Union (ACA-Europe) from 2010 to 2013. In addition, he was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Academy of European Law (ERA) between 2008 and 2011. Judge at the General Court from 13 April 2016 to 27 September 2023.