François Biltgen to become EU judge

(CS) Luxembourg's former Justice Minister François Biltgen will be sworn in as a judge at the European Court of Justice next Monday.

In June Biltgen had passed a hearing with a court expert commission, paving the way for his official appointment as judge.

Biltgen's mandate will run until 2015, with the possibility to extend it for six more years. Biltgen will be replacing Jean-Jacques Kassel, who is stepping down from his post due to illness.

Before he resigned from all political offices earlier this year, Biltgen held several ministerial posts including Minister of Justice, Media and Communications, Higher Education and Research, Public Service and Administrative Reform, and Religious Affairs.

Culture Minister Octavie Modert took on the post of Minister of Justice and Minister of Public Service and Administrative Reform. Finance Minister Luc Frieden added Minister of Media and Communications to his portfolio.

Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker meanwhile became the new Minister of Religious Affairs and a new minister, Martine Hansen, was appointed as Minister of Higher Education and Research.