Dalli seeking €1.9 million in damages

The former EU health commissioner, John Dalli, is seeking €1.9 million in material damages from the EU after what he alleges was his forced resignation from the European Commission in October 2012, according to a story in the Times of Malta.

Up until his resignation, Dalli was responsible for the new Tobacco Products Directive, which governs the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the member states concerning the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco and related products. The new TPD entered into force on May 20 and member states are required to bring into force by May 20, 2016, the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with the directive.

The €1.9 million figure emerged from a report by the rapporteur for the judges’ panel, which is hearing a claim for unfair dismissal filed by Dalli at the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg.

It had been reported previously that Dalli was seeking only symbolic damages of €1. The report to the Panel of Judges did not explain how Dalli had reached the €1.9 million figure.