The European Court of Justice ruled the resignation of former EU health commissioner John Dalli over allegedly improper contacts with the tobacco industry was not coerced and rejected his compensation claim, the BBC said.

Dalli resigned in 2012 after the EU fraud agency Olaf issued a report stating he had held unauthorized meetings with tobacco industry representatives and that a close acquaintance solicited money from Swedish Match by promising the commissioner would work to lift the EU snus ban. Dalli denied knowledge of the approach and later filed suit saying he was forced out of office by former EU Commission chief Manuel Barroso.