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Malta’s accession into the European Union arrives with new appointments for Maltese nationals who will start performing their duties within the European institutions following their nomination by the Government of Malta and their formal approval by the Council of the European Union.
Former Foreign Minister Joe Borg is Malta’s Commissioner-designate to the European Union, and will be a formal member of the European Commission as of 5 May, 2004. Since starting work alongside Development and Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Poul Nielsen, Borg had to face ‘the grilling’, an intensive interview by MEPs on his portfolio, in which however Borg failed to impress. Prodi’s term soon coming to an end, a new European Commission will be appointed shortly by the European Parliament in November 2004.
As a consequence of Malta’s accession to the EU, with effect from 1 May 2004 the Mission of Malta to the European Union will become the Permanent Representation of Malta to the European Union. The Permanent Representation will be headed by HE Mr Richard Cachia-Caruana, Permanent Representative of Malta to the EU.
Cachia-Caruana, 49, had been personal assistant to Eddie Fenech Adami ever since 1987, eventually becoming head of the secretariat in 1998. Cachia-Caruana was also Malta’s chief negotiator for Malta’s EU accession negotiations. He served as campaign manager for the Nationalist Party in the 1981 and 1987 elections.
Judges
Attorney General Anthony Borg Barthet, 57, is Malta’s choice for judge at the Court of Justice of the European Communities in Luxembourg with effect of 1 May 2004 following the formal approval of his nomination by the Council of the European Union on 23 April 2004. Anthony Borg Barthet’s term shall expire on 6 October 2006. Borg Barthet held the post of Attorney General since 1989.
He will be joined by Dr Ena Cremona who will become a judge of the Court of First Instance of the European Communities with effect of 1 May 2004 following the formal approval of her nomination by the Council of the European Union on 23 April 2004. Cremona’s term shall expire on 31 August 2007. Cremona, 68, has been in practice at the Malta Bar since 1959, pleading before various Courts and Tribunals in areas of legislation such as social security, planning and environment.
European Court of Auditors
Former Economic Services Minister Prof Josef Bonnici, 51, will become a member of the European Court of Auditors with effect of 1 May 2004 following the formal approval of his nomination by the Council of the European Union on 5 May 2004. Bonnici was elected to Parliament in 1992 for the Nationalist Part. He will serve a six-year term. Bonnici is also a lecturer in macroeconomics and monetary economics at the University of Malta.
Mr Vincent Grech, Director General at the Ministry of Finance has been nominated by the Government of Malta as Member of the Board of Directors of the European Investment Bank which will become effective with the formal appointment by the Bank's Board of Governors as from 5 May 2004. Mr Grech will hold office for a period of 5 years.
Civil society
The European Economic and Social Committee will be welcoming a wide array of representatives from the Maltese social partners. These are: Mr Edwin Calleja, Secretary General of the Federation of Industries (FOI), Ms Sylvia Sciberras, Honorary Assistant Secretary within the Malta Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprise (GRTU), Mr Michael Parnis, Deputy Secretary General (Education & International Affairs) of the General Workers’ Union (GWU), Ms Anna Maria Darmanin, Chairperson of the Salvino Spiteri Foundation, Union Haddiema Maqghudin (UHM) and Ms Grace Attard, President of the National Council of Women. Their term shall expire in September 2006.
Dr Ian Micallef, Councillor in the Gzira Local Council, Mr. Michael Cohen, Mayor of the Kalkara Local Council, Ms Doris Borg, Mayor of the Birkirkara Local Council, Ms Antonia Farrugia, Coucillor in the Mellieha Local Council and Mr Noel Formosa, Mayor of the San Lawrenz Local Council shall become members of the Committee of the Regions with effect of 1 May 2004 following the formal approval of their nominations by the Council of the European Union on 11 May 2004.
Each member of the Committee is appointed an alternate whose approval is also scheduled for 11 May 2004 by the Council of the European Union. These are: Dr Malcolm Mifsud, Mayor of the Pieta’ Local Council, Mr Keith Grech, Councillor in the St. Paul’s Bay Local Council, Mr Joseph Borg, Councillor in the Mellieha Local Council, Ms Joan Agius, Deputy Mayor of the Zejtun Local Council and Mr Paul Buttigieg, Mayor of the Qala Local Council. Their term shall expire on 25 January 2006.
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