Barroso in Malta on Wednesday

The president designate of the European Commission, José Manuel Durao Barroso will pay a short visit to Malta on Wednesday.

This will be his first visit to the island.

A spokesman for Mr Barroso told The Times the visit forms part of a series of discussions the president designate is having with leaders of the EU's member states prior to concluding his work programme for the next Commission's five-year term starting in November.

The spokesman said Mr Barroso will be meeting Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi to hear his views on what Malta expected of the new European Commission.

Next week, Mr Barroso will be holding talks with four different European leaders. Apart from meeting Dr Gonzi, Mr Barroso will be receiving the Czech Prime Minister on Tuesday. He will meet Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on Thursday in Rome and then he flies to Madrid on Friday to meet Spanish Prime Minister José Louis Rodrigez Zapatero.

Mr Barroso's spokesman said that during the past weeks Mr Barroso has already met various other heads of government. She said all of them expressed their views on what political goals they would like the Commission to work for during the next term of office.

Mr Barroso's visit to Malta will coincide with a very significant day for the European Union - on Wednesday the outgoing Commission is expected to unveil its progress report on Turkey and announce its recommendations regarding the opening of accession negotiations with the country.

Mr Barroso's visit to Malta will also be held just one day after the hearing of Maltese Commissioner Joe Borg before the fisheries committee of the European Parliament.