Maltese candidates vie to head EU office in Malta

A Maltese citizen is to become the European Commission's top representative in Malta, a post formerly occupied by Ronald Gallimore.

As ambassador, Mr Gallimore was the face of the EU during the charged political period before the EU referendum and the following election. He retired from the EU's civil service in December.

Now, for the first time, his post will be occupied by a Maltese citizen who will head the EU's representation office. The post is currently vacant, with a Commission official temporarily in charge.

Upon Malta's membership, the EU delegation ceased its operations and was technically transformed into a representation office. This was because, with Malta now part of the EU, there is no longer the need for an embassy on "home territory".

Sources close to the Commission told The Times that the process of selecting the representative was coming to a close. A few weeks ago, a shortlist was drawn up from among more than 30 applications received by the Commission following a public call.

The nine selected candidates were last week flown to Brussels to be interviewed in what the sources described as a "grilling".

The sources said the Commission's short list is composed of the current head of the protocol section of the Foreign Office, Charles Inguanes, ambassadors Saviour Falzon and Joseph Licari, ex-Iva Movement president Joanna Drake, MLP candidate Robert Micallef, the current head of MIC Carmel Attard, university professors Edward Scicluna and Henry Frendo and TV personality Marie Briguglio.

Whoever is chosen will be offered a three-year contract and a handsome financial package.

The main responsibility of the representation is to serve as a natural point of contact and exchange between the Commission and the Maltese authorities. It will promote economic, political and cultural cooperation between the EU and Malta and maintain close contacts with government departments, the House of Representatives, political parties, local councils, schools and university, as well as an extensive range of corporate bodies, associations and the media.