Brussels-based expert appointed director-general of Rural Affairs

Martin Bugelli, who for the past two years has been representing the Ministry of Rural Affairs and the Environment at EU council level in Brussels, has been appointed director-general responsible for rural affairs and head of the paying agency responsible for all the payments of EU funds to the agricultural sector.

In Brussels, Mr Bugelli has been Malta's technical attaché responsible for the agriculture acquis at the Permanent Representation to the EU and has represented Malta in many EU fora, including EU Agriculture and Fisheries Councils and World Trade Organisation meetings.

Mr Bugelli joined the civil service in 1981 and held many responsibilities, particularly in the area of public affairs. During his career Mr Bugelli served at the Department of Information and the Ministry of Education and was also President Ugo Mifsud Bonnici's public relations officer. For a number of years Mr Bugelli was also personal assistant to the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.

Married, with three children, Mr Bugelli holds also a Master's in mass communications from the University of Leicester. He will be taking over his new responsibilities on August 1.