Nationalist MEP Simon Busuttil has emerged as the hardest-working Maltese EU parliamentarian in an exercise carried out by The Sunday Times.

The 40-year-old lawyer fielded the highest number of parliamentary questions, motions, report amendments, and made the largest number of interventions in plenary (see above table).

The figures were derived from a number of sources, including the European Parliament official website, parlorama.eu, and votewatch.eu.

Dr Busuttil's work was also more focused on Malta's interests, particularly as he championed the island's illegal immigration cause.

The Labour Party's head of delegation Louis Grech also made his mark, particularly as he steered the EU's budget in 2006 through the EP's bureaucratic process.

Nationalist MEP David Casa heads with the attendance record during plenary sessions.

It is evident that Labour's performance was hampered by the fact that Joseph Muscat, a very active MEP in his four-year stint, resigned to take over as party leader. Dr Muscat had been given various important tasks including drawing up a report on mobile roaming and consumers.

Since his election last October, Dr Muscat's successor, Glenn Bedingfield, has had little time to adapt to his new role and his impact has therefore been minimal.

Former Labour Minister John Attard Montalto concentrated mainly on foreign affairs, which means his work had limited or almost no impact on Malta.

His record where it comes to the nitty-gritty of parliamentary business, such as acting as rapporteur or submitting amendments to draft laws, is poor. But he made 78 written interventions during the past five years, the highest of the Maltese contingent.

Committee work, which plays a very important part in an MEP's job, was not taken into consideration in this research as no such statistics exist. However, the table below clearly distinguishes one's MEP achievements from another.

How they fared

John Attard Montalto (PES/PL)

His performance record in the European Parliament is negative. Although he tops the 'written interventions' section, this is proof of his absence. MEPs normally submit their speeches in writing as an alternative to not securing speaking time by lobbying their own group.

Although Dr Attard Montalto started well in his early MEP days, winning speaking time from his colleagues on many occasions, he has changed tack and chose to submit almost all his speeches in writing over the past three years.

The Żebbuġ lawyer was almost totally absent when it came to other important parliamentary work. He was never appointed a rapporteur and has never drafted an opinion. The only significant benefit of his work in Maltese quarters was his defence of hunting in front of the Petitions Committee of the EP.

Dr Attard Montalto, however, participated actively in the EP's foreign contacts and has travelled around the world with various MEP delegations. He formed part of the EP's committees on Industry, Research and Energy and was a member of the EP's delegation to Afghanistan and the Korean Peninsula.

Glenn Bedingfield (PES/PL)

The former journalist has had little time settle in his seven months in office although he only attended 75 per cent of plenary sessions, like Dr Attard Montalto. His only significant participation in parliamentary work was the submission of four parliamentary questions. Mr Bedingfield also represented Malta in the Committee on Budgets.

Simon Busuttil (EPP-ED/PN)

Elected in the 2004 election with a record 58,000 votes, Dr Busuttil tops five out of eight categories of parliamentary work.

He was particularly active as a member of the Civil Liberties Committee, which is responsible for the topic of migration. Apart from being appointed group spokesman for Frontex - the EU's Asylum Agency - he was also chosen as rapporteur on the EU's Common Immigration Policy, where he co-ordinated and negotiated the EP's position on this dossier.

Dr Busuttil was also very active in submitting parliamentary questions focused on Malta, with a total of 120 questions tabled in five years. Some of them led to European Commission pressure on the government and were followed by changes in Maltese laws. Examples include the departure tax issue and the employment of contract workers within the public service.

Dr Busuttil also served in the Budget Committee and on the EP's delegation to the Euro-Med Parliamentary Assembly. He was also vice-chairman of the delegation for relations with the Maghreb countries and the Arab Maghreb Union.

David Casa (EPP-ED/PN)

Mr Casa concentrated more on nurturing close relations with important MEPs, particularly from influential groups such as Italy and Germany.

He managed to become a member of the EP's Foreign Affairs Committee, considered to be one of the most prestigious committees in the EP, although with limited or no impact on Malta.

Although he was the best performer when it comes to attendance during plenary sessions, Mr Casa has not been active in the real parliamentary business apart from one occasion where he was in charge of submitting the EP's position on Slovakia's entry into the eurozone.

Amending reports is considered to be a very important task for MEPs, particularly if they want to influence a piece of legislation. However, Mr Casa played no part in this.

He also served on the Environment Committee and with the EP delegation to Central America.

Louis Grech (PES/PL)

Considered to be more of a technocrat than a politician, Mr Grech has been active in EP affairs.

Although submitting few parliamentary questions, 12 in all, they have led to one of the most recent controversies - relating to whether the government is obliged to pay back VAT on vehicle registration tax.

However, Mr Grech's main achievement is steering the EU's budget in 2006 through the parliamentary process. This exercise is normally reserved for more experienced MEPs. Aware of his background, the Socialist group entrusted him with this very technical job.

He also used the process to suggest the introduction of an EU asylum agency in Malta. Although dismissed by MEPs, it was brought up once again by the European Commission earlier this year. Mr Grech handled the largest number of reports among serving Maltese MEPs.

On the other hand, his attendance record has not been good - he missed 20 per cent of all plenary sittings.

Mr Grech also served as vice chairman of the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee, became a member of the Euro-Med Parliamentary Assembly and served with the EP's delegation to Australia and New Zealand.