The government confirmed this evening that Social Policy Minister John Dalli is to be nominated to serve as European Commissioner.

The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting.

EU commission president Jose Manuel Barroso has been informed of the nomination.

Mr Dalli will succeed Joe Borg as European Commissioner.

In comments to the breakfast programme Bongu on PBS, Mr Dalli expressed his gratitude to the Prime Minister, the Cabinet and the PN Parliamentary Group for the confidence shown in him through this nomination.

He said his new post would carry major responsibility. He would be working in an environment which was very different from Malta’s but he was confident that his work would benefit Malta as well.

Mr Dalli said everyone had a right to interpret his nomination as he wished, but the facts were facts and he felt that his own abilities had a bearing on the nomination.

He paid tribute to Joe Borg, who he will succeed at the European Commission, saying he had done Malta proud.

Mr Dalli served in all Nationalist governments since the 1987 general election. He was initially Parliamentary Secretary for Industry but will be best remembered for the 10 years he served as Minister of Finance. He was also briefly Minister of Economic Affairs and Foreign Minister.

Mr Dalli was beaten by Lawrence Gonzi in the election for PN leader five years ago. and in July 2004 resigned from the Cabinet, saying he was unable to work because of attacks from different quarters.

He returned to the Cabinet as Minister of Social Policy after the last general election.

An accountant by profession, Mr Dalli, 61, has held management posts in the private sector and worked for several years abroad, including in Brussels.

Mr Dalli last week had a meeting with Mr Barroso, during which his responsibilities as commissioner are thought to have been discussed.

His departure from the Cabinet and Parliament will mean that a casual election in the sixth district and a Cabinet reshuffle will have to be held, probably when Parliament rises for the Christmas recess. The Speaker of the House, Louis Galea, is seen as being in pole position to get elected, should he decide to contest.

PN STATEMENT

The PN Parliamentary Group in a statement welcomed the decision and paid tribute to Mr Dalli, who, it said, had played a key role in major reforms in the financial sector and in the attraction of foreign investment.

The group also thanked Joe Borg for having served as European Commissioner with distinction.

Dr Borg was an example of how a small country could give a major contribution to European development, the group said.