Joe Borg congratulates John Dalli
European Commissioner Joe Borg was not available for comment yesterday and the only reaction to the announcement of his replacement arrived through his spokesman.
In a terse reaction, Dr Borg's spokesman said the Commissioner wanted to "congratulate Social Policy Minister John Dalli on his appointment and wish him well in his new post".
Asked whether Dr Borg would be available for further remarks, his spokesman said that "the Commissioner has no further comments to make at this moment". Following a successful five-year term at the helm of the fisheries and maritime affairs portfolio in the first José Manuel Barroso Commission, Dr Borg had publicly declared he was interested in a second term. Twelve of his colleagues were reconfirmed for a second term including the Commissioners from Italy, Belgium, the UK, Cyprus and Luxembourg.
Until a few weeks ago, Dr Borg was touted as a natural choice and his second term was almost a fait accompli, at least among EU functionnaires, but Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi decided to nominate Mr Dalli to Brussels instead.
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Bundy does not know whether to...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
Petrol price up 6c
In Discussion
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
Gozo tunnel could take 5-7 years to...
CABS remote controlled aircraft shot...
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Joseph Calleja condemns portrayal of...
Updated: Labour would give...
CABS drone shot down
Second group of migrants arrives
Adrian Vassallo in scathing...
6 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
lgalea
Nov 25th 2009, 21:18
http://openeu.bluestatedigital.com/page/m/4b66095d/1ba89f19/85e9c40/7c556b1c/3594556364/VEsEBw/
A BBC investigation has found that large sums promised to developing countries to help them tackle climate change cannot be accounted for. The money was pledged in the 2001 Bonn Declaration, signed by 20 industrialised nations including the 15 EU countries. The EU says the money was paid out in bilateral deals, but admits it cannot provide data to prove it.
http://openeu.bluestatedigital.com/page/m/4b66095d/1ba89f19/85e9c40/7c556b0b/3594556364/VEsH/
EU Commission to "look at" direct EU taxes
AFP reports that in a question-time session in the European Parliament yesterday, European Commission President Jose Barroso said he would look at the idea of raising direct EU taxation. Asked if he agreed with Herman Van Rompuy, the new EU President, that there should be EU taxes, he said: "I intend to look at all issues of taxation in the EU, we have to look at this, we have to look at all resources of the EU. We have promised it to the parliament, the programme with which I was elected was to look at possible 'own resources' and this is in the programme that was adopted by this European Parliament."
Franco Farrugia
Nov 25th 2009, 18:29
@ N Calleja: All I can say is - Wow!
N.Calleja
Nov 25th 2009, 16:40
@ ccamilleri
Prosit! Well said!! Don't you know that here in Malta, half the nation welcomes the sun every morning and the other half blame it on the same sun. It was a wise move to replace the Maltese Commissioner. Not because Joe Borg was not a worthy Maltese Commissioner but it is also wise to give experience to another worthy Maltese national. As I previously wrote, the Nationalists are full of such worthy nationals and so they have the..imbarazzo della scelta!! For the Labour side all these moves baffle them so they try to create division. So that they may repeat ad nausam that the Nationalist party is in disarray!! Poor people of litte minds!
c. camilleri
Nov 25th 2009, 15:13
But why always on the negative side? i would like to hear the comments of Schembri and Zammit if Gonzi had retained Joe Borg as European Commissioner. Now they are praising J.Borg when i do not count how many times he was the target of labour criticism over here.
laurence schembri
Nov 25th 2009, 12:26
Joe borg was made the scapegoat, all his good work was not even recognised by his own party, he might opted into parliament throgh the back door. Wheelers dealers.
A Zammit
Nov 25th 2009, 10:21
A pity since Dr Borg made us so proud with his successes. Should have been re-elected seeing the great job he did. If only his nationalists counterparts could follow his example!