Borg criticises PM's handling of Commissioner nomination

Outgoing Commissioner Joe Borg has criticised the Prime Minister's handling of the European Commissioner nomination, saying he only learnt of the decision after his wife watched the evening news on television last Monday.

The government ended months of speculation last week when it announced in a statement that Malta's next Commissioner would be Social Policy Minister John Dalli, who has since been given the Health and Consumer Affairs portfolio.

While congratulating Mr Dalli on his appointment, Dr Borg told The Sunday Times in an interview: "I have to say that the manner in which the decision was taken and, even worse, how it was sought to be justified afterwards, continues to baffle me."

The Fisheries Commissioner said the very least he had expected was an unequivocal statement that he was not being considered for the post, rather than being led to believe he was in the frame by the Prime Minister himself.

Dr Borg said he realised that the Prime Minister had offered the post to Mr Dalli when he was informed that the Social Policy Minister was in Brussels for a meeting with Commission President Jose' Manuel Barroso.

Dr Borg also criticised the Prime Minister for taking advice on the Commissioner nomination from those who were either "contenders for the post, or were aspiring to another similar post".

Full story in The Sunday Times.