Malta’s former permanent representative to the EU, Richard Cachia Caruana, was given the “courtesy title” of ambassador for the country’s good, according to the Office of the Prime Minister.
“A number of other advisers to the Prime Minister hold this courtesy title when it is considered useful for the country,” a spokesman of the Prime Minister said.
The spokesman said Mr Cachia Caruana was “extremely reluctant” to agree to serve in any government role following his departure from office.
The decision by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi to reappoint Mr Cachia Caruana in a government role just months after he was forced to resign from his role as EU ambassador has raised eyebrows.
Asked whether this was a challenge to Parliament, Dr Gonzi’s spokesman pointed out that the Prime Minister had, after the vote, publicly stated how important it was to continue to make use of Mr Cachia Caruana’s EU expertise.
“This, in particular, due to the EU’s continuing discussions on the Economic and Monetary Union and on the Multi-annual Financial Framework 2014-2020,” the spokesman said, adding that the parliamentary motion that forced Mr Cachia Caruana’s resignation “dealt with other matters”.
Mr Cachia Caruana resigned after a motion of no confidence presented by the Opposition was backed by then Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, who later became an independent MP. Nationalist MP Jesmond Mugliett had abstained.
The controversial motion claimed Mr Cachia Caruana encouraged the Government to rejoin Nato’s Partnership for Peace programme without first seeking parliamentary approval. Mr Cachia Caruana is, at his own request, not being paid for his new role.
Asked whether he was given any allowances or other benefits, the spokesman said: “The Government will pay his telecommunication costs on the basis of submitted claims; no claims have been submitted to date. He can use an office at the EU Secretariat at Castille as well as office equipment.”
Mr Cachia Caruana has also made use of government transport for seven car journeys all related to the 5+5 summit between October 4 and 6. “On two of these journeys the vehicle was shared .”
Asked why Mr Cachia Caruana was given such a prominent position during the 5+5 summit, given he was just a part-time adviser, the spokesman said the former Permanent Representative simply formed part of the Maltese delegation at the meeting and was present for some bilateral meetings with EU leaders at the Prime Minister’s request.
“During the 5+5 meeting, the only person ‘at the table of discussions’ on the Maltese side was the Prime Minister.”
Asked why similar arrangements were not made for former Home Affairs Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici, who was also ousted by Parliament just before Mr Cachia Caruana, the spokesman said: “Dr Mifsud Bonnici is still an MP. In this capacity, he continues to serve the Government in the area of his expertise.”
The Prime Minister’s spokesman added that ambassadors and advisers were not appointed or removed by Parliament but by the Prime Minister and/or other ministers, indicating that Parliament was not within its rights to force Mr Cachia Caruana to resign from the post of EU ambassador after all.