EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has written to John Dalli, warning him about statements he had been making, as well as replying to a letter he had received from the former commissioner.

Mr Dalli had asked Mr Barroso for a letter on his status, saying that he had not submitted a formal letter of resignation, and therefore there was no resignation. (see http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20121022/local/dalli-writes-to-barroso.442136 )

The following is the letter:

"Mr Dalli,

I received your letter of 21 October 2012.

I would like to inform you that I am unable to accept the statements and claims made in your letter.

During our meeting on 16 October 2012, you have yourself unambiguously declared your immediate resignation, before the Director General of the Legal Service and the Head of my Private Office. Under the Treaty, no written form is required for a declaration of resignation, and it is irrevocable.

As a consequence, no further question arises about the effectiveness of your resignation.

Your various complaints and accusations of illegal or incorrect conduct vis-à-vis you that you have advanced in several statements since 17 October 2012 are equally incomprehensible. In this respect, I would remind you that you have had in good time several opportunities to react to the issues raised with regard to the OLAF investigation.

I wish to remind you of your obligation, as a former Commissioner, to behave with integrity...

Finally, in the light of certain statements and insinuations you have made in relation to the process of preparation of the revised directive on tobacco, I wish to remind you of your obligation, as a former Commissioner, to behave with integrity in accordance with Article 245 TFEU. As the OLAF investigation confirmed, the decision making process of the Commission in the tobacco file has not been affected and, as foreseen in its Work Programme, the Commission will proceed with this proposal."