Robert Van de Water, who until recently was a consultant to deposed Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, said he had been collaborating with Joseph Muscat for 10 years and was appointed as his adviser in July. Mr Van de Water said he was aware that some Ukrainians were lobbying Dr Muscat to cut all ties with him due to his former connection with Mr Yanukovych.
However, he insisted that his two advisory roles had nothing to do with each other, noting he had only assisted the Ukrainian government on EU-related issues.
“I have known Joseph Muscat for more than 10 years and got to know him in the run-up to the European elections in 2004.
“After he was elected as an MEP we worked together on a number of issues and we have remained in close contact ever since. I was appointed as his adviser last July after he became Prime Minister,” Mr Van de Water said.
The Dutchman, whose wife, Ina Kirsch, is CEO of a Brussels-based lobby group called European Centre for Modern Ukraine, also acted for some time as an adviser to the Socialist group in the European Parliament.
The Sunday Times of Malta reported recently that, a few months after Labour’s return to power, Mr Van de Water was appointed as the Prime Minister’s adviser for international and European affairs.
At the time the report was published, Mr Van de Water was saying in his LinkedIn account that he was adviser to Mykola Azarov, the former Ukrainian Prime Minister who was forced to resign in January to assuage a wave of protests.
Mr Van de Water told Times of Malta he was asked by Mr Azarov to act as his personal adviser to deal with the EU discussions on the possibility of signing an association agreement with Ukraine.
Once the government decided not to sign the agreement – a decision which eventually led to the overthrow of the Yanukovych government – he stepped down from his advisory role.
Mr Van de Water said that Dr Muscat’s visit to Ukraine last September was his idea.
“On the basis of Malta’s own experience in joining the EU, I was of the opinion that the visit of the Maltese Prime Minister [to Ukraine] was a very important step to further persuading the Ukrainian government to carry out and implement all reforms necessary to meet the EU demands for signing the EU/Ukraine association agreement.
“The talks with the President were part of this effort,” he said.
Two months after that visit, the Ukrainian government suspended its plans to get closer to the EU, sparking violent riots and unrest throughout the country.
Mr Van de Water said he was not paid for his role as adviser to Dr Muscat but was only reimbursed by the Maltese government for any travel and accommodation expenses connected to his duties.
He said he had the same arrangement with the Ukrainian Prime Minister.