EU Commissioner nominee Karmenu Vella this afternoon thanked Prime Minister Joseph Muscat for what he described as a “once in a lifetime opportunity” and said he was looking forward to working in a completely different environment after more than 30 years in national politics.

These were his first comments since the announcement of his nomination by Dr Muscat on Saturday.

Asked how he would be preparing for the grilling session, he said the first step would be to learn about his portfolio which would be decided once the new President of the European Commission was elected in the forthcoming EP elections.

From then onwards he would start focusing on his portfolio but acknowledged that he was apprehensive and said there was no room for overconfidence or complacency.

Asked whether he would be taking an active part in the MEP campaign of his daughter-in-law Miriam Dalli, he said he would not be involving himself in her campaign.

Asked about the Opposition’s reservations about the manner in which his nomination was dealt with, he insisted that at no time did the opposition expressed its objection to his nomination.

Last Sunday, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil complained that the Prime Minister had not consulted him, again taken the Opposition for granted, and said he should not expect the backing of the Opposition in the matter.