Labour leader Joseph Muscat yesterday promised European Commissioner Tonio Borg that, should it win the election, his party would be prepared to work with him to ensure the best interests of Malta.

Speaking during a courtesy visit by Dr Borg at Labour’s headquarters, Dr Muscat said that if the PL is elected there would be “a seamless transition.”

“We are committed that in the eventuality of a change of power, we will be working with Dr Borg during the rest of his term to ensure the best interest of Malta. We are sure that Dr Borg will also be committed to work with us,” he said.

Dr Muscat said that the country will be entering a crucial time where the electorate will need to make its choices.

He said that with the support to Dr Borg’s nomination Labour wanted to show that it has the country’s national interests at heart.

Dr Borg, who yesterday also paid a courtesy visit to Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi at Castille, reiterated his appreciation to the Labour Party, and particularly its MEPs for supporting his nomination.

He said three weeks into his new job he had already managed to deliver on his first challenge – the publication of the controversial tobacco directive.

According to the EU Treaty, commissioners are nominated by their governments for a five-year period and act in the interests of the EU, not their member states.

Dr Borg’s will continue to serve for the rest of the current Commission mandate, which ends in October 2014.

A change in government will not affect his position as a new government can only nominate a new commissioner after the end of the current Commission’s mandate.

Dr Borg can also be nominated for a second term.