During the latest EU summit, which ended last Friday, Lawrence Gonzi did what he does best: securing Malta's interests in a deal hammered out by the EU to make up for the Irish 'no' vote on the Lisbon Treaty.
The significance of such a small country retaining the right to nominate a commissioner is not to be underestimated, since it gives Malta disproportionate power, status and influence within the EU's highest body. The person occupying this post may not necessarily be there to promote the island's agenda, but his or her very presence makes this all the more possible. Used responsibly, this is an invaluable tool.
Less significant but welcome all the same is confirmation, finally, of an additional seat in the European Parliament, though uncertainly shrouds when this will take place - other than sometime between 2009 and 2014 - since the timing is linked with the Lisbon Treaty coming into force.
If that happens before June, there is no issue: Six seats will be up for grabs in the election for the European Parliament. However, the Prime Minister has a dilemma to resolve if the treaty is going to be ratified after that date: does he still go for six at one go (provisionally, of course) or the five we have now?
He told reporters last Friday: "Let's not jump the gun," particularly since the ratification of the treaty was not a foregone conclusion.
Yet in reality the decision could have a profound bearing on the political make-up of Malta's representatives. If he goes for six, the likelihood is that the two major parties will get three each. A significant delay in electing the sixth, however, could present an additional opportunity for people to register a protest vote. That is unlikely to be in the interests of the party Dr Gonzi heads. Nor is it in the country's, since an additional election - of whatever kind - is the last thing Malta needs.
The Prime Minister and his team also managed to make notable gains in perhaps the most crucial agreement struck at the summit - which will see the 27 member states cut carbon emissions by 20 per cent and increase the use of renewable energy by the same margin. All by 2020.
As laudable as this objective is, the financial burden on a small country like ours is there for all to see. Besides a number of concessions obtained in regard to how Malta's energy consumption will be calculated, the government appears to have secured an opportunity to gain access to EU funds for the country's energy projects, particularly the planned offshore wind farm and connection to the European energy grid.
But with one battle won abroad, the Prime Minister has to come and fight the war at home. The government must tackle with more urgency the lack of enforcement with regard to vehicle emissions, particularly buses and heavy vehicles; the avoidable waste of water and electricity and inefficiency; as well as the inertia and incompetence that stands in the way of making worthy projects a reality.
Dr Gonzi must also ensure that - unlike the €800 million he secured in funds for projects a few years ago, which was another of his successes in Europe - Malta is in a position to make use of all the money at its disposal. Otherwise his hard work would have been for nothing.