Malta has secured its right to nominate a commissioner in every future EU Executive, riding on the wave of Ireland's compromise to hold a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty by October in exchange for concessions.
The island also secured its sixth MEP seat in the European Parliament, which will be granted as soon as the new treaty is in place and not in 2014 as originally planned.
The political goals were scored in the context of a new deal ironed out between the EU and Ireland, aimed at solving the impasse posed by last June's negative referendum result.
The news emerged yesterday at the end of the two-day summit in Brussels where Malta secured political clout in the EU's future development as well as favourable conditions related to the implementation of an ambitious energy and climate change package.
Departing from the original plan to reduce the EU Executive's commissioners from 27 to 15 starting in 2014, EU leaders agreed to make the necessary changes to retain one commissioner per member, independently of the number of members that join in the future.
It was also decided that, should the Lisbon Treaty enter into force after next June's MEP elections, transitional measures would be taken to keep the spirit of the original treaty. This means Malta will still be able to have its extra MEP in 2009-2014.
This agreement will affect 13 member states, 12 of which will increase their number of MEPs and Germany, which will lose three. In the latter's case, the three "extra" MEPs will retain their position until 2014 after next June's elections.
Asked whether this meant Malta would be voting for six MEPs next June, Dr Gonzi said this would still not be the case if the treaty is not in place by June. In the current undecided scenario, it was still too early to say how the eventual sixth MEP would be chosen.
"Let's not jump the gun," he said, reminding journalists that the treaty's ratification was not a foregone conclusion. "We will decide when we get there. The most important thing is that we have been assured that our sixth MEP will be in place as soon as the treaty is ratified."
Referring to the deal struck by member states on the energy and climate change package, Dr Gonzi said Malta's specific circumstances had been taken into consideration, particularly its small size and isolation from mainland Europe.
The overall objectives of the deal is for the EU to meet the so-called 20-20-20 targets: reducing greenhouse emissions by 20 per cent and ensuring that 20 per cent of energy came from wind, sun and other renewable sources by 2020.
Malta requested and obtained various specific conditions to limit the possible initial negative impact of such initiatives on the economy. These include the exclusion of part of its aviation industry in the calculations of the gross final energy consumption and exemptions from full auctioning in the electricity production sector under the EU's Emissions Trading Scheme.
Malta also made inroads in its attempt to tap EU funds for its grand energy projects, particularly the construction of a multi-million-euro offshore wind farm and connection to the European energy grid.
In fact, with direct reference to Malta's situation, "the European Council agrees on the need to take resolute action to enhance energy security, including interconnections and the connection of the most isolated European countries".
According to Dr Gonzi, the European Economic Recovery Plan, endorsed by yesterday's Council, provides for a €5 billion fund to be available for projects. One of the projects proposed was the Mediterranean energy ring, involving all Mediterranean member states.
"This plan is still at an early stage and will be drafted in 2009. Although this does not necessarily mean Malta will eventually get the funds, we have secured the possibility that Malta is included in this plan. We will ensure this happens," he said.