Labour leadership contender Joseph Muscat has received the endorsement of his boss at the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, President of the Party of European Socialists. Mr Schulz said he came to Malta specifically to meet Dr Muscat and endorse his leadership bid. "I came to Malta not to enjoy my stay but to support my friend, my parliamentarian, Joe Muscat, who is a very important member of our parliamentary group."

He said Dr Muscat had helped him find solutions to problems in Brussels and within the Socialist Group, thanks to his "diplomatic abilities".

"The Malta Labour Party has a chance of being led by a man who has gained very important experience in European institutions and how to represent the specific interests of Malta, the smallest EU member state and, in doing so, influenced the Socialist Group.

"I have a strong working relationship with him and it is not out of duty that I am here but because of a deep personal conviction. I know Joseph and I know his style. The PES needs a direct link with country capitals," he added. Describing Dr Muscat as "a deeply convinced pro-European", Mr Schulz said his experience as a member of the European Parliament was an added advantage for Europe and the MLP should he be elected leader.

Dr Muscat thanked Mr Schulz for supporting him. He said that, should he be elected leader, his work in the European Parliament would form the basis of how he would approach his work in Malta and his efforts to change certain systems.

He promised that, if not elected, he would help the new leader and support all efforts to further the strong relations with the European socialists. Asked whether he believed he was discriminating between the leadership contenders by supporting just one person, Mr Schulz replied in the negative, describing all the other leadership contenders as "valid people". Furthermore, he said that if Dr Muscat was not elected "I would be happy just the same because he would remain in Brussels".

Asked whether he was aware that Dr Muscat was anti-EU membership and possibly voted against in the referendum, Mr Schulz said he had always known him as a pro-European. Dr Muscat said: "The 2003 chapter is closed and I look forward to seeing the MLP fully integrated in the EU. By the way, I did not vote in the referendum".

Contacted by The Times last night, Dr Muscat said he did not agree with, but was accepting a decision taken by Labour's electoral office that the party media can report what the contenders say but not what other people say about them.

This decision is in line with the terms of reference issued before the campaign started.