Former Prime Minister and EP candidate Alfred Sant said his primary aim as an MEP would be to defend Malta’s interest.

“I had, have and will absolutely have no interest to be considered for the post of European Commissioner,” he told a gathering at Iklin.

“An EU Commissioner has the duty first and foremost to defend the interests of Europe . I would not be able to assume such a function, even if some people have told me that’s what I should have aimed for,” he said.

Dr Sant said that, in his view, Malta failed during its first 10 years of EU membership to draw fully on the benefits of membership while limiting its adverse effects.

“In future that should be done by a coherent and committed stance to ensure that Malta’s national interest is really taken into account. The new Labour Government has kick started this process which should now be given full support at the level of the European Parliament,” he said.

I WAS NEVER AGAINST THE EU

Dr Sant clarified that he had never been against the EU. He said he had always said the EU was a good thing for Europe and the rest of the world.

However, Malta’s membership of the Union entailed an acceptance of the benefits and burdens arising from its rules and the country needed to take that into account, which it had not done properly.

But once the people decided, through a general election, to go for membership, it was everyone’s duty to accept the decision and make the best of it.