Rita Schembri, the director general of the Internal Audit and Investigations Department within the Office of the Prime Minister, has been appointed one of five members of the Supervisory Committee of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) following a heavily contested selection process.

OLAF's principal function is to protect the financial interests of the European Union by combating fraud, corruption and any other illegal activities. The Office carries out this function by investigating suspected serious misconduct. It also assists the Commission in developing and implementing fraud prevention and detection policies.

The function of the Supervisory Committee is to regularly monitor the implementation of OLAF's investigative function and deliver opinions concerning the activities of OLAF without interfering with the conduct of investigations in progress

Its members are appointed by common accord of the Council, the European Parliament, and the Commission.

The government attaches great importance to the role of the committee as it reinforces OLAF's independence through regular monitoring of the implementation of the investigative function.

In addition to Malta's nomination of Ms Schembri, a number of other candidates were nominated by member states, the European Commission and the European Parliament.

There was a heavily contested selection process in Council, Parliament and the Commission, and eventually negotiations between the three EU Institutions to agree on the final list of five members.

Malta's Permanent Representative to the European Union, ambassador Richard Cachia Caruana, welcomed Ms Schembri's appointment, stating: "This appointment demonstrates the recognition of the EU institutions and member states that she possesses both the experience and qualifications needed to contribute effectively to the important role of OLAF. It is also an honour for Malta."

Ms Schembri has held top managerial positions both in the private and the public sector for the past 11 years in the field of audit, management and financial control.

For the past six years she has headed the Internal Audit and Investigations Department within Cabinet Office, Office of the Prime Minister. As Director General of this Department, Ms Schembri is responsible for managing all financial investigations across government, for the internal audit function covering €6.6 billion of national public funds and for ensuring that €1.2 billion of EU funds are utilised in line with the relevant financial rules and regulations over the current EU financial period which lasts from 2007 to 2013, known as the Multiannual Financial Framework.

Amongst her achievements are the upgrading of the internal audit function across Malta's public administration as well as having played a crucial role in the drawing up of the National Anti Fraud and Corruption Strategy.

Ms Schembri was also responsible for heading the Anti-Fraud Co-ordinating Service (AFCOS) in Malta, which ensured effective communication, co-ordination and co-operation between OLAF and the Maltese authorities.