The portfolios of the newly-nominated European commissioners, including John Dalli, are expected to be announced by the end of the week. However, Commission President José Manuel Barroso's 26-strong team is not expected to take office before February, when the long scrutiny process is likely to be concluded. With Malta and The Netherlands having been the last among the 27 member states to submit the names of their nominees, Mr Barroso is now in the clear to assign responsibilities to the new commissioners.
Speaking at the European Parliament in Strasbourg yesterday, he announced he had all 26 names requested, including nine women.
According to the EU treaties it is Mr Barroso's sole responsibility to assign portfolios. However, it is an open secret in Brussels that many member states have been lobbying for certain jobs for some time.
Commission sources said Malta was not earmarked for any of the more important portfolios, particularly due to its size and limited political weight. The fact that Malta postponed its nomination for so long was also likely to translate in an even less important portfolio as the top jobs had already been assigned by the time the government announced its decision on Monday.
With his background in administration, management, finance and social policy, the sources said Mr Dalli could still expect to get a "decent" portfolio.
"The portfolios of administrative affairs, science and research, consumer protection and development and humanitarian aid could all be in Mr Dalli's reach," the sources said.
"It all depends on whether any of these assignments have already been 'booked' by other member states over the past weeks."
The big portfolios, particularly those related to the economy, are the most sought after and these have almost all been unofficially decided.
France's Michele Barnier is expected to net the internal market and financial services dossier while Spain's Joaquin Almunia looks likely to be assigned to trade or competition policy. The economic and monetary affairs portfolio is being touted to go to German's designate-commissioner Gunther Ottinger while Poland is seeking the budget portfolio. Italy's Antonio Tajani is expected to retain the transport dossier.
Mr Dalli will now go through a crucial two-month phase of scrutiny, culminating in a grilling by MEPs in mid-January. He will appear for his "hearing" before a Parliamentary Committee that will put all sorts of uncomfortable questions to test the candidate's preparedness for the job and his knowledge of the EU while fishing for any conflicts of interest, particularly relating to personal business activities. If MEPs are not satisfied with the performance of the commissioner-designate they could issue a negative report and even ask for his replacement.
They could also choose to derail the whole Commission in a plenary vote.
Mr Dalli will also have to start choosing his close collaborators for his new office in Brussels. He is allowed to personally select his "cabinet" from within the EU Institutions and Malta.
However, the rules dictate that his head and deputy head of cabinet, the two most senior jobs, have to be of different nationalities. The number of Maltese recruits will be restricted as his seven-member cabinet has to include officials from at least three member states including Malta.
Upon his appointment, Mr Dalli will start receiving an annual salary of €240,000, a residence allowance of €40,000 a year and numerous perks. He will also be entitled to a pension of 75 per cent of his basic salary upon retirement.