Vince Farrugia, director general of the Chamber for Small and Medium Enterprises - GRTU is among five Maltese members nominated to sit on the European Economic and Social Committee, the EU's consultative body on civil society.

The Times is informed the government also appointed Stefano Mallia, from the Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry, and Mr Farrugia to represent the employers.

They succeed Edwin Calleja, former director general of the former Federation of Industry, and Sylvia Gauci, now CEO of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development.

Michael Parnis from the General Workers' Union, and Anne Marie Darmanin, from the Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin, who represent the unions, and Grace Attard, president of the National Council of Women, represents civil society, remain on the committee for another four-year term.

Although members of the EESC are expected to spend at least two weeks in Brussels every month to attend various meetings, Mr Farrugia said he still intended to retain his office at the helm of the GRTU for the time being.

"My intention is to keep heading the GRTU for the time being although some of my normal functions will be carried out by other members of my staff in my absence", Mr Farrugia said.

Asked whether he would be using his EESC post as a sort of exit from the GRTU, Mr Farrugia said he would continue to occupy the post of director general "although I will be offloading my duties slowly," he said.

"Realistically, at 65 years, I will be starting to think about retiring at some point in time over the next five years," he said.