Documents submitted to the European Union institutions by Malta’s Permanent Representative to the EU, Marlene Bonnici, must first be vetted by Cyrus Engerer, The Sunday Times of Malta has learnt.

According to his three-year contract, the convicted former Labour MEP candidate reports directly to Joseph Muscat, not to the Permanent Representative like other employees at Dar Malta in Brussels.

The contract specifies that Mr Engerer is a “Special Envoy of the Prime Minister” and states that Mr Engerer is responsible for “ensuring that all the information to be sent to the EU institutions from the Permanent Representation is in line with government policy and in liaison with the Office of the Prime Minister”.

The contract also makes it clear that Mr Engerer “reports exclusively to the Prime Minister” and his appointment is “distinct from the duties and responsibilities of resident and non-resident ambassadors”.  

Mr Engerer’s partner, Randolph Debattista, has also been given a position of trust at Dar Malta. He occupies the post of Head (Chef de Cabinet) of Ms Bonnici’s office.

Mr Debattista earns over €5,000 each month. 

More in The Sunday Times of Malta.

Terms of Cyrus Engerer’s contract: