Maltese diplomats continue to be “unacceptably” under-represented within the EU’s own diplomatic corps due to an anachronism favouring older member states.

Lawrence Gonzi

Eight years down the line, we can say ‘we told you so’- PM

Malta’s permanent representative to the EU, Richard Cachia Caruana, made the point during a talk marking eight years of EU membership held in Valletta yesterday.

He explained how the European External Action Service, established by the Lisbon Treaty as a full-blown EU diplomatic corps, had assumed staff from previous EU institutions, many of whom came from older member states.

This came to the detriment of newer member states such as Malta, Mr Cachia Caruana said. Official documents state that the EEAS shall have a “meaningful presence” of nationals from all member states.

“It [the lack of Maltese within the EEAS] is unacceptable to me and to the government and we will continue to work to ensure the situation changes,” he added.

Mr Cachia Caruana said Malta was known within EU circles for punching above its weight, and pointed out the country was among the member states with least infringement cases.

He argued that joining the EU had helped Malta diversify its economy and removed innumerable limitations “with one stroke”.

Mr Cachia Caruana, currently facing a Labour-led parliamentary motion calling for his resignation, ended yesterday’s address on a personal note.

“It’s been a tremendous honour and privilege to serve as Malta’s permanent EU representative and I’m grateful of the opportunity given to me. I’ve made friends, perhaps, and some political enemies. But I’ve always sought to serve with energy and dedication and loyalty to my country.”

Mr Cachia Caruana is set to appear before Parliament’s foreign affairs committee on May 14, with a vote on the PL motion calling for his resignation scheduled for June 18.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi gave Malta’s man in Brussels his full support yesterday, repeatedly drumming home the crucial role Mr Cachia Caruana had played in securing Malta’s EU membership. “It is acknowledged and documented that Malta negotiated the best EU accession package out of the 10 member states who joined in 2004. And Richard [Cachia Caruana] was the head of our accession negotiating team.

“Malta was on course to join the EU in 1996, but then we got stuck [when a PL government froze Malta’s membership application] for 22 months while the nine other applicants pressed on. That we made up for lost time is down to our accession team, which constantly worked for Maltese interests.”

Describing EU membership as “a massive success story” for Malta, Dr Gonzi expressed relief that Malta faced the financial crisis as a eurozone member.

“Being in the eurozone allowed us to withstand the economic tsunami that engulfed the globe, even if doing so wasn’t easy, with factories on the brink of closure.”

The sentiment was shared by Cypriot MEP Ioannis Kasoulides, who served as Cyprus’ Foreign Minister when it acceded to the EU.

Joining the eurozone at the first possible instance was the “wisest decision” both Malta and Cyprus took, and the financial crisis had further confirmed the wisdom of that decision, he said.

Dr Gonzi also had words of praise for the various Maltese working within EU institutions, former Commissioner Joe Borg, current Commissioner John Dalli and Maltese MEPs “from both sides of the political divide”.

He expressed relief that, following years of bitter political controversy, there was political consensus in Malta that EU membership was a good thing.

“We always argued that it was not the size of the territory but rather the size of the idea that mattered. Now, eight years down the line, we can say ‘we told you so’,” he said.