Malta's Permanent Representative to the EU Richard Cachia Caruana has been in the heart of government since 1987 without ever contesting an election. Despite working behind the scenes, he has always been at the forefront of controversy.

EU membership definitely required a change in mentality. Do you think the majority of people have made that mental transformation?

I don't think the majority of any member state, however long it's been in the EU, have made that change. It doesn't happen overnight, but it is happening. The outlook of people in the EU's founding member states is different to that of people in the newer member states, because change happens across generations.

What were the negatives of EU membership?

Restructuring the economy to be able to benefit from the advantages of EU membership was never going to be an easy or painless process. But you can't call that negative, because it is primarily an investment in our future.

I asked you about negatives. There must be some, for example, an increase in illegal immigration.

The fact that Malta has been an EU member state for five years and the other fact that illegal immigration has increased over that period are not necessarily correlated. In fact, I don't think they are. Italy had an increase in illegal immigration in the past five years and they are founder members of the EU. The people who ended up here did so while trying to reach Italy. Whether we were in the EU or not, the likelihood is we would have faced the same situation. The difference now is that we have to comply with EU rules on illegal immigration.

And what's the solution?

The Spanish government has been successful in limiting this problem by working with West Africa, which is the point of departure for illegal immigrants who reach Spain. In the central Mediterranean this is more difficult, because you need the full co-operation of Libya, which is not yet forthcoming.

Do you really believe it's possible for Malta to have a similar arrangement with Libya?

Libya has serious problems of its own, and we need to find a solution together. The illegal immigration issue is a main priority for the government. We are pushing forcefully so that those elements of the European Migration and Asylum Pact that are relevant to Malta are implemented as early as possible.

But we need solutions now, not tomorrow...

Immediate solutions are, in an EU context, more difficult. The EU is not geared to providing short-term solutions. It requires the agreement of the governments of 27 member states, and that takes time.

Let's turn to Maltese politics. Do you consider yourself a politician?

After 28 years in the political frontline, including 10 years on the PN executive committee, it would be difficult not to do so.

And do you consider yourself as the 'power behind the throne' as many believe you are?

I've been asked this sort of question for 22 years now. All I can say is that I have always served my bosses in the best possible way.

There's no room for a power behind the throne in our political system. If the power is behind the throne, and not on the throne, then what you are saying is that the person on the throne is a puppet. This is offensive in the extreme, and categorically and obviously untrue.

(Former Prime Minister) Eddie Fenech Adami carried one election after another on the strength of his character and his own personal credibility and expertise, and so did Lawrence Gonzi last year, against considerable odds. I am just an employee, one with certain organisational skills and the ability to perform my job loyally and well, but still just an employee. In other words, I take orders, not give them. When people don't like a particular decision taken in their regard, they find it easier to believe that I'm to blame, because they can't face up to the fact that this is what the Prime Minister thinks about them or one of their proposals or requests.

Following the recent change in the leadership of the Labour Party, Europe seems to be on the PL's agenda much more. Do you think that Labour has now really converted?

Labour now recognises that we are now in the EU for the duration, so even if certain people regret this they know it will not change. Labour has been forced to accept reality.

Joseph Muscat worked in Brussels before being appointed leader and I assume that you met him quite often as an MEP. What do you think of the new Labour leader?

He is pleasant to talk to when there is neither a microphone nor an audience present.

Do you still think he's pleasant now that he is focusing quite a lot on you?

Should I be surprised when people say one thing to me and another behind my back, or to an audience? I think not. It's not only politicians who do this.

Dr Muscat never mentions you directly by name but he's been referring to you very often in his political speeches. What do you think he's trying to do?

I assume he thinks he can score political points, in the same way that his predecessor Alfred Sant thought he could. He will realise it isn't worth it and doesn't work, as ugliness and ill-feeling eventually create a backlash. In any case, myths about the 'power behind the throne' are not relevant to Jessie and Twannie Borg struggling to improve their lives and that of their children. They have to deal with the realities of life, and this kind of gossip is irrelevant to them.

What do you think of Muscat's early days as leader?

When he first became leader, he spoke in a politically healthy way. But as his experience in the European Parliament recedes into memory, he is perceptibly finding it difficult to break away from Labour's old way of doing politics.

You sit in Cabinet and you've been working in a prime position with all the Nationalist governments in the last two decades. How do you benchmark the current government?

This ministerial team, maybe because it's smaller, is more closely knit than a few of the more recent Cabinets. They are completely focused on Malta's economy, which is the crucial thing today. I would say the problems Malta now faces are very different to the ones we faced in the past, although every government has had major challenges to deal with.

What do you consider to be the government's biggest challenge during this legislature?

It's now obvious it will continue to be the economy. During the last election, Gonzi tried to move the debate onto the economic problems that were likely to hit Europe and the world. No one else took that up and he was accused of trying to mislead people, but he was completely right.

There has been criticism because you are a member of Cabinet without ever contesting an election.

Let me make this absolutely clear: I am not a member of Cabinet. In our political system, the Cabinet is for ministers who are the elected representatives of the people. I attend Cabinet meetings only at the Prime Minister's discretion, and because he wishes his government to have an EU perspective. As to not contesting elections, I think we should all try and do what we're best at. Contesting an election will not make me better at doing what I do. It would, in fact, be utterly pointless.

Is it true that you order ministers around?

No. The notion of anyone ordering ministers around is beyond ridiculous. Think about the people who are ministers and who have been ministers, and then try to imagine me ordering them around. Not even the Prime Minister should order ministers around. I imagine the last person to try that was Dom Mintoff.

Does the PM consult you before taking important decisions?

The PM consults me only when he thinks I may have some input to make. In a government forum, these are usually EU-related decisions. In a party forum, these tend to be campaign-related matters, which are my strength and my expertise over almost 30 years. Naturally, I also try to see that the Prime Minister has all the information he needs before he has to take a decision in areas of my expertise.

Malta will soon have to appoint another EU Commissioner. Are you interested in the post?

It would be most incorrect for me to comment on this issue.

But do you personally wish to become a Commissioner?

What I wish is irrelevant. Those who know me well understand that I am completely dedicated to the success of the government, and that I never put myself or my wishes first. The only thing I wish to see is the Prime Minister feeling free to nominate whoever he thinks is right for the job. It's his choice to make. I am not in any way going to try and make it more difficult for him to make that decision.

You have been occupying the post of Permanent Representative to the EU since Malta joined in 2004. Isn't it time for a change?

The job is extremely interesting, but like any job a large chunk is repetitive. I am fortunate enough to have a job where the interesting part is very interesting.

Are you prepared to continue serving in your present position for the coming years?

That's up to the Prime Minister. I am ready to continue serving as the Prime Minister wishes me to serve.

The most recent controversy you were drawn into was the St John's Co-Cathedral Museum project. To what extent were you involved in this?

I have been involved in the Co-Cathedral Foundation since its inception as I had negotiated on behalf of the government with the ecclesiastical authorities over the setting up of this foundation. This was an extremely difficult exercise given that the Church and the government have had claims on St John's since Napoleon's days.

In recent years, many restoration projects have been carried out and the foundation has ensured that its finances are strong enough for it to plan for the future needs of the Co-Cathedral. The museum extension was just one of the many projects the council has worked on.

Is it correct to say that the idea of an underground museum was primarily yours?

Yes, of course - but since the council is made up of people who follow developments in religious museums throughout Europe this was not a very original thought.

Allegations were made by the Labour Party that you used your position in the government to push the foundation's application to obtain EU funds. Is this true?

How typical. The one decision related to EU funds in which I was personally involved was the co-ordination of Malta's negotiations that led to the €855 million that Malta received in the current EU budget. I see that there's been no mention of that by Labour.

I was involved in this project purely as a member of the foundation, together with architects, lawyers, auditors and others, in preparing the foundation's application for EU funding. However, at no stage was I involved in any of the decisions that led to the award of EU funds to the foundation. I couldn't possibly have been, even if I wanted to, because the structures and systems simply don't allow for that kind of interference.

Were you consulted before the Prime Minister and the Archbishop took the decision to pull the plug on this project?

No. I was told only after the Prime Minister had discussed the issue with the Archbishop. However, it had been obvious to me for at least four weeks that the plug was going to have to be pulled.

Why was it so obvious?

I am a political realist. Also, the discussion taking place was not in any way conducive to a professional assessment of the facts. Any project of this nature, which is new and innovative, requires a serene environment if the professionals who have to carry out the impact assessments are to do their job properly. This serenity was not there.

So you are saying the Prime Minister didn't consult you before pulling the plug?

The Prime Minister is the one who takes the decisions, and I lack the arrogance to expect that he should consult me, still less demand it, despite popular notions to the contrary. In any case, he was already aware that the foundation believed the plug might have to be pulled.

Do you think your personal involvement in this project might have led some people to attack it?

I cannot but come to that conclusion when I read what's been written, the remarks people have made online, and some of the things the Labour Party said.

But Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando is not a member of the Labour Party.

Jeffrey was victimised by the Labour Party during the last election. They attempted to use him to steal the election and they failed. He has had to face many difficult situations in the past and has always come through them stronger than before. So he will from the current situation. I think he has been unfairly treated, and people who have been unfairly treated have very real reasons to feel hurt. He was under the most enormous pressure. I've discussed St John's with him at some length.

His concerns about the project were genuine. While I was sure the Environment Impact Assessment would have allayed his concerns, we now have no way of knowing this. But he had every right to take that stand. He can't be blamed for the fact that, again, the Labour Party tried - and failed - to use him to embarrass the Nationalist Party. Jeffrey was and will remain a much valued political colleague.

Did you agree with the PM's decision?

Yes, totally.