Anna Maria Darmanin, one of Malta's five members of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) was this morning elected to the prestigious post of Vice-President with overwhelming support.
In a vote taken during the inaugural session of new EESC five-year mandate, Ms Darmanin obtained 260 votes in favour while only four members voted against and another five abstained.
Ms Darmanin has been representing the Union Haddiema Maghqudin (UHM) in Brussels for the past six years and her election means she has been appointed to the highest ever elected post to be reached by a Maltese citizen in an EU body since Malta joined the EU in 2004.
A few weeks ago, Ms Darmanin was elected by the Committee's worker's group after being the sole candidate for the post.
The EESC comprises 344 members nominated by the 27 member states of the EU representing workers, employers and other various interests groups. It acts as a consultative body to the EU institutions.
Malta has the smallest delegation out of the 27 member states with just five members.
In her new role Ms Darmanin will be responsible for the Communications department of the EESC.
The UHM congratulated Ms Darmanin.