Dr Micallef has been appointed vice-president of the EU Regional Committee and vice-president of the Local and Regional Authorities Congress of the Council of Europe. He is also president of the Local Councillors’ Association. Dr Gonzi, speaking during a meeting with the Nationalist Party’s College of Councillors, said that Dr Micallef’s appointments showed that Malta was already benefitting from opportunities offered by the EU.

His new positions will enable Malta to be where important decisions are being taken. These events, Dr Gonzi said, should be taken into consideration when Maltese citizens cast their vote on 12 June to elect their representatives in the European Parliament and to elect new local councils. The prime minister said that Dr Micallef’s appointments were a result of the support he received from the European People’s Party. Again, this is proof that Malta would be better off if it had the biggest representation within the biggest political group in the EP.