An independent and competent public sector is fundamental for Malta's success in Europe. The six elected Maltese MEPs and the Ministers in the Council of Ministers are not the only ones representing the interests of our country in Europe. Together with them, we must add all those representing our country in the 210 different technical and political working groups of the Council and the European Commission. These working groups are instrumental in shaping the European Commission policies and the position of the Council of Ministers following negotiations with the European Parliament.

It is essential that the best-qualified people represent Malta in Brussels. In order to do so we need to promote competency rather than likeability, qualifications and experience rather than political partisanship. Primarily, this requires the elimination of unnecessary political interference and pushing for competent people rather than those chosen exclusively on the basis of trust.

This week, together with my colleague in the Nationalist Party, Dr Karol Aquilina, we presented a set of proposals to put the above resolutions into practice in Malta. The first few proposals focus on training. The government needs to provide regular training to public sector employees on European negotiations, similar to those organised in preparation for the Maltese Presidency of the Council of Ministers and before Malta joined the EU.

It is essential that the government invests heavily in these training sessions; there should be a threshold of 12 days of training per year which would include at least four days of training on European affairs and policy for those who represent Malta in Brussels. Greater emphasis should also be placed on wider knowledge of EU decision-making and soft skills, which would include direct experiences in Brussels.

We also proposed that people of trust should not be assigned the role of representing the government in permanent forums, except in situations of emergency to attend a meeting in the absence of an established official in the department. The choice of officials who represent Malta in key forums should be subject to pre-established criteria and referred for approval to the Parliamentary Committee responsible for European Affairs. These criteria need to prioritise a minimum of experience in negotiations and in the related policy.

Malta must also attract the provision of the most advanced training in technical and decision-making areas. Hence, it is important to involve Maltese who have direct experience in European institutions, as it is standard practice in other EU countries. I am sure that with the right attitude, many colleagues working for the European Commission and other EU institutions would feel honoured to be called back to share experiences with their Maltese civil service colleagues.

In our view, it is also imperative for officials attending these important functions to give an account to the people in the highest institution, the national Parliament. People chosen for the most important posts to represent Malta in the European Commission and the Council of Ministers should give an annual account to the Parliamentary Committee responsible for European Affairs. There should also be a special session of the Parliamentary Committee focusing on the representation of Gozo in the European Commission and the Council of Ministers, which would discuss pertinent themes.

Our last proposal is that every year the public sector should organise a general meeting which would include the attendance of public officials involved in the representation of Malta in the European forums. All Maltese MEPs, MEUSAC, the Office of the European Parliament in Malta and the European Commission Representation in Malta should be invited for an exchange of views and analysis of Malta's priorities at European level.

It is only by having our best talent representing the country in Brussels that we can ensure that we get the best deal for Malta, and talent has no political boundaries. It is time the government stopped handing out jobs in Brussels as rewards, and instead reward the most talented with the opportunity to make a difference for the country and its people.

Dr Peter Agius is a PN candidate in the European Parliament elections and former Head of the European Parliament Office and cabinet member of the President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani