On Monday evening an official statement confirmed that the Maltese Government has nominated Minister John Dalli for the job of European Commissioner from Malta. Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has informed Commissioner Jose Manuel Barroso of the decision.

The statement said the decision was taken by the Cabinet of Minister on Monday. Currently John Dalli is Minister for Social Policy.

John Dalli was first elected in Parliament in 1987 and served as minister with different portfolios, the most prominent being that of minister for finance responsible for introducing VAT. In 2004 he contested the PN leadership and lost to Lawrence Gonzi.

Mr Dalli, 61, will be the second Maltese Commissioner since Malta’s accession to the EU in 2004. He succeeds Joe Borg, nominated from Malta in the outgoing Barroso Commission. His portfolio was the fisheries.

Related Articles:

• “I got to know about John Dalli from TV” - Joe Borg
  by MaltaMedia News -29 November 2009
• Video: John Dalli for EU Commissioner?
  by MaltaMedia News -20 November 2009
• New European Commission approved, John Dalli resigns
  by MaltaMedia News -9 February 2010
• No Cabinet reshuffle with Dalli’s exit
  by MaltaMedia News -9 February 2010
• Video: John Dalli’s performance considered average
  by MaltaMedia News -11 February 2011