Cachia Caruana retains official advisory role to Prime Minister and ambassador’s title

Malta's former ambassador to the EU Richard Cachia Caruana has retained his official advisory role to the Prime Minister on European affairs.

The Prime Minister has also approved that Cachia Caruana retains his title of 'ambassador'.

Replying to a parliamentary question raised by Labour MP Joe Mizzi, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said that Cachia Caruana was his adviser on a "part-time basis" and has "refused" to be paid for his work.

"I have always been clear that it was in the country's national interest that government continues to make use of Cachia Caruana's long experience in the field," Gonzi said.

The PM added that no contract will be drawn up. However, he tabled in parliament a copy of a letter signed by the principal permanent secretary, Godfrey Grima, taking note of Cachia Caruana's role.

Grima said that instructions have been issued to provide Cachia Caruana with the necessary support and resources to carry out these duties efficiently and effectively. Instructions also "ensure that [he] will not incur any personal expenses in relation to the fulfilment of official duties".

Cachia Caruana served as personal assistant to prime minister Eddie Fenech Adami and chief negotiator for EU accession, before becoming ambassador to the EU in 2004. He remains one of the PN's key strategists.

His resignation in June 2012 came after Labour filed a motion calling for his resignation, on the grounds that he had used his office to reactivate Malta's participation in Nato's Partnership for Peace programme, without having to seek the approval of the House of Representatives - based on cables sent by United States ambassadors that were leaked by Wikileaks.

The motion was supported by former Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando.

Cachia Caruana served as adviser to the Prime Minister on EU affairs during his time in Brussels, ensuring that the PM was always appropriately briefed on key strategic issues concerning the EU and that of overseeing the preparation of all position papers, including any analysis required and the recommendations detailing the best course of action to be followed.

He participated regularly in Cabinet meetings in order to update Cabinet on all EU-related developments on a weekly basis, provide information and advice on any items raised in Cabinet that may have an EU dimension. As the PM's adviser, Cachia Caruana also chaired the inter-ministerial committee for EU affairs and oversaw the functions of the EU secretariat.