Joseph Borg (born March 19, 1952) is a politician and diplomat in Malta, associated with the Nationalist Party which is currently governing that country. He was instrumental in the process which led to Malta becoming a member of the European Union in 2004. He was the advisor to the foreign minister on European Union matters from 1989 until 1995, a member of the board of directors of the Maltese Central Bank from 1992 until 1995, and a member of parliament since 1995. He was re-elected to parliament in 1996, 1998 and 2003, served as shadow minister for industry when his party was out of power from 1996 until 1998, and, after his party regained power, served as foreign minister from 1999 until 2004, resigning that post when Malta became a member of the EU. In 2004 he was nominated by the Maltese Government, and subsequently approved by the EU, as the first Maltese EU commissioner. His portfolio includes Fisheries and Maritime Affairs.
Borg, who will shortly move from a rented house in Genval to Waterloo, admits that their frequent separation is one of the hardest parts of his new job.
Borg was finally elected as a member of Malta’s parliament for the opposition Christian Democrats in a by-election in 1995, after unsuccessful attempts in 1987 and 1992.
Another political adversary, George Vella, former foreign affairs minister and Labour’s EU affairs spokesman, comments: “I have a lot of respect for JoeBorg but, when he was an MP, he never engaged in the cut and thrust of political debate and always stuck strictly to his brief.
Feeds |
Contact