Former Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil has been appointed Director within the administration of the European Parliament, becoming the first Maltese national to form part of the institution’s senior management structure since Malta joined the EU in 2004.

The appointment marks a new chapter in Dr Busuttil’s career in Brussels, following the conclusion of his five-year term as Secretary-General of the European People’s Party (EPP), the Parliament’s largest political group.

In his new role, Dr Busuttil will oversee operational planning within DG LINC, the directorate responsible for logistics, interpretation, and conference organisation across the European Parliament.

He will report to one of the Parliament’s 16 Director-Generals, who in turn report to Secretary-General Alessandro Chiocchetti, the Parliament’s top civil servant and former Head of Cabinet to European Parliament President Roberta Metsola.

The position represents a transition from a partisan political role within the EPP to a neutral administrative post within the Parliament’s bureaucracy – a move that underscores Dr Busuttil’s continued influence and standing within EU institutions.

His appointment was welcomed by fellow Maltese MEPs, with Peter Agius describing it as “a proud day for Malta”, while David Casa praised the achievement, saying Dr Busuttil had “made us all proud”.

A former Member of the European Parliament himself, Dr Busuttil led the Nationalist Party between 2013 and 2017 before relocating to Brussels in 2020, when then EPP leader Manfred Weber handpicked him for the Secretary-General role.

After stepping down from that post earlier this year, Dr Busuttil briefly served as principal advisor to Mr Weber before moving into his new administrative position.

With this latest appointment, Dr Busuttil joins a select group of senior officials shaping the day-to-day functioning of the European Parliament – a milestone achievement for both his career and Malta’s representation within the EU’s institutional framework.