The EU Secretariat coordinates the preparatory work for the Cabinet Committee on EU Affairs and the Inter-Ministerial Committee for EU Affairs. The Secretariat is responsible for ensuring that these bodies are in a position to take the required decisions about any EU-related matter in a well-informed and timely manner. The Secretariat is also responsible for ensuring Malta’s effective and active participation in Ministerial Councils, committees, working parties and working groups of the EU, particularly in terms of coordinating the preparation of consolidated positions for such meetings that are in line with national policy.

In addition to supporting these committees, the EU Secretariat has two main functions. The first, at an internal level, is to respond in a timely and coordinated manner to requests for policy decisions required by the EU’s institutions through the Permanent Representation of Malta to the EU in Brussels. The second, at an external level, is to finalise guidelines and instructions for approval by the Cabinet Committee on EU Affairs where these concern Council meetings as well as meetings of the Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER) and other Committees established by the Treaties.

In general, the EU Secretariat is also responsible for ensuring an effective and consistent flow of information between the Permanent Representation of Malta to the EU and the ministries which have lead or secondary responsibility for particular policy areas. The Secretariat also acts as a trouble-shooter, particularly in resolving issues that cut across different ministries or departments. Finally, the EU Secretariat is also responsible for monitoring the implementation of EU legislation in line with the agreed time-frames, both in terms of the enactment of local legislation and of its implementation.