THE FIRST INTERVIEW  TALK & OPINION

EXColin FPitz discEovers hoRw EconoImisEt and fiNrst time PCL geneEral electionAcandidNate PRDOFESSOR CEDWARRD SCICLEUNA’sDcareer hIas tBaken hiIm thLrough vIarioTus acadY emic and professional experiences in many countries including Canada, the UK and the US, to his current position as an MEP. Teacher, University Professor , in touch with the people, as is while earning the respect of Consultant, European happening in certain Southern all those he has worked for or Parliamentarian, and now... DETAILS European countries at the with, in and abroad. candidate for the Maltese Hometown: Rabat, lives in San Pawl tat-Tarġa moment ; but it depends on One look at his CV shows how elections. At first glance, the Family: Wife Astrid, son Mark, daughter Katya your personality. You must be he was trusted by both sides upward trajectory of Edward Education: The Lyceum; St Michael‘s College of able to mix with people from of the local divide to serve Scicluna’s career seems to be Education, Universities of Malta , Oxford, Toronto, all walks of life and not live in with the Electoral taking a detour, but this softly (PhD in Economics ) an ivory tower. But it’s Commission during some of spoken, Rabat-born First Job: Teacher possible to be able to combine Malta’s hottest political intellectual who credits strong Current job: Vice-Chairman, ECON, , academic excellence in a field periods; he has chaired both family values as the basis for Professor of Economics at the University of Malta and be political savvy. In the Malta Council for his success, doesn’t see it that Hobby : Sailing many governments I’m Economic and Social way. Favourite book: Going for Growth 2012 (“An OECD thriller – familiar with, including in the Development and the Malta “I may be thought of as an just kidding” ) United States, many Finacial Services ‘Economist’ or ‘Academic’ but Preferred economic philosopher : Joseph Stiglitz politicians are not only Authority been Director of everything I have ever studied Favourite music : Classical music; Winter Moods graduates but on the teaching the Central Bank, a member has always had a tangible and Favourite film: Australia and research staff of of the Malta-Euro immediate relationship with Last holiday: A six day motor-dash along Sicily’s coastline universities .” Changeover Committee... the real life. The sort of economic (quicker than sailing when time is at a premium) But, I proposed, if he does list goes on. Despite always work I have pursued hasn’t make it to National being known to harbour been the ‘detached’ Parliament, and perhaps personal left of centre beliefs, intellectual type, seeking further, he will have to make right wing Nationalist knowledge for its own sake, that leap from advising, which ministers have also taken him but the sort that influences he has done very well for along on international government policy where it decades, to actually missions and he has also been matters: on the ground. In implementing policies, not all commissioned to prepare key fact, course s I took in Oxford of which may be universally National reports for the were more in the realm of popular. He smiled and United Nations – all of which Political Economy, a recalled an anecdote in reply. he is very proud of. combination of Philosophy, “Back in 1998, Eddie Fenech “I have been involved in Politics and Economics. In Adami kept me on as one way or another in public Canada the emphasis was Chairman of the Malta service for our country’s more on the quatitative and Financial Services Authority advancement for the last 25

applied side ,” he explained, as s (he had been nominated for years. I strongly believe that k r we settled on his commodious, o the post by Alfred Sant two public service doesn’t mix w l r

orange sofa in his home in San a years earlier ), once remarked with politics and I gave my e Pawl tat-Tarġa . It is a P to me that Economists and unbiased and, I like to think, – t

pleasant, welcoming u advisors can advise him till useful, contribution to bungalow, fastidiously kept by m the cows come home, but it ensuring that we have m a

Edward’s wife Astrid, no S was him who would have to prosperity in our nation over b o

stranger to academic pursuits c carry the can and face the the years,” he said. a herself, having spent some J people... so, yes, not every Meanwhile, apart from the y years studying Social b Economist will enjoy sticking years he spent studying and o t o

Anthropology at the same h his own neck out to working abroad, he is still University as her husband in P implement the policies that he regularly consulted by Canada, shortly after they believes in and are best for the international credit rating married. opportunist who gives the approach wrapped in, as he quarters for more academics bill – with the added benefit But this image is not without country, but I feel I am ready agencies for his opinions on Scicluna doesn’t strike me as profession a bad name. He describes it, a politician’s (technocrats ) to be allowed that he has actually been its drawbacks. to take up this challenge. Yes Maltese and regional economic the kind of politician who seems to have a very skin, something one has to cabinet positions in elected in the European “You can get branded a I am prepared.” situation, apart from, of simply spouts off at attractive academic approach embrace if he or she is going Government (Italian Mario Parliament – and now is ‘technocrat’, with the Indeed, Scicluna is obviously course, the high regard he is everything under the sun – to whatever he is asked to to enter the arena. With calls Monti style), here is one seeking re-election, this time implication that you are a a very determined man who kept in at the European the kind of low-intellect comment upon, yet, it is an being made from some person who seems to fit the for the National Parliament. little politically naïve and not has done very well for himself Parliament . 

With ECB President Mario Draghi With Nobel Prize Winner Robert Mundell With Commisioner Olli Rhen With Commissioner Barnier With Eurostat DG Walter Radermacher Chairing an ECON meeting Speaking at an international conference 28 FIRST NOVEMBER 2012 FIRST NOVEMBER 2012 29 THE FIRST INTERVIEW  TALK & OPINION

“I am very happy serving type to be very careful with in the European Parliament my words , but I say this as a member of the with full responsibility,” he Progressive Alliance of said. Socialists and Democrats , “At this stage, with the and I am proud of being arrival of my grandchildren , recognised for my expertise my vision has been coloured in my fields. My proudest by thoughts about the moment was probably when future and what legacy we I was chosen by Baroness are going to leave for our Ashton ( First Vice President descendents, and I see that of the European as my political mission from Commission) to lead a 120- now on. The first task will strong EU team as observers be to stabilise the public in the recent Ugandan Professor Scicluna during a European Parliament plenary session debt, not try quick-fix elections. The world was solutions to try and reverse looking up to us to confirm Delegation to the where we are going to get it quickly. The mistakes of that the election was ‘free Parliamentary Assembly of the money from to improve 25 years cannot be fixed in a and fair ’, which, after a lot the Union for the things. I feel that is not the mere five years. Neither will of anguish we finally Mediterranean . But he has right question to ask. It’s I suggest an austerity decided that it was.” also felt it was his duty to the good governance in programme – to me that is a Since being elected an keep people back home marshalling Malta’s kiss of death – but we must MEP (on a PL ticket in informed. resources and applying them do what we can to avoid 2009) Scicluna has been And yet, here he is, to the right priorities that getting caught on the EU appointed Vice-Chairman of accepting the ‘challenge he will make the difference. radar screen – so it doesn’t the Economic and Monetary couldn’t refuse’ to come back “Public finance is the barge in and start Affairs Committee , the EP’s and play the local political biggest challenge for any recommending that we start representative on game put to him by PL government today. Our austerity programmes like it EUROSTAT’s Advisory leader . country’s debt simply hasn’t has done in other Committee, a member of the “I was asked to form part been reined in. It’s actually Mediterranean EU Delegation to the ACP-EU of the team that aims to been growing in both countries.” Joint Parliamentary take Malta ahead thanks to absolute and relative terms,” To conclude, I asked Assembly and substitute good governance. I feel we he said, getting quite Professor Scicluna about the member on the Committee need a new style of doing animated. “ Take for example secret of his success. on the Environment, Public things: that is the crux of my two children who are “Hard work ,” was his Health and Food Safety and the matter. Some people ask married . Of course it is right immediate answer, followed for them and their families to by: “ Trying to stay calm and shoulder the burden of debt keep ing one ’s eye on the for things they will be using priorities. Develop your throughout their life-time . mental strength by reading a But why should they have to lot. And surround yourself shoulder the massive interest with the family’s support. I burden created by past wouldn’t have got where I mistakes the current am today without the love administration has made in, and care of my family, for example, the energy especially my wife Astrid. field?” She has been the rock, and I Scicluna added that he look forward to spending believes Malta has done well more time with her, and the in certain sectors, but the family , in between bouts of energy field is one of the work, whether in the ones that i t really ‘messed European or National Relaxing with the family: wife Astrid, son Mark and daughter Katya up’ as he called it .“I’m the Parliament. ” CAREER Edward Scicluna graduated from the Financial Services Authority consultancy work for the EU University of Oxford with a Diploma (MFSA), Electoral Commissioner, Commission, UNESCO, the United with distinction in politics and Central Bank Director, MIB Ltd Nations Environmental Programme economics; from the University of director, Chairman of political (UNEP), and for the governments of Malta with a First Class Honours BA discussion programmes organised by Albania, Croatia, Libya and Turkey; degree in Economics, and the the Malta Broadcasting Authority served on the University of Toronto with a Masters (MBA), Chairman of the HSBC’s Development Bank Auditing and Doctorate in Economics. Malta Funds Sicav plc and Committee. He is sought for his advice He was appointed Professor and Structured Funds Sicav plc, by the IMF delegations to Malta and Head of Department of Economics Chairman of CWG plc, director at the Rating Agencies – FitchIbca, at the University of Malta; San Antonio Hotel and Spa, and Standard&Poor’s, and Moody’s. Five Chairman of the Malta Council of board member of the National Euro years ago he was appointed as a Euro Economic and Social Development Change-over Committee (NECC). expert by the EU Commission. (MCESD), Chairman of the Malta Internationally he carried out (www.edwardscicluna.com )

30 FIRST NOVEMBER 2012