Joseph Cuschieri returns to government in advisory role

Joseph Cuschieri, who previously served as CEO of the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), has returned to public service in a different role. In late 2023, he was appointed as a policy advisor on innovation by Keith Azzopardi Tanti, Malta’s Parliamentary Secretary for Youth, Research and Innovation. The appointment was made through a “person of trust” contract—an administrative route that allows ministers to recruit individuals directly without an open call or competitive selection process.

This move has attracted scrutiny not only because of Cuschieri’s past controversies but also due to the opaque nature of the appointment. Signed off by the Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Education, Matthew Vella, the contract reportedly includes an additional “expertise” allowance, though details regarding Cuschieri’s specific qualifications in innovation remain unclear.

A past marked by controversy

Joseph Cuschieri’s tenure in Maltese regulatory bodies has been marred by serious allegations and public concern. His most infamous moment came in 2020 when he resigned from his role at the MFSA following the revelation of a trip to Las Vegas, funded by Yorgen Fenech—a businessman now facing trial for allegedly masterminding the assassination of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.

This trip, which also included Edwina Licari—who had been appointed by Cuschieri to a lucrative position at the MFSA—triggered significant public outcry. Critics pointed to possible conflicts of interest and a disregard for ethical governance. The event severely impacted Cuschieri’s public image and led to his departure from the financial authority amid political and media pressure.

Current advisory role and potential conflicts

Despite this backdrop, Cuschieri has returned to public life, now advising on innovation. However, the scope and deliverables of his advisory role remain undefined in the public domain. Complicating matters further, Cuschieri recently took on a full-time position as CEO of Project Green—a state-funded initiative under the Energy Ministry led by Miriam Dalli.

This raises immediate concerns about role duplication, transparency, and the risk of conflicts of interest. When asked whether Cuschieri continues to advise Parliamentary Secretary Azzopardi Tanti while holding the CEO position, neither Azzopardi Tanti nor Matthew Vella provided a response.

Observers have questioned whether it is appropriate—or even legally permissible—for a senior public sector executive to simultaneously hold two government-associated roles, particularly where both involve strategic policy planning and public funding.

Project Green and political patronage

Project Green, the environmental agency now helmed by Cuschieri, operates under the political direction of Energy Minister Miriam Dalli. With a reported budget of approximately €700 million, the initiative has been criticized in certain quarters as a politically driven effort rather than a genuinely transformative environmental plan.

Dalli and Cuschieri have professional history dating back to their tenure at Vodafone Malta, leading to allegations that his appointment was influenced more by political loyalty than meritocratic selection. Project Green’s substantial funding and limited oversight have further amplified concerns about patronage and public resource management.

Involvement in Malta’s space policy

In addition to his roles with Project Green and the Ministry for Innovation, Cuschieri has reportedly been engaged in the development of Malta’s national space policy. Although no official government contract has been publicly disclosed linking Cuschieri to this initiative, sources familiar with the matter have confirmed his advisory capacity.

His involvement is said to be facilitated through CP Advisory, his private consultancy firm, and includes collaboration with a foreign consultancy group. Notably, his daughter, Katrina Cuschieri, has also been involved in this policy revision effort, raising further questions about the proximity of family members in government-affiliated projects.

Questions of merit, access, and oversight

Critics argue that the recurring appointments of Cuschieri and his daughter to influential public roles without transparent selection processes reflect deeper systemic issues in Malta’s public administration. There are growing calls for a more accountable mechanism for hiring individuals to roles that significantly influence national policy, particularly when those individuals have previously been involved in ethical controversies.

While Malta’s laws permit ministers to make “person of trust” appointments, the practice has been frequently criticized by civil society groups and watchdog organizations as a loophole that can enable cronyism.

The case of Katrina Cuschieri

The trajectory of Katrina Cuschieri within the public sector further complicates the narrative. Shortly after graduating, she was employed as a consultant within the private secretariat of Minister Miriam Dalli. Subsequently, she moved to Infrastructure Malta, the national agency responsible for roads and transport.

Infrastructure Malta is now under the leadership of Steve Ellul, a candidate for the European Parliament and another political ally of Dalli. Critics have noted that Katrina’s appointments appear closely tied to her father’s political associations and long-standing ties with influential government figures.

Although there is no public evidence of wrongdoing in these appointments, the lack of transparency continues to fuel skepticism.

Institutional silence and public concern

Numerous questions regarding the specifics of Joseph Cuschieri’s advisory position and his continued role in government projects have gone unanswered by official channels. The Parliamentary Secretary, the Permanent Secretary, and even spokespeople for the Energy Ministry have declined to provide clear answers.

This lack of transparency has led to increased public pressure for the government to establish clearer ethical guidelines and more robust checks and balances concerning public appointments. Watchdog organizations are urging for reforms that would enforce declarations of interest and public disclosures for high-ranking advisory roles.

Calls for reform in public sector recruitment

The situation surrounding Joseph Cuschieri and his family has reignited a broader national debate about recruitment practices in the Maltese public sector. Civil society groups are advocating for a transition to merit-based appointments, mandatory disclosures of professional backgrounds, and parliamentary oversight for senior advisory roles.

Legal experts also highlight the importance of separating public service from private consultancy interests to avoid perceived or real conflicts of interest. In light of past events, some suggest that former officials who have been involved in ethically questionable circumstances should be subject to a cooling-off period before returning to positions of public trust.

Conclusion

Joseph Cuschieri’s reappointment to a position of influence within the Maltese government, despite his controversial past, underscores the ongoing challenges facing public sector governance in Malta. The absence of transparency in the recruitment process, the involvement of family members in related projects, and the lack of clarity surrounding overlapping public roles present legitimate concerns for a democratic society.

As public scrutiny continues to mount, the government may be compelled to re-evaluate the structures that currently allow such appointments to proceed with minimal oversight. Whether reforms will follow remains to be seen, but the conversation around ethical governance, meritocracy, and accountability is likely to remain at the forefront of public discourse in Malta.

FAQs

Who is Joseph Cuschieri?
Joseph Cuschieri is a former head of the Malta Financial Services Authority and currently serves as an innovation advisor in the Maltese government.

Why did Joseph Cuschieri resign from the MFSA?
He resigned in 2020 following revelations of a trip to Las Vegas financed by businessman Yorgen Fenech, which raised concerns about conflicts of interest.

What is his role in the Ministry for Youth, Research and Innovation?
Cuschieri serves as a policy advisor on innovation through a “person of trust” contract, though details of his role remain vague.

Is Cuschieri still working with the government while being CEO of Project Green?
It is unclear whether he continues his advisory role while serving as CEO of Project Green, as officials have declined to comment.

What is Project Green?
Project Green is a government-backed environmental initiative under Minister Miriam Dalli, with a budget of approximately €700 million.

Is Joseph Cuschieri involved in Malta’s space policy?
Yes, sources indicate that he is advising on Malta’s space policy through his consultancy firm CP Advisory, although no official contract has been disclosed.

Who is Katrina Cuschieri?
Katrina Cuschieri is Joseph Cuschieri’s daughter, currently employed at Infrastructure Malta, and has previously worked within Miriam Dalli’s secretariat.

Are there concerns about nepotism or conflicts of interest?
Public concern exists due to the lack of transparency in the appointments of both Joseph and Katrina Cuschieri, particularly in roles linked to the same political figures.

What is the criticism about “person of trust” contracts?
These contracts allow ministers to appoint individuals without open competition, leading to criticism that they undermine merit-based recruitment.

What reforms are being proposed?
Civil society groups are calling for clearer ethical guidelines, public disclosures, and merit-based recruitment processes to ensure accountability in public appointments.