National Party MEP David Casa will form part of the European Parliament’s leadership following an election that took place this morning in Strasbourg where he was elected European Parliament Quaestor.

Casa was comfortably elected with 391 votes. The Quaestors are elected for two and a half year terms and are responsible for different aspects of the Parliament’s administration such as the Parliament’s communication set-up.

Casa will form part of the European Parliament’s Bureau together with the President and Vice Presidents. He now holds the highest ranking European Parliament post secured by a Maltese MEP.

“I am honoured to have been entrusted to take on this role. This is now my fourth parliamentary term and I am ready for the increased responsibility that comes with forming part of the Parliament’s Bureau. My election is also testament to the fact that despite coming from a small member state Maltese nationals can achieve positions of significant clout within European institutions,” Casa said in a statement.

This role comes after a number of important roles held by Casa during past legislatures, namely EPP Group Coordinator for the Employment and Social Affairs Committee, as well as Parliament’s lead negotiator on one of the Work Life Balance Directive adopted a few months ago.

“I am determined to continue working with even more energy to achieve concrete results for Maltese and European citizens,” Casa said.

The news comes after Prime Minister Joseph Muscat failed to secure a position he sought as the President of the European Council.