{{Short description|Maltese politician|bot=PearBOT 5}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Tonio Borg | image = Tonio Borg 2012.jpg | office = [[European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy|European Commissioner for Health]] | president = [[José Manuel Barroso]] | term_start = 1 July 2013 | term_end = 1 November 2014 | predecessor = Himself {{small|(Health and Consumer Policy)}} | successor = [[Vytenis Andriukaitis]] {{small|(Health and Food Safety)}} | office1 = [[European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy]] | president1 = [[José Manuel Barroso]] | term_start1 = 28 November 2012 | term_end1 = 1 July 2013 | predecessor1 = [[Maroš Šefčovič]] {{small|(Acting)}} | successor1 = Himself {{small|(Health)}}<br />[[Neven Mimica]] {{small|(Consumer Protection)}} | office2 = [[Deputy Prime Minister of Malta]] | prime_minister2 = [[Lawrence Gonzi]] | term_start2 = 23 March 2004 | term_end2 = 28 November 2012 | predecessor2 = [[Lawrence Gonzi]] | successor2 = [[Louis Grech]] | office3 = [[List of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Malta|Minister of Foreign Affairs]] | prime_minister3 = [[Lawrence Gonzi]] | term_start3 = 12 March 2008 | term_end3 = 28 November 2012 | predecessor3 = [[Michael Frendo]] | successor3 = [[Francis Zammit Dimech]] | office4 = Minister of Justice | prime_minister4 = [[Eddie Fenech Adami]]<br />[[Lawrence Gonzi]] | term_start4 = 15 April 2003 | term_end4 = 12 March 2008 | predecessor4 = [[Austin Gatt]] | successor4 = [[Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici]] | office5 = Minister of Home Affairs | prime_minister5 = [[Eddie Fenech Adami]]<br />[[Lawrence Gonzi]] | term_start5 = 8 September 1998 | term_end5 = 12 March 2008 | predecessor5 = [[Alfred Sant]] | successor5 = [[Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici]] | prime_minister6 = [[Eddie Fenech Adami]] | term_start6 = 17 April 1995 | term_end6 = 28 October 1996 | predecessor6 = [[Louis Galea]] | successor6 = [[Alfred Sant]] | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1957|5|12|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Floriana]], [[Malta]] | death_date = | death_place = | party = [[Nationalist Party (Malta)|Nationalist Party]] | spouse = Adele Galea | children = 3 | alma_mater = [[University of Malta]] | caption = Tonio Borg in 2012 }} '''Tonio Borg''' (born 12 May 1957) is a Maltese lawyer, law professor, and former politician who served as the [[European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy]] replacing [[John Dalli]] as member of the College of the European Commission in the second [[Barroso Commission]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20121020/local/tonio-borg-expected-to-be-nominated-european-commissioner.441660 |title=Official: Tonio Borg nominated European Commissioner - to stay on as minister until confirmation process is concluded |work=Times of Malta |date=20 October 2012}}</ref> He lectures [[Public law|Public Law]] at the [[University of Malta]], and has authored numerous books on the subject.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Prof. Tonio Borg |url=https://www.um.edu.mt/profile/tonioborg |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=L-Università ta' Malta |language=en}}</ref>
== Political career == Borg was first elected in [[1992 Maltese general election|1992]], serving as Minister for Home Affairs.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-11-09 |title=borg-tonio |url=https://parlament.mt/en/7th-leg/political-groups/partit-nazzjonalista/borg-tonio/ |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=Parliament of Malta |language=en}}</ref> After the [[Nationalist Party (Malta)|Nationalist Party]] lost the 1996 election, he became a shadow minister to the [[Alfred Sant]] administration.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-03-05 |title=borg-tonio |url=https://parlament.mt/en/8th-leg/political-groups/partit-nazzjonalista/borg-tonio/ |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=Parliament of Malta |language=en}}</ref> Eventually, the Nationalist Party would retake the government in 1998, wherein Borg assumed the role of Minister of Home Affairs until parliament was dissolved in 2003,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-02-08 |title=borg-tonio |url=https://parlament.mt/en/9th-leg/political-groups/partit-nazzjonalista/borg-tonio/ |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=Parliament of Malta |language=en}}</ref> in preparation for Malta's EU ascension, which Borg's Nationalist Party was in favour of.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Mitchell |first=Jon P. |title=Ambivalent Europeans: ritual, memory, and the public sphere in Malta |date=2002 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-415-27153-0 |location=London}}</ref> After the [[2003 Maltese general election|2003 general election]], Borg was elected, and resumed as Minister of Justice and Home Affairs. In 2004, he was sworn as Deputy Prime Minister.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-05-11 |title=borg-tonio |url=https://parlament.mt/en/10th-leg/political-groups/partit-nazzjonalista/borg-tonio/ |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=Parliament of Malta |language=en}}</ref>
In the [[2008 Maltese general election|2008 general election]], the Nationalist Party returned to government, albeit with a slim majority. Tonio Borg was made Minister of Foreign Affairs.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-02-19 |title=borg-tonio |url=https://parlament.mt/en/11th-leg/political-groups/partit-nazzjonalista/borg-tonio/ |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=Parliament of Malta |language=en}}</ref>
In 2012, Borg was appointed as EU Health (and Consumer Policy) Commissioner, replacing John Dalli. EU ministers majorly approved Tonio Borg's candidature, yet his conservative views on gay rights and abortion were subject to criticism from several MEPs.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2012-11-28 |title=Malta's Tonio Borg appointed EU Health Commissioner |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-20523924 |access-date=2025-01-16 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Nomination hearing – DW – 11/12/2012 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/controversy-over-maltas-eu-commissioner-to-be/a-16373654 |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=dw.com |language=en}}</ref>
Disagreeing with the idea of a 'potential human being', Borg sought to entrench Malta's restriction of abortion in the Constitution. Whilst the proposition received support from some [[Labour Party (Malta)|Labour Party]] MP's, most notably [[Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca]], it was dismissed by moderate politicians in the Nationalist Party and the Labour Party.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20050507/local/plans-for-abortion-law-to-be-entrenched-in-constitution.91186|title=Plans for abortion law to be entrenched in Constitution|date=May 7, 2013|newspaper=Times of Malta|accessdate=November 13, 2016}}</ref>
Initial controversy surrounding his election as Health Commissioner centered around perceived conflicts with his portfolio, wherein Borg, a Catholic conservative-leaning [[Christian democracy|Christian Democrat]], would oversee matters of stem-cell research, IVF, and other topics which are criticized under [[Catholic social teaching]], threatening the role's impartiality. Nevertheless, Borg maintained an impartial and moderate presence.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Keating |first=Dave |date=November 14, 2012 |title=A kinder, gentler Borg |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/a-kinder-gentler-borg/ |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=POLITICO |language=en-GB}}</ref> The post of Maltese commissioner was succeeded by Karmenu Vella in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Karmenu Vella « EEB Conference 2014 |url=https://2014.conference.eeb.org/speakers/karmenu-vella/ |access-date=2025-01-16 |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Academia == Graduating with a law degree in 1979, he would start lecturing at the University of Malta initially as a guest lecturer.<ref name=":0" /> Eventually, in 2016, he became an assistant lecturer, until 2018 wherein he completed his PhD in Judicial Review and Administrative Law,<ref name=":1">Borg, T. (2018). Judicial review of administrative action in Malta (Doctoral dissertation).</ref> and was promoted to senior lecturer.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brincat |first=Edwina |date=2024-03-25 |title=Court quashes University decision denying Tonio Borg's application for promotion |url=https://timesofmalta.com/article/court-quashes-university-decision-denying-tonio-borg-promotion.1089818 |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=Times of Malta |language=en-gb}}</ref>
He became associate professor in March 2020. In 2024 he was promoted to full professor.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carabott |first=Sarah |date=2024-12-18 |title=Tonio Borg promoted to full professor following two year saga |url=https://timesofmalta.com/article/tonio-borg-promoted-full-professor-following-two-year-saga.1102623 |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=Times of Malta |language=en-gb}}</ref> He lectures Constitutional, and Administrative law.
His PhD thesis was published as a book in 2020.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Borg |first=Tonio |title=Judicial Review of Administrative Action in Malta |publisher=Kite Group |year=2020 |isbn=9789995750886}}</ref> In it, Borg observes the field of Administrative law in Malta, highlighting potential abuses of power and the manner in which Maltese courts apply the ''ultra vires'' doctrine.<ref name=":1" />
==Other activities== * [[European Medicines Agency]] (EMA), Member of the Management Board<ref>[https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/about-us/who-we-are/management-board/members Members of the Management Board] [[European Medicines Agency]] (EMA).</ref>
==Recognition== In December 2018 Borg was appointed Companion of the Order of Merit (KOM) by the President of Malta.
==Publications== *Borg, Tonio (1979). ''Public limits to fundamental human rights: a study of Maltese decisions''. (Master's dissertation). *Borg, Tonio (2016) ''A Commentary On The Constitution Of Malta. Kite Group''. Kite Group. {{ISBN|9789995750282}} *Borg, Tonio (2019) ''Leading cases in Maltese constitutional law''. Kite Group. {{ISBN|9789995750824}} *Borg, Tonio (2021) ''Maltese Administrative Law''. Kite Group. {{ISBN|9789918230280}} *Borg, Tonio (2020) ''Leading cases in Maltese administrative law''. Kite Group. {{ISBN|9789918230051}} *Borg, Tonio (2022) ''A Commentary On The Constitution Of Malta (2nd Edition)''. Kite Group. {{ISBN|9789918230785}} *Borg, Tonio (2022) ''The Blue sisters saga : a legal and factual analysis''. Kite Group. {{ISBN|9789918230587}} *Borg, Tonio et al. (2024) ''The Constitution of Malta at sixty''. Kite Group. {{ISBN|9789918231478}}
==References== {{Reflist|}}
==External links== {{Commons category-inline}}
==Political offices==
{{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=[[Louis Galea]]}} {{s-ttl|title=Minister of Home Affairs|years=1995–1996}} {{s-aft|after=[[Alfred Sant]]}} |- {{s-bef|before=[[Alfred Sant]]}} {{s-ttl|title=Minister of Home Affairs|years=1998–2008}} {{s-aft|rows=2|after=[[Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici]]}} |- {{s-bef|before=[[Austin Gatt]]}} {{s-ttl|title=Minister of Justice|years=2003–2008}} |- {{s-bef|before=[[Lawrence Gonzi]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Deputy Prime Minister of Malta]]|years=2004–2012}} {{s-aft|after=[[Simon Busuttil]]}} |- {{s-bef|before=[[Michael Frendo]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[List of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of Malta|Minister of Foreign Affairs]]|years=2008–2012}} {{s-aft|after=[[Francis Zammit Dimech]]}} |- {{s-bef|before=[[John Dalli]]}} {{s-ttl|title=[[Maltese European Commissioner]]|years=2012–2014}} {{s-aft|after=[[Karmenu Vella]]}} |- {{s-bef|rows=2|before=[[Maroš Šefčovič]]<br />{{small|Acting}}}} {{s-ttl|rows=2|title=[[European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy]]|years=2012–2013}} {{s-aft|after=Himself|as=European Commissioner for Health}} |- {{s-aft|after=[[Neven Mimica]]|as=European Commissioner for Consumer Protection}} |- {{s-bef|before=Himself|as=European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy}} {{s-ttl|title=[[European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy|European Commissioner for Health]]|years=2013–2014}} {{s-aft|after=[[Vytenis Andriukaitis]]|as=European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety}} |- {{s-ppo}} {{s-bef|before=[[Lawrence Gonzi]]}} {{s-ttl|title=Deputy Leader of the [[Nationalist Party (Malta)|Nationalist Party]]|years=2004–2012}} {{s-aft|after=[[Simon Busuttil]]}} {{s-end}}
{{Gonzi Cabinet 2008-2013}} {{Second Barroso Commission}}{{European Commissioners from Malta}}{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Borg, Tonio}} [[Category:1957 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:People from Floriana]] [[Category:University of Malta alumni]] [[Category:Members of the House of Representatives of Malta]] [[Category:Deputy prime ministers of Malta]] [[Category:Maltese European commissioners]] [[Category:Nationalist Party (Malta) politicians]] [[Category:Recipients of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana, 1st Class]] [[Category:Government ministers of Malta]] [[Category:Ministers for foreign affairs of Malta]] [[Category:21st-century Maltese politicians]]