Rule of law in Malta: MEPs travel to Valletta to take stock of developments 

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On 23-25 May, six MEPs of the Civil Liberties Committee will assess progress in the investigations, trials, and reforms that followed the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia.

Two and a half years after the last visit of an EP delegation to the country in the context of ongoing efforts to strengthen EU values, MEPs will return to Malta on 23-25 May. The aim of the visit -organised upon the recommendation of the Monitoring Group on Democracy, Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights (DRFMG) is to take stock of the latest developments as regards the rule of law, recent judicial reforms, safety of journalists, anti-corruption measures, and citizenship and residence by investment schemes. Communication between Maltese authorities and the DRFMG, as well as the group’s work in this area, continued throughout the pandemic.

The delegation comprises the following MEPs:

They will meet with:

  • the President of the Republic of Malta Dr George Vella
  • the Prime Minister Dr Robert Abela and Cabinet Members
  • Chief Justice Mark Chetcuti (tbc)
  • Attorney General Dr Victoria Buttigieg
  • the Speaker of the Parliament of Malta Hon Anġlu Farrugia
  • Members of the Parliament of Malta.

They will also hold discussions with commissioners and senior civil servants, representatives of Europol (the EU’s police agency) and regulatory bodies, as well as NGOs, civil society, journalists and representatives of the Daphne Project, and the family of Daphne Caruana Galizia.

Media opportunities and contacts

A press conference will take place at the end of the trip, on Wednesday 25 May, at 12.30 CEST, at the European Parliament’s office (Europe House) in Valletta. Additional information will become available in due course.

You may contact the Chair of the delegation through her policy advisor Christian KROEKEL: christian.kroekel@europarl.europa.eu.

All other media enquiries should be directed to the European Parliament Press Officer accompanying the delegation, Polona TEDESKO: polona.tedesko@europarl.europa.eu, +32 (0) 495 53 54 57.

Background

Following visits to Malta and Slovakia in the aftermath of the murders of the Maltese blogger and journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, and the Slovak journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée, the Civil Liberties Committee set up its Rule of Law Monitoring Group in June 2018. In the 9th parliamentary term, the Group was succeeded by the Democracy, Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights Monitoring Group, which monitors and reports on relevant issues across all member states.