EU Parliament Debates Malta Rule of Law Amidst Divergent Views

European Parliament Examines Malta's Rule of Law

The European Parliament convened a debate on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, to scrutinize the state of the rule of law in Malta, a discussion held eight years after the assassination of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. The debate revealed a stark contrast in perspectives between Maltese Labour MEPs and the European Commission, with the former dismissing criticisms as politically motivated and the latter pointing to persistent shortcomings.

Labour MEPs Dismiss Concerns as 'Politically Motivated Attacks'

During the parliamentary session, Labour MEPs Alex Agius Saliba, Daniel Attard, and Thomas Bajada strongly rejected European concerns, characterizing them as 'politically motivated attacks' and 'sheer deceit'. They asserted that Malta has made 'great leaps forward' in its governance and questioned the repeated scrutiny. Daniel Attard accused colleagues of using 'the murder of a journalist to serve their own political agenda' and dismissed the country's declining ranking in the Corruption Perceptions Index as mere 'perception'. Alex Agius Saliba questioned the debate's title, 'Delayed Justice', given that five individuals have been charged in connection with Caruana Galizia's murder. Thomas Bajada adopted a more neutral tone, calling for justice for all journalists globally and urging the Parliament to 'go beyond partisan politics'.

European Commission Cites Insufficient Progress

In contrast to the Maltese Labour delegation's stance, the European Commission, represented by Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen, acknowledged some reforms but emphasized that 'additional efforts are needed'. The Commission's 2025 Rule of Law Report highlighted several critical areas where progress remains insufficient. These include a lack of a 'robust track record of final judgments' in high-level corruption cases and the need to enhance the capacity of the Permanent Commission Against Corruption. The report also noted slow implementation of anti-corruption recommendations stemming from the public inquiry into Caruana Galizia's assassination, as well as concerns regarding the efficiency of the justice system, resource shortages, lengthy proceedings, and limited advancements in media freedom and journalist protection.

Broader Political Reactions and Context

The debate also saw contributions from Nationalist MEPs, including David Casa and Peter Agius, who underscored the ongoing lack of full justice for Daphne Caruana Galizia and criticized the Maltese government for failing to implement key reforms. Domestically, the Maltese government, led by Prime Minister Robert Abela, responded by accusing the Nationalist Party of damaging Malta's international reputation. The government subsequently passed a motion in the Maltese Parliament to censure the Opposition, with Prime Minister Abela arguing that Malta's strong economic performance contradicts claims of rule of law backsliding. The European Parliament debate was part of a broader effort to assess adherence to democratic principles, judicial independence, and corruption controls among EU member states.