During a virtual meeting with Minister for Justice, Equality and Governance Edward Zammit Lewis, experts from the Council of Europe in the areas of human rights and rule of law praised the commitment of the Maltese Government to delivering constitutional and institutional reforms.
This meeting was chaired by Minister Edward Zammit Lewis in the presence of the State Advocate Chris Soler. The Council of Europe experts were led by Christophe Poirel from the Directorate-General for Human Rights and the Rule of Law, together with Pavlo Pushkar for the Department for the Execution of Judgments.
While it was appreciated that more work needs to be done in the efficiency of the Maltese Courts, the European experts stressed the importance that the Ministry for Justice consolidates the important work carried out during the last months. The constitutional amendment in the extension of the retirement age from 65 to 68 years of judges and magistrates was one of the main achievements recognised in this area. Another important reform mentioned was the digitisation of the judicial sector, with well-equipped courtrooms for virtual hearings and electronic court proceedings.
The same experts praised the unprecedented reforms carried out by the Ministry for Justice on behalf of the Maltese Government related to the rule of law and good governance. This part of the discussion focused on the change that is taking place in the Attorney General’s office, whereby this office is now assuming the responsibilities of certain prosecutions considered to be the most serious crimes from the Executive Police. In connection with these reforms, the experts from the Council of Europe also mentioned the good work done by the Maltese Government in terms of the Constitutional amendments related to the appointment of the chief justice, the judiciary, as well as the discipline and removal of the same judges and magistrates.
Minister Edward Zammit Lewis thanked the experts of the Council of Europe for their continuous support and reiterated that everything done by the administration of Prime Minister Robert Abela in the last nine months should serve as a solid pediment for more good governance, in the good spirit of the rule of law principles in Malta.
