Between 23-25 May, six MEPs of the Civil Liberties Committee have been assessing 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:
- Vladimír BILČÍK (EPP, SK)
- Franco ROBERTI (S&D, IT)
- Sophie IN ‘T VELD (Renew, NL), Delegation Chair
- Gwendoline DELBOS-CORFIELD (Greens/EFA, FR)
- Nicolaus FEST (ID, DE)
- Konstantinos ARVANITIS (The Left, EL).
They met 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 also held 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.
Source: Europarl
