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

Two and a half years later last visit In the context of ongoing efforts to strengthen EU values, MEPs will return to Malta on 23-25 ​​May. The purpose of the visit – organized on the recommendation of the Monitoring Group on Democracy, the Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights (DRFMG) should take into account the latest developments regarding the rule of law, recent judicial reforms, the safety of journalists, anti-corruption measures, and citizenship and residence by investment schemes. Communication between the Maltese authorities and the DRMFG, as well as the work of the group in this field, continued during the pandemic.

The delegation includes the following MEPs:

They will meet:

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

They will also have discussions with commissioners and senior civil servants, representatives of Europol (the EU 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.

Opportunities and media contacts

A press conference will be held at the end of the trip, on Wednesday 25 May, at 12.30 pm CEST, at the European Parliament (Europe House) office in Valletta. Additional information will be made available in due course.

You can contact the chair of the delegation through her political adviser Christian KROEKEL: [email protected]

All other media inquiries should be addressed to the European Parliament Press Officer accompanying the delegation, Polona TEDESKO: [email protected], +32 (0) 495 53 54 57.

Background

After visits to Malta u Slovakia following the killings of Maltese blogger and journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, and Slovak journalist Ján Kuciak and his girlfriend, the Civil Liberties Committee. set up its Rule of Law Monitoring Group in June 2018. In the 9th legislature, the Group was succeeded by Democracy, Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights Monitoring Groupto monitor and report on relevant issues across all member states.