Rule of law in Malta: MEPs to assess findings of fact-finding visit to Valletta

Following a fact-finding mission to Malta, MEPs will discuss on Thursday the situation of the rule of law and allegations of corruption and money laundering.

Ana Gomes (S&D, PT), who headed the delegation to Valletta, will present its draft mission report to the Civil Liberties Committee and members of the former Committee of Inquiry into Money Laundering, Tax Evasion and Tax Avoidance (PANA), some of whom also joined the mission.

Visiting on 30 November-1 December, MEPs met with Prime Minister Joseph Muscat i and members of his Government, the Chief Justice, the Police Commissioner, the Attorney General, the Financial Analysis Intelligence Unit (FIAU), the Financial Services Authority (MFSA), as well as journalists, anti-corruption activists and representatives of NGOs and banks.

In a plenary resolution approved in November 2017, the European Parliament demanded that the rule of law in Malta be closely monitored, to ensure proper law enforcement and compliance with EU rules on money laundering and banking activities. Among other concerns, MEPs noted a failure to investigate serious allegations of corruption and the sale of EU citizenship through Malta’s Citizenship by Investment programme.

MEPs also called for an independent international investigation into journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia’s assassination, with the full involvement of Europol.

When: Thursday, 25 January, from 9.00 to 10.00.

Where: European Parliament in Brussels, József Antall building, room 4Q2

You can follow the meeting live.