Next Sunday it was 1,000 days ago that Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia was murdered. On this occasion, journalists’ associations and civil rights organizations urge for consequences in Malta. MEP Sven Giegold, financial and economic policy spokesperson of the Greens/EFA group commented:
“Although the murder investigations are finally making progress, the systematic problems of corruption and money laundering continue. The system in Malta is still rotten. Malta needs fundamental reforms. The big tidying up does not take place even under the new leadership. The rule of law is systematically disregarded in Malta. Corruption, money laundering and the sale of citizenships continue on the island. The EU-Commission is much too tame towards Malta’s government. The Commission must initiate infringement proceedings so that Malta fully complies with EU regulations on combating money laundering, banking supervision and judicial independence. The sale of Maltese citizenships is a blatant violation of EU rules. The European Parliament today called to open infringement proceedings on the sale of citizenships. The sale of civil rights is in at odds with the treaty obligation to cooperate sincerely between Member States (Article 4(3) TEU). Ursula von der Leyen has announced a rule of law dialogue, but it is neither getting underway nor is it sufficient. While the Council of Europe speaks a clear language towards Malta, the EU-Commission does not live up to its responsibilities. Europe can no longer stand by and watch how Malta continues to systematically undermine the rule of law.
Europe has a responsibility to ensure that political consequences follow from the Daphne revelations. Her investigations should not be forgotten. Many Maltese citizens rightly demand that Daphne be honored. Instead of repeatedly clearing the temporary monument, the government should search for a consensual solution for a permanent monument to Daphne. What you can still do for Daphne today is to ensure that her work was not in vain. Europe must do all it can to achieve this. I will never forget Daphne.”
Statement by journalists’ associations and civil rights organizations: