Following the Prime Minister’s address to the EP earlier this week on the Maltese EU Presidency, a number of MEPs, both local and foreign, made comments on the Panama Papers and Malta’s ability to steer through anti-money laundering legislation.

Newly elected EP President Antonio Tajani was also accused of backtracking on his position against the scandal, which he refuted by saying that his new role precludes him from getting involved in partisan issues.

Commenting on this, Italian MEP Lara Comi, who is also the Vice Chair of the EPP, said: “This issue is very popular in Italy. It’s called the ‘instrumentalisation of thought’. I’m convinced and I also heard him (President Tajani) speak. He was very clear. We’re going to soldier on because whoever breaks the rules in the domain of taxation, including issues related to tax havens will obviously have to pay for his actions. Panama Papers continues to be one of the most important dossiers so that will be pursued in as much as the research on the Maltese government will be pursued vigorously.

“I am also convinced that the Maltese Prime Minister should come to Europe with a very different attitude because we cannot accept that he continues to laugh and smile during the plenary session while colleagues and commissioners are there to discuss serious matters like migration and the Panama Papers, and everything that has to do with tax havens.

“Therefore I say to the Maltese Prime Minister, as an Italian national, please respect this institution. If you want to laugh and smile, I’m sorry but this is not the right place because here we don’t laugh but we solve problems, something that he is not able to do in his country.

“On Panama Papers we will continue our work in a very serious manner and we’ll ask the governments involved on this issue, including the Maltese government, to provide us with clear answers. We’re fighting against terrorism, against illegal migration, and we’ll also fight against all governments who want to be cunning with loyal and honest citizens. If anyone made a mistake, even if they are Maltese officials, they will have to pay for their actions like all others.”