Manfred Weber, Chairman of the EPP Group in the European Parliament expressed his concern after the OPM chief of staff filed a criminal libel complaint against Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil.

"I am concerned about the latest developments in Malta. The fact that a Prime Minister's Chief of Staff files a criminal complaint against the opposition leader Simon Busuttil is a worrying signal as regards the respect of democracy and the rule of law," Weber said in a statement.

"I call on the Maltese government not to resort to methods that put them at risk. Additionally, we are still awaiting clarifications from Prime Minister Muscat on his involvement in the Panama case."

Schembri claims that Busuttil fabricated facts that he knows do not exist and of taking a false oath in court applications filed.