The Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Justice, Culture and Local Governments, Johan Galea along with The Judiciary Association of Malta, represented by Judge Joseph McKeon and Magistrate Francesco Depasquale, signed an understanding that will bring about better financial conditions for magistrates and judges, the justice ministry said on Monday.

This was following a number of discussions held over the span of a number of years as well as approval from the Cabinet.

The improved financial conditions are the third step in establishing independence and autonomy for the Bench following constitutional amendments that established an independent committee for the appointment of judges, as well as a disciplinary committee and an introduction to service pensions which was implemented during the last legislature, the ministry said.

As a result, there was an unprecedented increase in scrutiny before and during the appointment whilst at the same attracting the best people to becomes judges and magistrates.

The last time the conditions for the judiciary were ameliorated was in 2012.

The government in the last five years implemented a number of strong reforms that improved the justice sector. These procedural and substantive reforms resulted in greater efficiency and quality in the justice sector as was evidenced by the Justice Scoreboard of the European Commission, the ministry said, adding that the government would continue with further reforms to ensure better administration of this crucial sector for the rule of law of the country.