The Daphne Caruana Galizia foundation has welcomed the news that the government is analysing feedback from the Committee of Experts it appointed in the wake of the Public Inquiry into Daphne Caruana Galizia’s assassination.

“One of the principal motives for the Public Inquiry was for the Maltese State to learn lessons from Daphne’s murder. It is therefore particularly encouraging to hear that the Committee of Experts has responded to the government’s proposed legal amendments and the proposal for public interest media to be recognised in Malta’s Constitution as the fourth pillar of democracy,” the foundation said in a statement.

The foundation was reacting to news which emerged from a meeting between Justice Minister Jonathan Attard and the Institute of Maltese Journalists on Wednesday, where Attard said that it was analysing the first batch of the committee of media experts’ feedback.

The principle of journalism being recognised in Malta’s constitution must be the basis of any legislation and reforms aimed at creating an enabling environment for public interest journalism that ensures accountability and transparency, the foundation said.

“It is in this spirit of accountability and transparency that the government must now adhere to its obligation to publish the Committee of Experts’ assessment which it received in June,” it continued.

The foundation noted that the Terms of Reference given to the Committee bind the government to table a copy of the Committee’s recommendations in Parliament within 10 days.

“As Parliament is now in recess, we call on the government to send a copy of the Committee’s recommendations on the proposed legislation to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and to publish the recommendations immediately through the Department of Information,” it concluded.