There is unease among members of the Socialists & Democrats group, of which Joseph Muscat’s Labour Party is a member, influential magazine Politico reports.

The investigation into Daphne Caruana Galizia's murder revealed close connections between suspects in the case and the prime minister's top team.

But many S&D MEPs have been wary of making strong statements and have not openly condemned Muscat, a regular attendee at the pre-European Council summit meetings organised by the Party of European Socialists.

They argue there is as yet no evidence for the EU to determine — as required to launch an Article 7 procedure — that there are “systemic threats to the rule of law” in Malta, unlike in Poland or Hungary, which have had the disciplinary process started against them.

Full report here