The delegation from the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs currently in Malta sees progress on the rule of law, but there are still points of concerns, Sophie In't Veld, the Chairperson of the Committee said.

Asked to specify what the points of concern are, she mentioned that the length of judicial procedures comes up in almost every meeting they have had. She also said that they can see that the judicial capacity is insufficient. “But I think these are things the government itself also recognises, but we feel that they need to be urgently and vigorously addressed. We have also been talking about how the Parliament functions. But we also see that steps have been taken, there have been reforms. I think the new appointment procedure of judges for example is definitely a positive reform.”

“But let’s wait until we have held all our talks. Tomorrow there will be a press conference and we will give you our final conclusions.”

The delegation’s mission to Malta is to take stock of the developments in the country concerning the situation of the rule of law, judicial reforms, safety of journalists, anti-corruption measures and to exchange views on the citizenship and residence by investment schemes.

In't Veld was replying to questions by journalists after emerging from Castille, where she and the rest of the delegation met Prime Minister Robert Abela and members of the Cabinet.

Abela said during the meeting that his government would not be putting the rule of law on the backburner and he also highlighted a number of reforms, particularly to the judiciary, which had been carried out in the wake of the recommendations by the Venice Commission.

The delegation comprises the following MEPs: Vladimír Bilcik (EPP, Slovakia), Franco Roberti (S&D, Italy), Sophie In ‘T Veld (Renew, Netherlands, who is the Delegation Chair), Gwendoline Delbos-Corfield (Greens/EFA, France), Nicolaus Fest (ID, Germany), and Konstantinos Arvantis (The Left, Greece).

They will address a press conference at the end of their visit on Wednesday.