Prime Minister Robert Abela has written to the Chairman of the Committee of Experts saying he finds 'no objection' to the committee holding consultations on the proposed media reform bills, adding that he will freeze the bills tabled in Parliament at first reading stage.

Abela said that he held a meeting with members of the IGM Council on Thursday, where the latter informed him that they want further consultation to take place on the bills that were tabled in Parliament.

In the letter the Prime Minister sent to Judge Michael Mallia, the Chairman of the Committee, Abela said that he has no objection to the committee doing so and eventually sending an updated report, "if this is the case."

"This, naturally, if the committee presided by you agrees with the suggestion."

"The relative bills can be kept at first reading stage pending this," Abela wrote.

The meeting between the IGM and the Prime Minister took place after the former threatened to withdraw from the committee of experts if no public consultation on the bills is launched.

In its own statement on Thursday night, IGM said: "The Prime Minister made a commitment not to move forward with the parliamentary process on the Bills. The parliamentary process will remain at First Reading stage. At the meeting, it was agreed that the Prime Minister will write to Judge Michael Mallia who chairs the Committee of Experts, asking it to hold a consultation process on the proposed Bills as requested by the IĠM. The Prime Minister made a commitment not to move forward with the parliamentary process until the government receives the feedback from the Committee following the consultation exercise."

"IĠM is satisfied that common sense has prevailed and the process will not go ahead before meaningful public consultation takes place. The IĠM will continue to press for the widest public consultation possible to be undertaken by the Committee of Experts on which it is represented." 

There have been widespread calls for such a public consultation to take place, including by international organisations.

Prime Minister's letter to the Committee Chairman.

PN statement

The Nationalist Party, in reaction, said that Robert Abela should withdraw the three media reform bills altogether from Parliament.

"Instead of holding a public consultation himself, the Prime Minister got others to do this for him. The PM does not seem to be interested in directly listening to what changes need to take place in the country for the media and journalists to truly be protected, and for everyone to benefit from the right to information," the party said.

The PN statement read that in Parliament there should only be bills of which the content would have passed through a widespread and effective public consultation. It said that it will continue with its public consultation process with journalists and all those who are interested in the media sector, with the aim of presenting all the needed amendments.

The PN's statement was signed by PN MPs Karol Aquilina and Claudette Buttigieg