PL Deputy Leader and MEP Alex Agius Saliba and the President of the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) in the European Parliament, Iratxe García Pérez, have written a joint letter to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to clear up what the Labour Party said were "misconceptions" being touted by the Partit Nazzjonalista about the reforms to the magisterial inquiry process in Malta. 

These misconceptions were taken up and repeated by the European People's Party (EPP), an umbrella group for right leaning parties in the European Parliament, which labelled them as a "significant retrograde step", the PL said Thursday.

The letter explains that the reforms being implemented by the current PL administration are based on the recommendations of the Venice Commission which, in a report published in December 2018, advised that these inquiries should be carried out by the prosecution rather than the judiciary.  A commission which investigated reforms in Malta's justice system had made similar recommendations in November 2013.

The reform will bring about clearer and more structured channels through which individuals may request the initiation of inquiries on wrongdoing which they happen to become aware of.  The current system allows any individual to trigger an investigation on another individual without providing substantial proof to back up their request.  This is leading to abuses where allegations are made with the intention to tarnish the reputation and cause other damage to innocent individuals and their families, especially as the inquiry may prolong indefinitely, the PL said.

The letter explains that the practice being adopted in Malta is broadly in line with the practices in several European countries.  These practices are aimed at optimising the resources and efficiency of the judiciary, provide robust safeguards to individuals involved in investigations and enhance the effectiveness of the enquiry process. 

The Labour Deputy Leader and the President of the Socialists and Democrats concluded by requesting the President of the European Commission to consider the reforms in their entirety, and within the context of a push for the streamlining of a common European approach towards requests for the investigation of crimes by private individuals.