The European Commission's latest Rule of Law report has found that Malta has made little to no real progress on long-standing recommendations, with much of what the government claims as achievements being limited to promises rather than concrete actions, Repubblika said Wednesday.

The report, which assesses the state of rule of law across EU member states, notes that Malta has failed to advance in crucial areas such as judicial independence, anti-corruption efforts, media freedom, and transparency. Where so-called "some progress" has been registered, it often refers only to legislative proposals that have yet to be enacted or implemented, the NGO said.

One such case involves judicial reform, where the government proposed constitutional changes to involve judges in the appointment of the Chief Justice. However, the proposal was not passed by Parliament, and no national consensus or public consultation took place. As a result, this key recommendation from the Commission remains unfulfilled.

In the justice system, delays in court proceedings - particularly in criminal and administrative cases - have worsened despite proposed legislative amendments. According to the report, statistics show longer case durations, not shorter, highlighting the disconnect between government statements and reality.

The shortage of human resources in the courts remains severe, and legislation to regulate the legal profession remains shelved. Anti-corruption investigations also show no real improvement in outcomes, even though the police force and the Attorney General's office have seen an increase in staffing, the statement said.

The Commission found that recommendations stemming from the Daphne Caruana Galizia public inquiry remain largely unaddressed. Malta's Permanent Commission Against Corruption is still seen as ineffective, and proposals to improve political integrity measures have not moved forward. The government has also stopped publishing ministers' asset declarations, and no action has been taken to amend whistleblower protection laws.

The report highlights a complete lack of progress in safeguarding media freedom, ensuring the independence of the public broadcaster, establishing a national human rights institution, and creating a legal framework for public consultation. Citizens' right to access government documents is also not being adequately protected, Repubblika said.

Year after year, the same recommendations are repeated by the Commission, and yet the government continues to fall short in implementing them.

The Maltese government has informed the European Commission of several intended reforms, including a new law to guarantee the independence of administrative tribunals by removing ministers from the selection process, as well as legislation to strengthen the Broadcasting Authority and enhance media pluralism. It also committed to creating a new government department for public consultations and to setting up a human rights agency and a regulatory framework for the voluntary sector by June.

However, except for a limited consultation led by the Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations, there has been no broader engagement with civil society or the public on these proposed measures. Civil society groups are now calling for meaningful consultation and public participation in these crucial democratic reforms, the NGO added.

The timing of the government's pledges is also being questioned. Repubblika points out the irony that the government often announces its plans in June - just before the Commission finalises its report - leaving little to no time for verification or assessment of actual implementation.

There is also disappointment that the European Commission appears not to have fully grasped the seriousness of the Maltese government's decision to remove citizens' right to request magisterial inquiries, especially in corruption cases. While the Commission acknowledged the lack of consultation and civil society's concerns, the NGO said argue that this represents a significant step backward in Malta's already fragile anti-corruption framework.

Ultimately, the report exposes a pattern of delay, avoidance, and superficial compliance by the Maltese government, which continues to make promises on paper while avoiding the real reforms necessary to uphold the rule of law.