Repubblika said Tuesday it has submitted a detailed set of proposals to the government as part of the Media Reform Public Consultation, calling for urgent and concrete measures to strengthen media freedom and protect journalists in Malta.

In its submission, the civil society organisation said the country continues to suffer from deep structural failures in its legal, institutional, and cultural framework for media freedom - shortcomings that were laid bare by the public inquiry into the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia. Repubblika warned that the government has yet to meet its obligations arising from the inquiry's recommendations, describing independent journalism as a "pillar of democracy" that remains inadequately protected.

The organisation is urging the government to enshrine independent journalism within Malta's Constitution, recognising it as fundamental to democracy and guaranteeing the right to seek and receive information. It also called for full legal protection for journalistic sources and whistleblowers, including independent reporting channels and immunity for journalists publishing disclosures in the public interest.

Repubblika criticised the government-controlled Media Security Committee, saying its existence poses a threat to press freedom and contradicts both the findings of the public inquiry and European standards. The NGO demanded the committee's immediate abolition and its replacement with a truly independent mechanism.

The group also expressed concern over Malta's implementation of the EU anti-SLAPP directive, describing it as inadequate. It urged the introduction of strong domestic safeguards against abusive lawsuits, including early dismissal procedures, cost-shifting in favour of journalists, and broad public interest defences.

Repubblika is also calling for comprehensive reforms to Malta's public service media. It said the Public Broadcasting Services (PBS) and the Broadcasting Authority must be restructured to ensure independence from government influence, with predictable multi-year funding and oversight involving civil society and journalism professionals.

The NGO further demanded transparency in the allocation of state advertising and media funding, recommending that these be managed by an independent body and published proactively to prevent the use of public resources to reward political loyalty or suppress criticism.

In its proposals, Repubblika called for a complete overhaul of Malta's Freedom of Information regime, stressing that access to information should be the default and that appeals should be handled by an independent body. The group also emphasised the need to improve journalist safety, suggesting that threats and harassment be treated as aggravated offences, that rapid-response protection mechanisms be established, and that law enforcement adopt specialised protocols for such cases.

Repubblika outlined a clear timeline for reform. It said the Media Security Committee should be abolished immediately, domestic anti-SLAPP legislation and a new Freedom of Information framework should be in place within six months, reforms to PBS and the Broadcasting Authority should be completed within nine months, and constitutional amendments guaranteeing journalism's role and the right to information should follow within a year.

"The era of half-measures and rhetorical commitment to press freedom without real, tangible progress must come to an end," Repubblika said, adding that the government has already been given a clear roadmap by the public inquiry. "Failing to act will show bad faith and reinforce doubts about the government's commitment to protecting independent journalism and the public's right to information."

Repubblika concluded by urging the Maltese government to take immediate, decisive action to safeguard press freedom, public accountability, and the health of democracy in Malta.