The government has presented a set of amendments aimed at strengthening the Code of Ethics and asset declaration requirements for Members of the House of Representatives, a government statement said.

The amendments were tabled by Justice and Construction Sector Reform Minister Jonathan Attard in the Permanent Committee on Standards in Public Life, following discussions within government and its parliamentary group.

The proposed changes seek to update the Code of Ethics to reflect present-day needs while raising the standards expected of members of parliament.

The amendments also introduce a set of principles intended to provide greater clarity to MPs regarding the conduct expected of them, the statement read.

In addition to updating the obligations of MPs, the reforms introduce an updated system for asset declarations and new obligations aimed at addressing conflicts of interest in parliamentary work.

For the first time, a register of interests will be introduced, while reporting obligations will be extended to cover all parliamentary activity.

The proposed updates take into account recommendations made in recent years by several bodies, including the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Office of the Commissioner for Standards in Public Life, and the Speaker of the House.

Government representatives on the Permanent Committee on Standards in Public Life, Minister Jonathan Attard and Parliamentary Secretary for Social Dialogue and Accommodation Andy Ellul, said they look forward to a constructive discussion with Opposition representatives.

It said that its aim is to reach agreement with the Opposition on these amendments and continue the parliamentary process in the coming weeks.

Government reiterated its commitment to strengthening ethics and good governance in Malta, adding that the reform builds on a series of legislative measures and initiatives introduced by the current administration across the democratic framework, including in the legislative, executive, judicial and public administration sectors, the statement said.