In its latest Rule of Law Report, the European Commission warned that Malta has made little progress on several long-standing rule of law reforms and stated that public perceptions of judicial independence have fallen sharply over the past year. The failure mark is a blot on the Government's record.
In a staff working document, the Commission reviewed the country's progress on seven recommendations it had made last year. In particular, it highlighted the fact that perceived judicial independence among the general public and among businesses in Malta dropped significantly from 69% in 2025 to 47% this year for the former but rose slightly from 63% to 65% for the latter.
The Commisision also referred to perceptions of corruption in the public sector remaining high with 87% saying corruption is widespread (higher than the EU average of 71%), while 48% of respondents feel personally affected by corruption in their daily lives (EU average 30%). As regards businesses, 69% of companies consider that corruption is widespread (EU average 65%) and 41% consider that corruption is a problem when doing business (EU average 37%).
One recalls that in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index by Transparency International, Malta scored 49th out of 100 and ranked 22nd in the European Union and 60th globally. This perception has deteriorated over the past five years.
This did not stop the Government from claiming that Malta had made "significant progress" over the past year. Justice Minister Clifton Grima said the report's findings reflect "substantial progress achieved by the government in recent years" in upholding the rule of law by strengthening the justice sector, combatting corruption, safeguarding media freedom, and reinforcing institutional standards and checks and balances.
When I read such statements, I always ask myself whether I am living in a Kafkaesque world. Inevitably, I conclude that it isn't the case, but that others are well and truly living in it. The EU Report makes no such assertion. Rather, it either talks of no progress (3 out of 7 recommendations), limited progress (1 out of 14), and some further progress (3 out of 7 recommendations). The word "substantial" does not occur anywhere.
So, it is not that there hasn't been any progress, but it is very limited. Considering that the Commission and other international organisations have been making recommendations regarding the rule of law, governance, and transparency for donkey's years, it is not a surprise that NGO Repubblika retorted that the report confirms that many of the structural weaknesses identified in recent years remain unresolved, while progress in key areas has been "slow, partial, or altogether absent."
Now I know that the Government sees red when Repubblika speaks out, but facts cannot be just wished away. According to the World Justice Project, in 2025 Malta scored 0.67 overall, putting it in the 31st place about of 143 countries worldwide, 23rd among 31 European countries, and 31st among 51 advanced countries. This score is the worst one in five years.
Digging down into the components of the Index, one finds that the best score (0.91) was in public order and security whereas the worst one (0.58) was in regulatory enforcement. Scores for constraints on government powers, absence of corruption, open government, fundamental rights, civil justice, and criminal justice ranged between 0.60 and 0.74.
Minister Grima stated that strengthening the rule of law in Malta "remains a priority" and government will "continue pursuing an ambitious reform agenda through sustained investment, institutional strengthening, and constructive engagement with European and international partners." Minister, do it.
What is it that the Government does not get? Thirty years of global data speak volumes: the rule of law is key to long-term economic growth and societal wellbeing. Countries with robust rule of law achieve greater progress in political and economic reforms. Legal clarity, judicial independence, and accountability build the foundation for successful governance and thriving markets.
Countless reports produced by the Government and its institutions recognise this and commit to it. Why does the government keep regaling us with propaganda that is not borne out by the facts? Is it genetically wired not to deliver?
Recognising talent
Maltese poet and writer Immanuel Mifsud has been named one of this year's laureates of the Homer European Medal of Poetry and Art. The medal recognises writers and artists for their contribution to literature and the arts. Mifsud shared the honour this year with Syrian Kurdish poet Salim Barakat. Past recipients include Spanish poet Antonio Gamoneda, Estonian poet and philosopher Jaan Kaplinski, and Peruvian novelist Mario Vargas Llosa.
Of course, congratulations are very much in order. "This was a happy surprise," Mifsud told The Times of Malta. Well, it is the whole country that should be pleased with the award. Mifsud said the award was not only a recognition of his own work but also evidence that Maltese literature was reaching a wider audience. He added that he hoped the next generation of writers will go even further.
The Maltese laureate attributes the wider reach of Maltese literature to several developments, including Malta's accession to the EU, publishers working towards the same goals as authors, and translation funds offered by the National Book Council.
For more than four decades Mifsud, who is also an Associate Professor in Maltese at the University of Malta, has been one of the country's leading literary figures, writing poetry, novels, short stories, memoirs, and drama. His work has earned him multiple Malta National Book Awards. In 2011, he became the first Maltese writer to receive the European Union Prize for Literature for "Fl-Isem tal-Missier (u tal-Iben)" (In the Name of the Father [and of the Son]).
His books have been translated into numerous languages, bringing Maltese literature to readers across Europe and beyond. He has also represented Malta through readings abroad, including at the Library of Congress in Washington and at Westminster Abbey. He has served both the University of Malta and PEN Malta with distinction.
In recognition of his contribution to literature, the President of the Republic has appointed him a Member of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Malta. Regrettably, the general public is not sufficiently grateful for the artists in our society. Artists make works that are deeply personal and then present them to the world with an open heart. It is refreshing to see them dedicating their lives to what brings us joy. By pursuing these passions despite the risks and fears, they inspire us to do the same. Art can speak things that can't always be said with words.
Cheers
An 82-year-old American grandmother-of-five, Anita LeBrun, has shown that she's still got the guts to defy bureaucracy. LeBrun always loved a good glass of pinot grigio and her family's tradition of kicking off 5pm Happy Hours at their lake-house. But she was stymied when she found out that her Minnesota assisted-living facility, Amira Choice, was prohibited from serving drinks to residents because it didn't have a licence.
The gutsy senior went on a mission to change the law. The problem started after Amira Choice was contacted by local government saying it had broken the rules by serving champagne at an event in April 2025 following renovations. The facility could not afford the cost of an alcohol licence, and the conditions that go with it were prohibitive. Here's where Le Brun came in.
Lebrun teamed up with the NGO LeadingAge Minnesota to campaign for a change in the law. And they won. The state legislature passed what's been nicknamed the "Grandparents' Happy Hour" bill, which was given a ceremonial signing at Amira Choice itself, where Lebrun shared a toast with Governor Tim Walz.
The legislation, which took effect last month, allows nursing homes and assisted living facilities in Minnesota to serve alcohol to residents and their guests for special events without a licence, as long as the state is notified beforehand. "I'm very proud, because everybody's so excited about it," says LeBrun, adding that her fellow residents found the restrictions "ridiculous."
In other countries, the fight against bureaucratic red tape by senior citizens is nothing new, often exemplified by highly visible advocacy and organised action. One example is The Gray Panthers. This organisation pioneered intergenerational activism to fight "stodgy" bureaucracies, corporate greed, and systemic ageism in healthcare
The Senior Women for Climate Protection (over 2,000 Swiss women with an average age of 74) successfully fought the Swiss government at the European Court of Human Rights. They argued that bureaucratic inaction on emissions violated their human rights by failing to protect them from extreme heatwaves. We have 106,000 elderly persons in Malta in a worse boat than the Swiss.
Advocacy networks like AGE Platform Europe lobby the European Commission to combat digital exclusion. They are fighting requirements that force older demographics to navigate complex e-government portals for essential services (e.g., pensions, social benefits) without non-digital, in-person alternatives.
Here in Malta, fighting the government and the bureaucracy is very rare ̶ many people, especially senior citizens, suffer in silence and would never dream of challenging officialdom. Sixty-two years after Independence, we are still shackled by the remnants of colonialism, deferring to asinine and arrogant bureaucracy.
Some 42% of Europe's and 35% of Malta's older population report that age discrimination is prevalent. As the proportion of people over 65 is set to steadily rise in the coming decades, the EU is in dire need of a comprehensive strategy which will allow for a fundamental change, both in policies and in society's perception of older people.
We have all the paraphernalia of caring for the elderly. Undoubtedly the minister and entities concerned are well-intentioned. Although considerable work has been done, ageism still exists. Unless senior citizens start standing up for themselves, like LeBrun, ageist behaviour will not be defeated.
Quote of the week
"Hands off our game." - Glenn Micallef, EU Commissioner for Sport, commenting on Gianni Infantino's controversial proposal to sell off a 20% stake in FIFA competitions to private investors, including President Trump's brother-in-law.