The European Parliament, through EU President Charles Michel, has urged the European heads of government to take a stance on the alarming and urgent situation in Malta. Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat is present at the two-day summit in Brussels.
The government in Malta is in crisis due to the investigation into the 2017 murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. There are alleged close ties between the masterminds behind the murder and Maltese politicians and government circles. Both the EU Parliament and the Council of Europe have sent investigative delegations to the country.
The Dutch parliament also adopted a motion on Wednesday requesting Prime Minister Mark Rutte to address the deplorable state of the rule of law in Malta at the EU summit in Brussels and to issue a public statement. Malta should be called upon to comply with the Council of Europe's recommendations. Prime Minister Muscat has announced he will resign in January.
The Netherlands will observe an independent investigation in Malta into the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. The Netherlands will send an observer on a rotational basis, at least together with Germany, according to Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
The investigation must, among other things, determine whether the authorities knew that the journalist's life was in danger. CDA MP Pieter Omtzigt is pleased that the Netherlands is going to contribute. He had urged for an independent investigation via the Council of Europe.
The Maltese government initially proposed a biased and very limited investigation, Omtzigt said. “After international pressure, that improved.” The key witness in the case claims that the right-hand man of the Maltese prime minister was the mastermind behind the murder.
Omtzigt emphasizes the importance of resolving the problems in Malta because otherwise a “hole” for corrupt banks and shady passport traders will remain in the EU.