Years after Daphne's murder, GRECO anti-corruption reforms remain unmet

Following Daphne’s assassination in October 2017, Council of Europe’s Group of States Against Corruption (GRECO) brought forward Malta’s routine evaluation, implicitly acknowledging the urgent need to address corruption. Malta’s 2018 review under GRECO’s 5th Evaluation Round resulted in 23 recommendations to prevent corruption and promote integrity in the top execution functions of central government and in law enforcement agencies.

Seven years on, one third of the recommendations have only partially been implemented and another third have not been implemented at all. GRECO’s Second Compliance Report on Malta, adopted at its 100th plenary meeting in June and released last week, notes that significant shortcomings persist and that there is limited progress in most areas that are fundamental to promoting integrity and preventing corruption in the executive.

GRECO has called on Malta to take determined steps to advance reforms in the areas identified and has asked Malta’s authorities to submit a progress report by 30 June 2026. Meaningful progress can no longer be deferred. Malta owes its citizens a transparent, accountable system that meets the integrity benchmarks set out by GRECO. Each year of delay deepens the wounds left by Daphne’s murder. Malta must finally choose transparency and accountability over impunity and silence.