Rule of law in Malta: our joint submission to the European Commission

Together with aditus, we filed a submission to the European Commission for its 2026 Rule of Law Report. Our analysis raises the following key concerns.

1. Justice: The efficiency of Malta’s courts remains a critical concern. Our 2025 report on Malta’s justice system found that 46% of wilful homicide cases, where defendants were arraigned between 2010 and 2020, remain pending. Despite Malta Government’s promises of reform and repeated EU recommendations, there has been no progress in depoliticising the appointment of the Chief Justice.
2. Anti-corruption: Government’s recent legislative changes actually restrict the initiation of corruption investigations, while high-level corruption prosecution remains chronically slow or ineffective. Malta remains non-compliant with GRECO and OECD recommendations on lobbying and abuse of office.
3. Media freedom: Journalists in Malta continue to face a hostile environment, frequently attacked and discredited by government officials. Public broadcasting remains under government influence.
4. Checks and balances: Government is increasingly fast-tracking legislation, bypassing public scrutiny. The Ombudsman’s and Standards Commissioner’s recommendations are often ignored or not given the necessary weight by Parliament, undermining their effectiveness as checks on executive power.

Real reform requires more than just ticking boxes. It requires the Executive’s genuine commitment to transparency and accountability.

Access our submission here.