PRESS RELEASE BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Maltese delegation participates in interparliamentary committee meeting on the rule of law in the European Union

Joe Giglio attended the Interparliamentary Committee Meeting on “The Situation of the Rule of Law in the European Union", organised by the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) with the support of the Directorate for Relations with National Parliaments. The meeting was held on Thursday, 11 December 2025, at the European Parliament in Brussels, bringing together Members of the European Parliament, national parliamentarians and senior EU officials for an in-depth exchange on the state of the Rule of Law across the Union.

The meeting took place against the backdrop of the publication of the Commission's sixth Annual Rule of Law Report on 8 July 2025. The report introduced, for the first time, a single market dimension, examining how deficiencies in the Rule of Law affect the proper functioning of the European Union's internal market. The report also reflected discussions held with national parliaments and forms the basis upon which the LIBE Committee will prepare its annual assessment and recommendations.

The programme opened with welcoming remarks by LIBE Chair Javier Zarzalejos, followed by keynote addresses from European Parliament Vice President Katarina Barley and Commissioner Michael McGrath, responsible for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection. Their interventions underlined the growing importance of safeguarding democratic standards within the Union and ensuring consistent application of the principles enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union.

Participants engaged in a substantive exchange of views on the current situation of the Rule of Law across Member States, focusing on developments in judicial independence, anti-corruption frameworks, media freedom and institutional checks and balances. Attention was also given to the economic effects arising from weaknesses in the Rule of Law, including obstacles to investment, barriers to the free movement of services and challenges faced by businesses operating cross border. The dedicated panel on the single market dimension explored how issues such as lengthy judicial proceedings, restrictions on civic space and abusive litigation may impede the functioning of the internal market and undermine fair competition.

The meeting formed part of the wider parliamentary dialogue encouraged by the European Parliament following its 2020 resolution calling for a comprehensive EU mechanism on Democracy, the Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights. This mechanism envisages an annual monitoring cycle on Union values and highlights the indispensable role of national parliaments in scrutinising and debating the Commission's findings. The interparliamentary meeting continues this practice, following similar events in previous years and reflecting the shared commitment of EU institutions and national legislatures to uphold the Rule of Law throughout the Union.