PRESS RELEASE BY THE MINISTRY FOR JUSTICE AND THE REFORM OF THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR Maltese Government Reaffirms Commitment to Justice Reform and Democratic Accountability

The Ministry for Justice and the Reform of the Construction Sector refers to the report issued by the 'Civil Liberties Union for Europe', with the segment on Malta being authored by “The Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation."

The Ministry wishes to clarify that the authors have at no stage sought the Ministry's statements in the preparation of this report and notes, in this regard, that it categorically rejects various incorrect claims presented in the 'Liberties Rule of Law Report 2025'. The report lacks critical background and information concerning the substantial reforms and progress achieved in strengthening Malta's rule of law and justice system in recent years.

Since 2020, Malta has undertaken comprehensive reforms aimed at enhancing judicial independence, transparency, and accountability in full alignment with European standards.

Malta's sustained progress in rule of law reform has been recognised by European institutions, including the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen^[1], and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset^[2].

Contrary to the assertions contained in the report, the Government has implemented unprecedented measures to depoliticise the justice system and other wide ranging reports across various institutions

Notably:

1. Constitutional amendments enacted in 2020 overhauled the judicial appointments process, ensuring that judges and magistrates are selected based on merit by an independent Judicial Appointments Committee.

2. Furthermore, the appointment of the Chief Justice is now subject to a two-thirds majority vote in Parliament, ensuring cross-party consensus and impartiality.

3. The Government has also committed to further strengthening this process by involving the incumbent Chief Justice in future appointments.

4.Additionally, in 2021, the separation of the roles of Attorney General and State Advocate was affected to reinforce institutional checks and balances.

5. The Government also launched a comprehensive digitisation strategy and is committed in investing over €10 million to modernise Malta's justice infrastructure. This initiative forms part of the Digital Justice Strategy 2022–2027, aimed at streamlining court procedures, reducing case backlogs, and enhancing access to justice for all.

6. To address resource challenges, the Ministry for Justice has significantly increased the number of judges and magistrates—Malta now has the highest number of members in the judiciary to date.

7. Court infrastructure has been expanded, including the development of additional courtrooms, while funding for the Judicial Studies Committee has been increased to enhance the training of the Judiciary.

8. In line with a zero-tolerance approach to corruption, the Government established the Commissioner for Standards in Public Life and has significantly increased resources for the Permanent Commission Against Corruption. High-profile investigations and prosecutions have demonstrated the independence and effectiveness of Malta's investigative institutions.

9. With regard to media freedom, Malta was among the first EU Member States to fully transpose the Anti-SLAPP Directive into national law and remains committed to strengthening legal protections for journalists.

The above mentioned, amongst numerous other reforms enacted by the Government, in the field of the Rule of Law, are a testament of the Government's commitment to remain steadfast in upholding European values through continued reforms that promote transparency, accountability, and justice for all citizens

^[1]https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/ewropej/112053/live_state_of_the_eu_ursula_von_der_leyen_addresses_europe

²https://tvmnews.mt/en/news/malta-a-very-good-example-of-democracy-rule-of-law-and-human-rights/