Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1193631
5 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 18 DECEMBER 2019 NEWS various MEPs called for the equal application of a rule of law mechanism that al- lows the EC to draw in errant states closer to the standards of values the EU endorses. The socialist MEP and chair of the LIBE committee, Juan López Aguilar, said that while he endorsed the conclusions of the rule of law committee missions in Malta, "we need to make sure that all member states commit to the same basis without any criticism of political bias, and that they will abide by the legal ques- tions of rule of law and inde- pendence." Both sides were criticised by the Alice Kuhnke of the Greens, who berated the S&D and EPP for jockeying for the moral high ground about the will to investigate similar incidents. "The fact that you lost your moral compass to hunt for benefit is not only shameful in itself, but because every individual politician in every assembly, who undermines the rule of law, is also un- dermining democracy and the trust that should exist between politicians and the populace, which is the demo- cratic core of our values." Other MEPs, like Renew's Ramona Strugariu, vehe- mently protested the lack of opprobrium shown by Mus- cat's counterparts during the last European Council. "None of those ministers in the European Council should have shaken Muscat's stained hands," she said. Malta's Labour MEPs as ex- pected, attempted to put up a staunch defence of their country. Alex Agius Saliba was per- haps the most vociferous. "I will never accept that all Malta be tarred with the same brush. The police carried out intensive investigations and today we have the alleged killers and murder master- mind, and they are facing justice… our institutions are functioning well and are not prejudiced towards particu- lar individuals." Agius Saliba said the reso- lution being pushed on Malta was unjust, saying the coun- try was already working to implement recommenda- tions by the Venice Commis- sion and the European Com- mission. Josianne Cutajar also called for caution, warning that the resolution could be used for partisan political purposes when investigations into the Caruana Galizia assassina- tion were ongoing. "The Malta police force with Europol, have done great work… Malta stopped; understood where it went wrong; and made a decision. An institutional reform pro- cess has started and we will not stop before we have a significant Constitutional Reform." Labour's head of delega- tion described the assassi- nation of Daphne Caruana Galizia as an act of terror and said action had to be taken against whoever is responsi- ble, "whoever those persons may be." "Malta is currently experi- encing unprecedented cir- cumstances that shook the whole society and we want these realities to be ad- dressed in a constructive manner… We are confident that the process under the oversight of the President of Malta to propose constitu- tional reforms will yield re- sults." She even called for all al- leged cases of corruption to be thoroughly investigated. "No one is above the law and the fact that time-bar- ring on cases of political cor- ruption was removed should ensure such judicial process. Currently there are five on- going magisterial Inquiries on cases of alleged corrup- tion. We want these inquir- ies to be concluded as soon as possible for the benefit of all." Even Dalli called on the Commission to propose a rule of law mechanism made up of independent experts that monitors all member states in an objective and fair manner. "It is what we really need because conclusions that are not objective do not help anyone." Labour MEP Alfred Sant was equally honest about the situation Malta faced. "That Malta faces seri- ous problems of governance is clear. They arose in the context of the horrendous murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia and also be- yond… There have been fatal failures of judgement even at the top level. The political price for them is being paid." But Sant called for a dispas- sionate review of the situa- tion leading to reforms that will ensure no future repeti- tion of past mistakes. "True: the criminal investi- gation arrived at sensational findings. Even more sensa- tional allegations have been made on their basis. We heard them being repeated during this debate, mostly for political jockeying. This runs contrary to the interests of the Maltese people whose commitment to European values is secure. "When considering how European values are being respected, we must follow objective criteria, applied to all by an institution that all can trust. The resolution on which we shall vote tomor- row combines findings, alle- gations, one sided interpre- tations in a statement that paints black everything Mal- tese. It also blacks out the economic, social and cultural progress achieved in Malta during past years, which is not fair… "There has to be a right way for this assembly to consider the affairs of Malta, one that would be applied equally to other member states like Hungary or Poland. No mat- ter how well intentioned, the direction in which this de- bate has been driven is not the right way, not for Malta, neither for Europe. We need a better way." errant debate Vera Jourova Alex Agius Saliba