Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1439469
19 NEWS Christmas specials maltatoday | SUNDAY • 26 DECEMBER 2021 of reference given. But in July, Abela accepted the findings with grace and apologise for the State's short- comings when it should have protected Daphne Caruana Galizia. The inquiry proposed sev- eral wide-ranging changes to Maltese law and public life. It reiterated past recommenda- tions made by the Council of Europe's Venice Commission and GRECO (Group of Europe- an states against Corruption), while proposing amendments to Maltese criminal law regard- ing financial institutions and other organisations to prevent "a de facto state of impunity". The inquiry board further recommended that the poli- tics of sanctioning irregular- ities and illegalities must be reduced to a minimum, appli- cable only in exceptional cases, propsing criminal offences for the obstruction of police inves- tigations or the abuse of office among public servants. For journalists, the inquiry said that a police unit "well- versed in media law and the value of journalism" should be specifically set up to protect them from intimidation, har- assment, and insults and hate crimes. The post-Muscat Labour administration has shown in- itiative in strengthening rule- of-law, albeit due to pressure from the European Commis- sion, Moneyval, the Council of Europe and its Venice Com- mission. But changes in judicial and police appointments do lit- tle in addressing the culture of impunity that the inquiry board warned so heavily about. The inquiry's proposals are much-needed changes, but rule of law is not strength- ened by simply changing how the guardians of the law get appointed to their position. It also about the laws themselves – whether the law protects minority groups, holds people accountable, is enforceable by independent judiciaries, and so on. The Opposition has a role too. The law-making process must be a democratic exercise with a plurality of voices and opinions (the PN even failed to provide an opposing stance on the cannabis reform, offering no amendments or recommen- dations despite the backing of dozens of NGOs. Instead, it "diminished" itself to being a mere commentator in the par- liamentary process, as if it held no seat in parliament to begin with). What the public inquiry did not mention, because it was not within their remit, was the political structures that foster clientelism and impunity – Malta lacks rules that punish clientelism without any seri- ous checks and balances on what MPs or ministers do with their government powers. Rule of law is stronger now than it was in 2019. But there are major flaws, not in our re- forms but in the political cul- ture, some of which go beyond good governance. Possibly the most glaring flaw is the failure to dismiss politi- cians, most especially in Cab- inet, for their political short- comings. As the governing party, it is Labour that should be setting the standard. But even when education minister Justyne Caruana was revealed to have used her unfettered discretion to gift her partner a €15,000 contract, with govern- ment procurement regulations flouted, Abela did not even deign a slap on the wrist – at least not publicly – over her misdemeanour. Caruana only resigned days after, no doubt by some behind-the-scenes pressure. She is now contesting the decision in a Constitutional case... even if she has declared she will not run for politics in 2022. In the short term, the public inquiry brought us face-to-face with the political shortcom- ings of the State in protecting Daphne Caruana Galizia. In the longer term, its impact will mostly likely be felt once gov- ernment starts dishing out re- forms in line with the inquiry recommendations. If Robert Abela fails to take action, publicly and transpar- ently, against Cabinet mem- bers that have breached ethics, then it would appear that he has not grasped the public in- quiry's most important lesson after all. Rural Development Programme for Malta 2014-2020 Part financed by the European Union Co-financing Rate: 75% European Union; 25% Government of Malta 26 th December 2021 European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development 2014-2020 PRE – ANNOUNCEMENT The Director General, Funds and Programmes Division, within the Parliamentary Secretariat for European Funds announces the re-issuing of calls for the following measures under the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. Applications will open on Monday, 3 rd January 2022 and calls shall remain open until otherwise notified by the Managing Authority. The first batch of applications shall close on Friday 18 th February at noon, with other batches envisaged for closure on Friday 15 th April and Friday 10 th June 2022, at noon, subject to budget availability. Measure Number Title of Measure 4.1 Support for investments in agricultural holdings 6.1 Business start-up aid for young farmers Further details on the application process will be published in due course on the website of the Managing Authority www.eufunds.gov.mt. For more information, the Managing Authority can be contacted on rdd.opm@gov.mt or 2200 1108. Rural Development Programme for Malta 2014-2020 Part financed by the European Union Co-financing Rate: 75% European Union; 25% Government of Malta The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas 26 th December 2021 European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development 2014-2020 PRE – ANNOUNCEMENT The Director General, Funds and Programmes Division, within the Parliamentary Secretariat for European Funds announces the re-issuing of calls for the following measures under the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. Applications will open on Monday, 3 rd January 2022 and calls shall remain open until otherwise notified by the Managing Authority. The first batch of applications shall close on Friday 18 th February at noon, with other batches envisaged for closure on Friday 15 th April and Friday 10 th June 2022, at noon, subject to budget availability. Measure Number Title of Measure 4.1 Support for investments in agricultural holdings 6.1 Business start-up aid for young farmers Further details on the application process will be published in due course on the website of the Managing Authority www.eufunds.gov.mt. For more information, the Managing Authority can be contacted on rdd.opm@gov.mt or 2200 1108.