Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1468621
3 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 25 MAY 2022 NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 She was speaking to Malta- Today yesterday just after ex- iting a two-hour meeting in Castille with Abela and several members of his Cabinet. She said that the length of judicial procedures and lack of judicial capacity were main concerns but these were also acknowledged by the govern- ment. "We feel these concerns need to be urgently addressed," she said. Int'Veldt spoke positively of the changes in the way judges and magistrates are now ap- pointed, saying this was "an important reform". She is expected to give an overview of key findings from the three-day visit in a press conference today afternoon. The MEPs will be provid- ing an assessment on Malta's rule-of-law progress after the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia. During opening com- ments before the meeting with the LIBE delegation, Abela highlighted the strong man- date that his administration was given by the electorate to continue enacting reforms. He said that several MPs who were elected for the first time in the March election were instantly given a Cabinet position. "They are representative of the new Cabinet – elected for the first time and instantly giv- en a portfolio," Abela said of the Cabinet members that ac- companied him in the meeting. He said the priority of his administration since Janu- ary 2020 has been rule of law. Abela spoke of reforms in the appointments of the judiciary, the chief justice and the police commissioner, saying that his government enacted all of the Venice Commission recom- mendations. He added that the role of the Attorney General and the State Advocate had been separated, as per the recommendations of the Venice Commission. "The country then had a sec- ond challenge. The Moneyval report spoke of deficiencies in anti-money laundering and countering terrorist financ- ing structures. The report was damning," Abela told the LIBE committee, saying that the government managed to address the concerns with suc- cess. With regards to the Malta's greylisting by the Financial Action Task Force, the Prime Minister said Malta was given the shortest action plan, add- ing that he was looking for- ward to a positive outcome. Abela said that after the pub- lic inquiry into the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia was concluded, a committee of me- dia experts was set up to ad- dress a number of Bills, includ- ing anti-SLAPP reforms. He said that the pandemic was a priority in November, during the last visit by the committee, but he emphasised that it had now shifted onto the war in Ukraine. He said that the government had to protect citizens from inflation. "It is easy to put the challeng- es of rule of law on the side. The temptation might be to put it on the back burner, but the rule of law must remain a priority. It is a catalyst," Abela said. "The reforms were many and in my opinion we brought about a change in attitude and culture. A robust rule of law attracts investment to the country." In her introductory remarks, Int'Veldt said that ever since Daphne Caruana Galizia was murdered, the situation in Malta was closely monitored. "The rule of law is high on everybody's agenda and it is conditional for receiving EU funds," she said. She emphasised that the com- mittee had more questions to ask, even though she acknowl- edged that changes had been implemented. Right before the media was asked out of the room, for the meeting to continue behind closed doors, Int'Veldt spoke of the slow judicial process- es in Malta, saying this was of concern. Prime Minister Robert Abela hosted the delegation at Castille with other key members of his Cabinet (Photo: James Bianchi)