Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1545896
WHEN Denmark announced this summer that it was replac- ing its traditional agriculture ministry with a ministry for na- ture and animal welfare, it did far more than rename a gov- ernment department. It made a statement about the kind of society it wants to build. For generations, animal wel- fare has largely been treated as an extension of agricultural policy. That thinking is chang- ing. Across Europe, there is growing recognition that the way we care for animals re- flects much more than farming practices. It says something about our values, our respect for life and the type of commu- nities we aspire to create. Malta has embraced that same vision. The re-elected government, under the leadership of Rob- ert Abela, established a parlia- mentary secretariat dedicated exclusively to animal welfare, while agriculture, fisheries and food supply became the re- sponsibility of a separate min- istry. This was more than an administrative reshuffle; it was a clear political statement that animal welfare deserves dedi- cated political attention. Europe is following the same path. In 2024, for the first time in the European Union's his- tory, the European Commis- sion appointed a commissioner whose official title explicitly includes animal welfare. Mal- ta, however, had already tak- en that step a decade earlier. In 2014, a Labour government established the office of Com- missioner for Animal Welfare, demonstrating long before the EU that animal welfare war- ranted dedicated institutional leadership. Here, I would like to congrat- ulate Inspector Elliot Magro on his appointment as Commis- sioner for Animal Welfare and wish him every success in this important role. His appoint- ment has been welcomed by several animal welfare NGOs, activists and the Momentum Party, all of whom have ex- pressed confidence in the work that lies ahead. Surprisingly, however, the Nationalist Par- ty has so far remained silent, choosing not to issue any pub- lic statement on the appoint- ment. I also wish to thank Fleur Abela for her dedication and commitment during her ten- ure as commissioner, and for the valuable contribution she made to advancing animal wel- fare in Malta. The institutional structures may differ from one country to another, but the message is remarkably consistent. Wheth- er in Malta, Denmark or at Eu- ropean level, animal welfare is no longer viewed as an issue that quietly sits within anoth- er ministry. It has become a public policy priority in its own right. That matters because our understanding of animals has evolved. Today, protecting an- imals is about far more than preventing cruelty. It means promoting responsible own- ership, investing in veterinary care, strengthening enforce- ment, encouraging education and ensuring that both com- panion animals and farm an- imals are treated with dignity throughout their lives. Malta has already embraced this broader vision through continued investment in dog parks, educational initiatives, stronger enforcement and close collaboration with local councils and voluntary organ- isations. Yet our work is far from over. We must continue strengthening partnerships be- tween government, veterinar- ians, researchers, educational institutions and the many vol- unteers whose dedication has long sustained this sector. The choices being made in Malta, Denmark and across the EU point towards a wider shift in public policy. Animal wel- fare is increasingly recognised as an essential element of sus- tainable development, healthi- er communities and responsi- ble governance. Also, services related to animal welfare are becoming an effective niche of economic growth. As a government, we believe compassion should never be separated from policymaking. The way we treat animals re- flects the values we choose to uphold as a society. That is why we remain committed to strengthening animal welfare, ensuring it is not viewed sim- ply as a legal obligation, but as a national priority that will continue to shape the future of our country. 12 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 19 JULY 2026 OPINION & LAW Delegation does not eliminate personal responsibility GIANLUCA CAPPITTA Mifsud & Mifsud Advocates Alicia Bugeja Said Malta and Denmark lead the way on animal welfare Parliamentary secretary for animal welfare In a judgment in the names Bonello vs Debono, delivered by the Court of Appeal, the court gave a practical reminder on the limits of delegating tax affairs to a profes- sional. The case involved a taxpayer who had left Malta and, for a time, was no longer closely following his tax and VAT affairs and decided to engage a practitioner to assist him with these filings. The practitioner would take care of the necessary tax and VAT filings, and the tax- payer would avoid further issues with penalties and pending returns. The taxpayer later claimed that a particular tax return had never been filed and that certain VAT returns had either been filed late or not dealt with properly. As a result, he had to pay penalties and other amounts which, in his view, were caused by the practitioner's failure to carry out the work properly. The practitioner strongly denied those claims. His position was that he had done the work he was en- gaged to do and that the relevant tax returns had been prepared and submitted together during the pe- riod of his engagement. He also produced evidence in support of his position, including documen- tation relating to the returns and payment made directly to the tax authorities at the relevant time. In short, the practitioner's defence was not simply that the taxpayer remained responsible, but that he had in fact carried out the work. The taxpayer sued the practi- tioner before the Small Claims Tribunal, claiming €924. This amount represented a mixture of fees which he said had been paid without proper benefit, together with penalties and charges which he argued resulted from the prac- titioner's mistakes. The practitioner denied liability. Apart from insisting that the fil- ings had been dealt with, he argued that any delays or penalties were not caused by him. He also main- tained that, in some instances, the taxpayer had failed to provide the necessary information in time, or had later taken back control of his own tax affairs. The Small Claims Tribunal re- jected the taxpayer's claim. The taxpayer then appealed. The Court of Appeal accepted that the practitioner had been en- gaged to assist with tax and VAT matters, but that did not automat- ically mean he was responsible for every later problem, penalty or missing document. A key point was that correspond- ence from the tax authorities was still being sent to the taxpayer, not directly to the practitioner. The court considered that the taxpay- er therefore still had a role to play. He had to remain alert, check what was being received, and make sure that filings and receipts were in or- der. On the disputed tax return, the court was not convinced that the practitioner had negligently left out one particular return, especial- ly when several years' returns had been handled together. The court also noted that the taxpayer did not properly challenge or seek re- mission of the €500 penalty before trying to recover it from the prac- titioner. The VAT issues were also decid- ed against the taxpayer. In one in- stance, the court accepted that the practitioner had been chasing the taxpayer for information near the deadline. In another, the deadline fell after the taxpayer disengaged the practitioner and indicated that he could take care of his own tax affairs. The appeal was therefore dis- missed. The lesson is simple. Hiring a practitioner is sensible, especially when one's affairs are complicated, delayed, or being managed from abroad. But professional assis- tance is not a magic shield. A cli- ent should still keep copies, check receipts, monitor correspondence, reply promptly to requests for in- formation, and object to penalties where appropriate—delegation does not eliminate personal re- sponsibility. We remain committed to strengthening animal welfare, ensuring it is not viewed simply as a legal obligation, but as a national priority that will continue to shape the future of our country Hiring a practitioner is sensible, especially when one's affairs are complicated, delayed, or being managed from abroad. But professional assistance is not a magic shield