EU report shows rule of law weakness 'remains unresolved'

Malta has failed to address several weaknesses in its democratic institutions despite years of scrutiny, Repubblika said on Saturday its reaction to the European Commission’s latest Rule of Law Report.

The NGO said the commission’s 2026 report presented a “sober and realistic” assessment that contradicted the government’s claims that Malta had overcome its rule-of-law crisis.

It said the report showed that progress in several areas had been slow, partial or entirely absent.

Repubblika said Malta has still not strengthened judicial independence in the appointment of the chief justice, improved court efficiency or established a track record of final judgments in high-level corruption cases.

It said the country had also failed to provide adequate protection for journalists, introduce a proper framework for public participation in law-making or establish an independent national human rights institution.

“These are not technical shortcomings. They concern the basic safeguards that ensure public power is exercised in accordance with the law rather than political convenience.”

The NGO said it was particularly concerned by the commission’s observation that reforms continued to be drawn up without meaningful engagement with civil society.

It said the report recorded concerns raised by civil society organisations and professional bodies while highlighting the government’s reluctance to hold the open and structured dialogue required for constitutional reform.

The government had repeatedly refused to engage with it on constitutional reform, anti-corruption measures, judicial independence, media freedom and institutional accountability, despite invitations issued over several years.

“A democracy cannot renew itself if those who govern refuse to listen to independent voices,” it said.

Repubblika said it had submitted detailed proposals, legal analyses and evidence to the European Commission during this year’s reporting process, as it had done in previous years.

It insisted its aim was not to encourage criticism of Malta but to help strengthen its democratic institutions.

It said Malta needed institutions capable of resisting political pressure, protecting fundamental rights and holding those in power to account. It also called for an effective and independent justice system, a public administration based on integrity rather than patronage and a state capable of tackling high-level corruption.

Repubblika said it remained willing to work constructively with any government prepared to strengthen the rule of law and address what it described as Malta’s prolonged institutional fragility.