IMF hails 'substantial improvement' in Malta’s courts
Civil and commercial cases now take 454 days on average, as reforms, digitalisation and higher judicial pay boost efficiency
The International Monetary Fund on Friday confirmed a “substantial improvement” in the efficiency of Malta’s court, particularly in the reduction in the number of days required to resolve civil and commercial cases.
A statement issued by the Justice Ministry said that statistics from the Justice Scoreboard indicated that in 2012 a new case took an average of 685 days to be concluded but by 2024 that figure had fallen to 454 days.
Only Slovakia recorded a stronger reduction, with a decrease of 264 days, equivalent to 60%, while in 15 other EU member states, the time taken to resolve cases increased over the same period.
Whereas in 2012 the time required to conclude a case in Malta was almost four times longer than in Germany, this gap has now been halved.
The report highlights several reforms implemented in recent years, including an increase in the number of members of the judiciary, improved salaries and working conditions, the digitalisation of the system, the expansion of judicial facilities and buildings, reforms to the judicial appointment process, and other measures aimed at increasing efficiency.
The IMF noted that the number of members of the judiciary has increased by 40 per cent with a similar rise in court staff.
National expenditure on the judicial system has now reached the third highest level in the European Union, compared to being the twelfth highest in 2013.
The ministry said this “confirms the government’s strong investment in this sector”.
The IMF pointed out that salaries for members of the judiciary and the prosecution have swung from being “excessively low” to being among the highest in Europe, particularly for newly appointed magistrates and judges who now earn five times the average wage, which is more than double that of neighbouring countries. This improvement began in 2018.
The IMF also observed “major changes” in the judicial appointment process.
“Historically, judicial appointments were subject to political imbalance, whereas the process has now been depoliticised. This has led to an improvement in judicial independence,” the IMF reported.
They also praised the appointment of the Commissioner for Standards in Justice.
The introduction of a Commercial Court is expected to lead to further efficiency gains, while the introduction of a Family Court will reduce pressure on the Civil Court.
According to the IMF, this specialisation will improve both the quality and efficiency of the courts, particularly in commercial cases, as more dedicated resources will be allocated to them.
The report also noted that €10 million had been allocated for digitalization which his expected to result in better case management and more efficient use of human resources within the judicial system.
The IMF also remarked that the Ministry for Justice is taking various steps to reduce abuse of the system, speed up procedures, and ensure that justice is delivered more swiftly.
The IMF stressed the need for further reforms to ensure that the momentum for change continues.
The ministry said the government has “agreed with several of the practical recommendations put forward by the foreign experts and will continue working to strengthen the judicial system.”