Updated 6pm - Added Europol statement 

Europol on Saturday declined to confirm or deny that a comment by its outgoing chief noting there is "room for improvement" in cooperation on murder investigations was not directed at Malta. 

A spokesman for the EU's law enforcement agency told Times of Malta that while they could confirm that agency executive director Rob Wainwright had written to the European Parliament, "we will have nothing further to say on the matter in public." 

Times of Malta contacted Europol after Malta's police force issued a statement on Saturday afternoon in which it said that Europol had confirmed that Mr Wainwright's reference to "room for improvement" was "made in relation to cooperation with other countries". 

In his letter to MEP Ana Gomes, Mr Wainwright had written that the investigation into Daphne Caruana Galizia’s murder was “highly complex”, involved “a number of EU member states” and that “new concerns” had prompted further investigation.

READ: 'New concerns' flagged in Caruana Galizia investigation by Europol

He went on to write: “While we continue to work closely with the Maltese authorities, there is some room for improvement in this cooperation and we are actively seeking to address this.”

Europol was roped in to assist with the investigation into Ms Caruana Galizia's murder from early on in the process, with police officers testifying that agency officials were present during all major searches of suspects' homes and the crime scene.

Reports of Mr Wainwright’s letter had prompted a surprised response from Malta’s police force, which in a statement issued on Saturday morning had said they were seeking “urgent clarification” about the comment.

“At no point the Malta Police were informed about any ‘room for improvement,’” the statement had said. It later issued a follow-up statement, saying Europol had confirmed that the statement was not directed at Malta. 

“The Malta Police confirms that there is a full and transparent cooperation with Europol about the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia and other cases emerging through the investigation,” police said.

A spokesperson at the Office of the Prime Minister had told journalists working on the Daphne Project that Maltese authorities were cooperating with Europol "at every level" and that it was willing to make "any improvements necessary" to improve cooperation.

Europol said that it continued to work with Maltese authorities "with a view to furthering the interests of the investigation."