Updated at 1pm

The European Parliament insisted changes to Malta's rule of law and the protection of journalists are made sooner rather than later in a vote taken in Strasbourg on Thursday.

A resolution with a number of recommendations on rule of law received overwhelming support, with 398 MEPs voting in favour and only 85 voting against. The majority of Socialist MEPs, the political group Malta's Labour Party belongs to, voted in favour of the recommendations.

Dutch MEP Sophie in’t Veld said last month the report contained "severe criticism" of the way the authorities had handled the investigation into journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia’s assassination. The report was approved by a cross-party majority of MEPs in the European Party’s civil liberties committee in February.

The report called for a full and independent public inquiry into Ms Caruana Galizia’s murder and into the response by the public authorities to it.Concern was expressed about the “hate speech and disparagement” of the memory of Ms Caruana Galizia.

MEPs declared the Prime Minister’s chief of staff, Keith Schembri, and Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi are “the only acting high-ranking government officials in any EU member state who were found to be beneficial owners of a legal entity revealed in the Panama Papers”.

The report pointed to shortcomings in the rule of law in the country that were identified by the Venice Commission and urged the Maltese government to implement all the commission’s recommendations without exception.

During an EP debate about the report on Monday, firebrand MEP Ana Gomes said it was unacceptable how Prime Minister Joseph Muscat continued to “protect Daphne Caruana Galizia’s murderers”.

European Justice Commissioner Věra Jourová told the European Parliament during the debate the Commission had highlighted its concerns about the "lack of efficiency" with which corruption cases were investigated and prosecuted in Malta.

We emphasise the need for further checks and balances in our system

The civil liberties committee backed calls on the Maltese government to publicly and unambiguously condemn such acts and urged strong action to be taken against any public officials fuelling hate.

It also called for the immediate publication of the Egrant inquiry report and for Malta to stop selling EU passports.

Resolution 'protects Maltese and European values'

Nationalist MEP Roberta Metsola, who formed part of the rule of law missions to Malta and Slovakia, told Times of Malta the vote on Thursday was on a resolution that outlined a framework for future work on ensuring the pillars of democracy in Malta were safeguarded.

“We emphasise the need for further checks and balances in our system that will mitigate any potential abuse and reinforce confidence in our country as an EU member state”, she said.

Following the vote, she noted the resolution sought to protect both Maltese and European values.

MEP David Casa also said it would have been a dereliction of duty to look the other way while institutions were captured to protect corrupt politicians to the detriment of people.  PN MEP Francis Zammit Dimech said the Maltese people deserved to live in a truly European country. "we will continue to be their voice and to defend these values which we cherish," he said.  

MEP Miriam Dalli said that various debates and discussions in parliament tried to give the impression that Malta does not care about its rule of law.

"It was only through intense works that this week we had amendments being submitted, including by the S&D, to start recognising the work being done by the Maltese government. I have always defended my country, and will continue to do so."

Labour MEP Marlene Mizzi said the country was being "politically and unjustly harassed".

European Parliament members were not applying values of fairness, objectivity and non-discrimination when they voted in favour of the fourth resolution against Malta.

“This shameful resolution against Malta was co-authored by one of our own Maltese MEPs as shadow rapporteur, who is also the LIBE coordinator for the European People’s Party. This is truly deplorable,” Ms Mizzi said.

“Whilst I understand that there is still room for progress, and that no government or country is perfect, I will not accept that my country’s name is dragged through the mud over and over again without any respect for objectivity and integrity of facts," she said.

Additional reporting by Denise Grech