MEPs Set Malta Rule-of-Law Visit

Members of the European Parliament will visit Valletta on Nov. 16-17 to assess Malta’s rule of law, justice system and protection of journalists following the acquittal of the main suspect in the alleged commissioning of Daphne Caruana Galizia’s murder, the Parliament said.

The delegation from the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee will meet Maltese government and parliamentary officials, opposition representatives, authorities, journalists, civil society groups and members of Caruana Galizia’s family. Discussions will also address corruption, media freedom, pluralism and follow-up to a 2021 public inquiry into the journalist’s killing.

The six-member delegation will be led by Sophie Wilmès of Belgium and includes Isabel Wiseler-Lima, Chloé Ridel, Elena Yoncheva, Daniel Freund and Gaetano Pedullà. The visit was recommended by the Parliament’s Democracy, Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights Monitoring Group, which has monitored developments in Malta since Caruana Galizia was killed in a 2017 car bombing.

Wilmès is scheduled to hold a news conference at Europe House in Valletta at 5 p.m. Central European Time on Nov. 17. The Parliament said audiovisual coverage of the delegation’s activities would be available through its Multimedia Centre.