‘Drop The Soft Diplomacy’: Peter Agius Urges European Commission To Support Maltese Judiciary Amid Vitals Scandal
“The Commission doesn’t understand how crafty the Labour Government is,” Agius told Lovin Malta.
“This is why I am calling on them to drop the soft diplomacy and understand they are dealing with professional cheaters,” he continued.
“We need more effective measures to ensure the judiciary in Malta is supported by public authorities in the collection of evidence on investigations of corruption cases,” Agius wrote in a letter to Věra Jourová, European Commission Vice-President for Values and Transparency, adding that this is “in the interest of Maltese and Gozitans who have been defrauded by corrupt politicians at the expense of patients and vulnerable people.”
Agius referenced the European Commission’s 2024 report on the Rule of Law, set to be released in a few weeks. He remarked that although the government has submitted its contributions for this report, he is convinced that the Maltese Government is concealing the true situation in Malta.
The PN MEP candidate referenced the Vitals inquiry report, which he says is “a clear confirmation that Maltese governmental authorities are not cooperating with the Maltese judiciary.”
“On the contrary, they are doing everything to hinder its work for justice. Page 1004 of the inquiry report shows how in cases of corruption, fraud, bribery, and money laundering involving politicians, the government authorities refused to give access to documents to the magistrate,” he continued.
“This clearly shows that there is a need for political and legislative action at the European level to spur a different attitude in Malta so that the rule of law really prevails to ensure good use of taxes paid by citizens.”
Appealing to Jourová for tangible action, Agius said, “The time has come for Europe to be firm with the Maltese Government and realise that soft diplomacy will get us nowhere.”
“The Maltese people consider Europe as a shield of rights, but we are often realising that that shield is not working enough in favour of the citizen,” Agius said, appealing to the Commission to “take a clear position and be on the side of the Maltese people.”
“The EU must defend the judiciary with facts in the Member States, especially when the national authorities fail to cooperate.”
Do you think that the European Commission should support the Maltese judiciary more?
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