EP Delegation on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs meets with Government in Malta. Statements by Joseph MUSCAT, Maltese Prime Minister, Sophia IN'T VELD (RE, NL) and Roberta METSOLA (EPP, MT).

meeting

visit

Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs

EP delegation

METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

IN 'T VELD, Sophia (Renew, NL)

freedom of press and media (T)

MUSCAT, Joseph (PSE, MT)

Malta

EU - Malta (T)

EP Delegation on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs to Malta: meeting with Government

External shots of the Auberge de Castille and protesters around (6 shots)

Arrival of Joseph MUSCAT, Prime Minister of Malta (2 shots)

Eggs launched on the wall of the Auberge de Castille (3 shots)

Joseph MUSCAT, Prime Minister of Malta meets the EP Delegation: handshake and roundtable 

SOUNDBITE (English), Joseph MUSCAT, Maltese Prime Minister, <p>Obviously there is one constraint we have. It is that everything we say, we will be extremely careful not to undermine the current case and eventual further developments in investigations. That is our clear line of guidance. Obviously it is within your responsibility and your better judgement what you say and what you put in public domain yourself. </p>

SOUNDBITE (English), Sophia IN&apos;T VELD (RE, NL), Whatever concerns Malta, as a Member State of the European Union, concerns us all. And whatever affects Malta also affects all the European Union. So this is a matter for the Maltese people, this is also a matter for the European Union. It is no secret that we have very great concerns about the state of the rule of law. Of course we are mainly informed through the media, but what we have seen makes believe that there is a need to be closely involved in this. You may have seen that the European Commission finally has responded yesterday by saying that maybe they should consider starting the Article 7 procedure.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sophia IN&apos;T VELD (RE, NL), You know that European Parliament last March has already called on the European Commission to start dialogue in the context of the rule of law framework. And I think it is of the utmost importance that the rule of law is upheld, but it is also of the utmost importance that in the next days and weeks the murder investigations, but also the investigations into other matters are not compromised. I think the integrity of the investigations is of the highest importance to you and to us. An we have concerns in that respect, many concerns. And that is the purpose of our visit.

SOUNDBITE (English), Sophia IN&apos;T VELD (RE, NL), Roundtable 

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA (EPP, MT), The question we are going in continues to be the question we have, my colleagues were very clear. Why is the Prime Minister insisting to stay in position. It is about time. Line has grown under this very very tragic period in our country, in order for the systemic, institutional risks that we live everyday are addressed.