Von Der Leyen: Malta's implemention of anti-corruption reform 'limited'

Malta’s efforts to introduce anti-corruption reforms in response to the Daphne Caruana Galizia public inquiry have been “limited”. European Commission president Ursula von Der Leyen has told Times of Malta. In an interview via e-mail, Von Der Leyen said that when it came to corruption, there had been “limited or no follow-up” to the inquiry board’s recommendations. “It is important that the Maltese authorities ensure the necessary follow-up on those recommendations.” The recommendations included outlawing “mafia-style association” and regulating contact between politicians and big business. A bill by the Nationalist Party seeking to implement the anti-corruption recommendations was shot down by the government last year. The Opposition has since sought to reignite the bill. Von Der Leyen acknowledged that on some of the inquiry’s other recommendations, the government has proposed reforms. In January, the government appointed an expert group to propose reforms to media laws. While declining to comment on ongoing judicial proceedings, Von Der Leyen emphasised how crucial it is that those responsible for the journalist’s assassination are brought to justice. Pipe dreams A decision...