About: Malta
Golden visas and passports still widespread in Europe, study finds
Citizenship and residence-for-pay schemes continue to be widespread across the EU, according to a new report, which calls on the European Commission to propose EU-wide rules to phase out golden passports while taking action against governments that operate schemes in breach of EU law.
New Malta PM reshuffles ministers, shuns controversial names
New Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela reshuffled his cabinet on Wednesday (15 January), sidelining some of the politicians who had faced fierce criticism from an anti-corruption journalist before her murder in 2017.
Malta’s new leader promises to keep strengthening rule of law
Malta's incoming leader Robert Abela promised to strengthen the rule of law and said the country would emerge stronger after recent events, in an address on Sunday (12 January) a day before he is due to succeed Joseph Muscat as prime minister.
Malta murder scandal exposes EU reluctance to force Muscat out
Malta's Prime Minister Josep Muscat came under increasing pressure on Thursday (12 December) as calls for his immediate resignation intensified in Brussels in an ongoing investigation over the 2017 assassination of investigative journalist Daphne Anne Caruana Galizia.
Tweets of the Week: Commission Handover, NATO jokes, Malta Rule of Law
VDL Commission takes up its seat, Trump under fire as NATO leaders meet, and Rule of Law in Malta feeling the heat.
Middleman tells Malta court of plot to kill Daphne Caruana
The self-confessed middleman in the murder of a journalist told a court on Wednesday (4 December) a wealthy Maltese businessman was the brains behind the killing but also implicated people tied to government in the growing scandal.
Caruana Galizia’s family wants Malta police to probe PM
The family of murdered investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia called Monday (2 December) for police to investigate Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, as a European Parliament delegation was set to arrive in Malta on a fact-finding mission.
Malta PM to resign amid journalist murder probe protests
Malta's Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, under fire over his handling of the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, said Sunday (1 December) he would step down after his replacement is chosen in January.
Malta PM calls emergency meeting as murder probe escalates
Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat called an emergency cabinet meeting on Thursday (28 November) night as a intensifying probe into the murder of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia threatened to further destabilise the government.
Top Malta politicians quit amid fallout from journalist’s murder inquest
Two high-ranking politicians in Malta's government resigned on Tuesday (26 November), with a third "suspending himself" in the biggest political fallout to date from a widening probe into the brutal murder of investigative reporter Daphne Caruana Galizia.
Police investigating murder of Malta journalist arrest local businessman
Malta police arrested one of the country’s most prominent businessmen on Wednesday (20 November) as part of an investigation into the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.
Government advisor acting as Maltese ‘double agent’ creates new stir for France
After the scandal with the European Parliament's rejection of Sylvie Goulard as the French Commissioner, it is now the turn of Sandro Gozi, the EU adviser to France's prime minister, to be in the spotlight. The Italian had allegedly collaborated with the Maltese government while working for France. EURACTIV France reports.
The EU’s new migration policy is a gift to the far-right
Far from taking the refugee issue away from the far-right, the EU's new migration policy plan will simply hand the far-right a grievance it can exploit for years to come, writes Faisal Al Yafai.
Five EU states agree migration deal, look for broader backing
Interior ministers from five European Union countries said on Monday (23 September) they had agreed a new scheme to distribute migrants saved from the Mediterranean in a deal aimed at relieving the pressure on southern EU states.
Malta charges three over Daphne Caruana Galizia’s murder
Three men will face trial in Malta for their alleged involvement in the murder of anti-corruption journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia after the island's attorney general issued a bill of indictment against them, court officials said on Tuesday (16 July).
Malta to relocate 65 migrants after rescue ships defy Italy ban
Malta's prime minister said Sunday (7 July) his country would relocate to other EU nations 65 migrants from the Alan Kurdi rescue ship, after two other boats defied efforts to stop them landing in neighbouring Italy.
Flagship study exposes decline of press freedom in Europe
Reporters Without Borders published their flagship annual ‘World Press Freedom Index’ on Thursday (18 April), revealing that worldwide, authoritarian regimes continue to tighten their grip on the media, while in Europe, decline of press freedom goes hand in hand with...
Five arrested after Maltese military seizes tanker hijacked by migrants
Five men were arrested Thursday (28 March) after Maltese armed forces took control of a tanker that was hijacked by migrants off Libya and the ship docked in Malta.
EPP more likely to expel Fidesz if rival groups also ditch troublemakers
If mainstream political groups do not collectively expel their bad apples it could spell an end to measures by the EU to protect democracy in its member countries, write Jean Morijn and Israel Butler.
No more ships to rescue migrants in the Mediterranean
Italy’s decision to block the ship of German NGO Sea-Watch in the port of Catania, Sicily, means that there are currently no ships from humanitarian organisations to rescue migrants in the Mediterannean. EURACTIV’s media partner Euroefe reports.
EU sees crime risks from Malta, Cyprus, Bulgaria ‘golden passport’ schemes
The European Commission will warn that schemes in EU states to sell citizenship or residence to wealthy individuals could help foreign organised crime groups infiltrate the bloc and increase the risk of money laundering, corruption and tax evasion.
Parliament seeks financial punishment for countries breaching rule of law
European Union countries that undermine the bloc's democratic principles could lose EU funds, under a draft law backed by the European Parliament on Thursday (17 January).
Malta disembarks migrants sparking Italy government clash
Forty-nine migrants disembarked in Malta on Wednesday (9 January) after spending more than two weeks stranded on board rescue ships, ending a standoff in which EU countries had refused to offer them a safe port.