PN condemns German MEP’s call for Article 7 proceedings against Malta

The Labour Party however said the PN and its MEPs were no longer credible given that they have worked with foreign MEPs who want to harm the country and it's interests

German Green MEP Sven Giegold has called for Article 7 proceedings against Malta to be initiated
German Green MEP Sven Giegold has called for Article 7 proceedings against Malta to be initiated

The Nationalist Party has slammed German MEP Sven Giegold’s call for Article 7 proceedings to be initiated against Malta.

Giegold was quoted by the Sunday Times of Malta yesterday, saying that the European Commission needed to take action against Malta, in light of a damning report by GRECO -the Council of Europe’s anti-corruption watchdog.

Article 7 of the Treaty of the European Union is a procedure in the treaties of the European Union to suspend certain rights from member states that do not respect the EU’s common values.

"The EU Commission must make the situation in Malta a top priority and initiate a procedure under Article 7 of the EU Treaties. So far, the responsible Vice-President and Social Democratic commission president-candidate for the European elections (Frans Timmermans) has referred the matter to Justice Commissioner Jurová. Following the Council of Europe’s dramatic findings, Timmermans must put an end to his hesitation. The S&D Group in the European Parliament must also ask itself why Malta’s Socialists are still members of their group," he was quoted saying.

Responding to the statement, the PN insisted that the Maltese people should not have to suffer the consequences of Malta’s “socialist government’s” failings on the rule of law.

“It would have been better had MEP Giegold and his European Greens to focus their energy on pressuring the government and the people around it who undermining Malta’s reputation, as the Nationalist Party has done.”

The PN went on to say that the government needed to implement all of the Venice Commission’s recommendations, adding that government should also heed international reports which have repeatedly flagged concerns about corruption. 

PN worked against Malta and are no longer credible

Reacting to the PN, the Labour Party said the PN could not be taken seriously when it spoke about Giegold and his request because “for five whole years”, the PN’s MEPs fanned the flames for people like Giegold to try and undermine Malta’s interests, especially in the financial sector.

It said they had done so because they believed that this would allow them to topple the government.

“Today, because the Maltese people realized what the PN’s campaign was all about,” the PL said, adding that PN MEPs Roberta Metsola and David Casa had both accompanied Giegold to Malta on various delegations.  

It said the Labour Party was the only credible party. “Had the PN wanted to be credible, it would have voted differently in the European Parliament. Today’s statement means nothing.”