The European Parliament has advised Mr Muscat to step down and the leader has promised to do so in January after his Labour party has elected a replacement. But MEPs have demanded he goes sooner and urged the Maltese government to fast-track measures to end political interference in criminal prosecutions in response to revelations about the investigation into the murder of the journalist. Yorgen Fenech, a Maltese businessman who has been charged in connection with the killing of the anti-corruption activist and investigative journalist, has told a court that he received regular information about the investigation from Keith Schembri, the prime minister’s former chief of staff.
Ms Caruana Galizia’s family have accused the Maltese government of a cover-up.
Mr Muscat denies any wrongdoing.
The EU have stepped in to demand a systematic change to tackle the alleged corruption and obstruction of justice in Malta.
This is a singularly unique incident where the European Parliament are prepared to call for the immediate resignation of a prime minister.
Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders wrote in the letter to his Maltese counterpart, Justice Minister Owen Bonnici, “clarity about the steps and timetable” of the implementation of reforms to “the independence of justice, the fight against corruption and more broadly on the checks and balances in Malta” would be “the best way to make clear that the commitments of the Maltese government to progress will be taken forward”.
He added: “Our objective is that Malta can find solutions that strengthen the rule of law, based on cooperation and mutual support.
“I count on you as minister of justice to give the impetus and political priority to accelerate the reforms.”
The European Parliament also urged Mr Muscat to resign, describing the situation as “alarming”.
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It stated: “Our organisations now call on European Union leaders to urge prime minister Muscat to guarantee that all investigations and legal proceedings will be conducted impartially, promptly and effectively, and without any involvement or influence at all from any individual potentially implicated in the case.”
Separately, civil society activists in Malta have urged the EU “to take a position on the desperate situation in Malta” in an open letter addressed to Charles Michel, the president of the European council, who is chairing the summit.
“If the European Union does not reach out to help its own when democracy is being threatened, then we truly will start questioning what is the point of the European Union if it does not practice what it preaches,” states the letter by Occupy Justice, a pressure group of women that formed soon after the investigative journalist’s murder in October 2017.
In reality, it is unlikely that EU leaders will get directly involved, as they mostly steer clear of anything deemed to be domestic politics in another member state.
The new European council president, Charles Michel, has promised that “the EU, its institutions and agencies will do everything within their power to ensure that justice is done”.
He made the pledge in a letter to Matthew Caruana Galizia, one of the murdered journalist’s three sons, who had contacted him.
Mr Michel said he was deeply shocked by the assassination and expressed a wish to meet Caruana Galizia and his family in Malta, according to extracts of the letter seen by the Guardian.
He spoke to Muscat by phone last Wednesday but officials were unable to say whether he had raised the Caruana Galizia case.
A senior EU diplomat said he expected Mr Muscat to raise the latest developments in Malta over the dinner: “That is the norm with leaders when it comes to domestic matters.”
Muscat’s presence at the dinner table could prove awkward.
Senior EU figures have been shocked over the case of the murdered journalist, who was assassinated in a car bombing in October 2017.