Public Integrity in Malta
Improving the Integrity and Transparency Framework for Elected and Appointed Officials
This report provides concrete recommendations for strengthening the legislative and institutional framework for elected and appointed officials in Malta. It reviews the institutional and procedural set-up of the Commissioner for Standards in Public Life and analyses the omissions, inconsistencies and overlaps in the Standards in Public Life Act. It also provides recommendations to the Government of Malta on developing the most feasible lobbying regulation, and identifies concrete measures to strengthen the existing codes of ethics for elected and appointed officials, as well as the system of asset and interest declarations.
Executive summary
Public integrity is a cornerstone of democracy. The steadfast commitment of elected representatives and appointed officials to a culture of integrity is key to bolster trust in institutions and secure their legitimacy. Malta has introduced several reforms to strengthen integrity for elected and appointed officials. The 2017 Standards in Public Life Act marked a significant milestone, with the law setting standards of conduct for elected and appointed officials, and establishing a Commissioner for Standards in Public Life as the authority responsible for reviewing the conduct of these officials in terms of their statutory and ethical duties as persons in public life.