Delays at the law courts got worse instead of better in 2013, the latest EU statistics show. And Malta still had the second most inefficient justice system in the EU.

The EU Justice Scoreboard shows that while in 2012 it took an average of 707 working days to resolve civil, commercial and other cases, it took 83 more days in 2013.

In Denmark, which ranked top of the table, it takes a mere 18 days on average for cases to come to a conclusion – lightning speed compared to Malta.

The EU’s statistics are based on decisions taken by the courts of first instance and do not include the length of time a case takes if an appeal is filed.

In the case of civil and commercial cases, which make up the bulk of the courts’ case load, the waiting time for a first court decision increased from 685 days in 2012 to 750 days in 2013. In administrative cases, the time needed for a judgment increased from 1,467 days in 2012 to 2,036 days in 2013.

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GOVERNMENT REACTION

In a statement, the Ministry of Justice noted that the EU survey had shown that a number of measures taken at the end of 2013 regarding information technology had had a positive impact on the courts.

Among them was the facility for for people to file small claims cases online, which had placed Malta among the top three countries having such facilities.

The ministry pointed out that the scoreboard reflected the situation in the country in the previous two years. It also showed how the biggest challenge remained that of cutting down on court delays.

The government in 2013 had appointed the Commission for the Holistic Reform of the Justice Sector, headed by Judge Giovanni Bonello and it had presented its report. The recommendations would be implemented over a period of three years, but some have already been brought in, such as the right of disclosure and plea bargaining even before the Magistrates' Court.