Updated at 4.30pm with Miriam Dalli reaction
European Parliament President, Antonio Tajani, will be receiving a memento on Thursday, World Press Freedom Day, commemorating murdered blogger Daphne Caruana Galizia and "her struggle for truth".
The memento will be presented by Maltese artist Kevin Scerri, in the presence of the mother and father of the murdered journalist. The event has been organised by Nationalist MEP Roberta Metsola.
“The European Parliament is at the forefront to protect journalists, their quest for truth and their independence,” Mr Tajani said.
“They are the real guardians of our democracy. The rule of law, the very foundation of our Union, stands to suffer when they are threatened, silenced or worse, injured or murdered as is the case with the barbaric murders of Daphne Caruana Galizia and Jan Kuciak.
“Daphne and Jan, we did not forget you. We will not forget you. We will continue to call, strengthened by the voice of 500 million citizens, that justice be done. We want real justice, not only with those who pulled the trigger, but also with the masterminds and accomplices. That is the call we share with the thousands attending the funeral of Daphne and Jan.”
Mr Tajani said that the EP wanted to strengthen the protection of investigative journalists, and would later on Thursday ask during the plenary session for concrete proposals, including financial support, to support investigative journalism.
He also intends to ask for legislative initiatives by the Commission to protect journalists from intimidatory law suits intended to silence them with financial retaliation.
Click here for live audio-visual coverage of the ceremony at 4.30pm.
MEP Miriam Dalli abstained in protest at Malta being singled out
Labour MEP Miriam Dalli abstained on the vote in the European Parliament, saying it was unacceptable for Malta to be singled out, even though she agreed with the absolute majority of the report's content.
The reference to Malta came about following an amendment submitted by PN MEP Roberta Metsola to the version presented by rapporteur Barbara Spinelli.
Dr Metsola’s amendment saw the report saying “it is concerned with the state of media freedom in Malta”.
“I condemn the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia. Likewise, I condemn the murders of Slovak journalist Ján Kuciakand his fiancée Martina Kušnírová. But I also condemn the repeated attacks against my country coming from fellow Maltese citizens who grasp at every possible opportunity to hit out at Malta,” Ms Dalli said.
“If there was anything to prove the true motive behind the PN MEPs actions, this was it. Protecting the work carried out by journalists is something we all agree on, but the moment one turns it against a specific country is where one exposes their true agenda.”