Last week, the European Parliament was again dominated by the Panama Papers and with the action, or lack of it, by Joseph Muscat’s administration in Malta.

The Labour Party’s Socialist Group pulled out all the stops to make sure Malta is declared a tax haven in a resolution on the Panama Papers. We managed to defeat their efforts by the slimmest margin possible despite practically all Socialist MEPs – apart from the Maltese – voting to declare Malta a tax haven. Had this amendment passed, the implications for our financial services industry, for our gaming sector and for our ability to attract foreign investment would have been devastating. We could not allow that to happen.

It is clear Malta is under the spotlight again because of the Prime Minister’s continued failure to take any action against Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri while allowing them to continue to operate with impunity at the heart of the government.

Malta is not a tax haven. It never was. We have a competitive regime. If there are any loopholes or room for abuse, then these must be addressed, but the entire system is strong. Everyone has now seen how Muscat’s inexplicable strategy of defending Schembri and Mizzi has serious consequences. Anyone in the sectors most at risk knows this well.

Our strong criticism of Muscat’s administration was never, and will never be, a criticism of the people of Malta and Gozo.

We know that if action is not taken, the entire country will be forced to pay the price. Muscat knows this too but he cannot take the action needed.

There are still some of us able to make a distinction between Malta and Muscat’s temporary administration of our nation. It is a distinction we will always make.

Ever since the Socialists announced their intention to come after Malta, we have worked tirelessly to ensure that the people of Malta and Gozo – who work hard, do things properly and follow the rules – will not have to bear the brunt of those at the heart of the government who opened companies in blacklisted Panama and ruined Malta’s reputation.

As Nationalist MEPs, we have worked to convince colleagues from all political groups that the actions by Mizzi, Schembri and Muscat do not represent the way most Maltese operate.

Next time it will only be more difficult to convince MEPs that we have a robust tax system

Malta won this time – just – but next time it will only be more difficult to convince MEPs that we have a robust system when you have people at the top of the administration who continue to be exposed in such a manner. It is a contradiction that will continue to haunt Malta in the future.

It is such a shame to see that the negotiating position of Malta as a country being so badly weakened by the indefensible choice Muscat continues to make to defend his friends instead of his country.

It is also telling that the Maltese Labour MEPs allowed their political group to take this stand. It proves that when push comes to shove, they are capable of a lot of talk and feigned outrage and very little else – something sadly typical of the way Muscat operates.

Even more surreal was the way the Labour MEPs issued press releases after the vote, pointing fingers at us and claiming they were “crucial” in this process.

Who do they think they are trying to fool? Their instructions to defend Schembri and Mizzi at all costs are now costing the country dearly and damaging their credibility in their own political group.

We are determined that Malta will not suffer the same fate as a Member State, but it is obvious to all that action on a national level must be taken.

The same Panama Papers resolution also calls for the increased protection of whistleblowers. As MEPs, we will continue to work for the protection of all whistleblowers and will be at the forefront of defending those who reveal corruption or money laundering.

Always.

Moreover, we cannot accept a situation whereby while one whistleblower is handsomely rewarded for his ‘revelations’, another feels she must abscond from the country out of fear for her own life. Does protection of whistleblowers depend on what type of whistle is blown?

We will stand up for Malta, even when our Prime Minister and his apologists are so clearly unable to do so.

Nationalist Party members of the European Parliament.