The more correct question is "why are the Maltese such fucking leeches on Europe?".
(This is kind of like if Alabama were allowed to sell foreigners US citizenship, but the state of Alabama would get to keep all the proceeds.)
Heh, it pales in comparison to London when it comes to financial and economic crime. [0] The article may not serve as evidence but it gives you hints. And we're not talking about a nation that has no other choice in order to stay competitive.
People and nations will always find ways to work around the rules to gain more. You have a union of dozens of nations and hundreds of millions of people and you are searching for fair? For all?
[0] https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/may/29/roberto-savian...
I have only visited the island once but I am happy they are part of the EU.
One of the largest tax evasion / money laundry heavens is Denmark (And I say that as a Dane). Malta’s wrong doings is dwarfed by the recent revelations off what Danske Bank did through its Estonian subsidiary.