Immigrazzjoni… problema ewlenija… kriżi anzi

Għal xi żmien, inġibdet lura mill-quddiem tax-xena imma das-sajf reġgħet faqqgħet bil-kbir, bħala problema ewlenija… kriżi anzi. L-immigrazzjoni għadha materja li dwarha jeżisti nuqqas ta’ qbil profond bejn il-membri tal-Unjoni Ewropea. Qed terġa’ twassal biex il-konsenturi bejniethom joħorġu fil-beraħ.
L-Italja għandha kull raġun tistenna s-“solidarjetà” tal-pajjiżi l-oħra Ewropej waqt li tilqa’ għal mewġa oħra ta’ immigranti fuq xtutha. Niddubita kemm se ssib sodisfazzjon f’hekk. Il-Greċja għadha qed tistenna ħalli tingħata r-riżorsi meħtieġa biex l-immigranti li ilhom għandha jkollhom it-trattament imwiegħed u biex jitqassmu fost il-pajjiżi membri tal-Unjoni.
X’jista’ jsir fuq hekk? Bla qbil unanimu ftit se jkun hemm progress. Il-Prim Ministru Muscat sostna fil-Parlament Ewropew li mhux diżgwid li hemm bejn il-pajjiż Ewropej, imma agħar: nuqqas ta’ qbil dwar “valuri”.
Forsi għandu raġun. Biss il-valuri bejn il-pajjiżi dejjem jissawru skont l-interessi tal-involuti, u skont kif dawn l-interessi jiġu sostnuti minn dawk li huma mqabbda biex iħarsuhom.
G 20
Il-laqgħa tal-G 20 f’Hamburg qanqlet protesti qawwija fit-toroq. Dawn issejħu l-aktar kontra l-kapitaliżmu. Intużat vjolenza mill-protestanti u mill-pulizija, it-tnejn mobilizzati bil-kbir.
Hu dnub li l-kritika li nisimgħu dwarha tal-kapitaliżmu titqanqal l-aktar f’okkażjonijiet hekk. Partiti jew movimenti soċjali li jitkellmu u jaġixxu biex irażżnu l-kapitaliżmu prattikament ma baqax. Il-kunsens hu li m’hemmx mod aħjar kif tmexxi l-ekonomija, jekk mhux permezz tal-kapitaliżmu. U issa dan mhux biss rikeb f’kull pajjiż, imma mad-dinja kollha.
L-aktar li mmorru ’l bogħod hu billi ngħidu li l-kapitaliżmu għandu jiġi “regolat”. L-istat mhux mistenni jaġixxi aktar bħala aġent ekonomiku imma bħala referi biex jassigura li l-logħba ekonomika tintlagħab skont regoli “ġusti” li jippermettu lill-kapitaliżmu jiffjorixxi.
STRASBURGU
Reġgħet qamet il-kontroversja dwar jekk il-Parlament Ewropew għandux jibqa’ jitlaqqa’ fi Strasburgu. Maġġoranza ta’ deputati Ewropej iqisu bir-raġun li l-appuntament tal-plenarja kull xahar hemm hu inkonvenjent qawwi u żejjed. Dan barra milli jqanqal spejjeż żejda inkredibbli għall-Unjoni.
Kien fl-ewwel snin tal-għaqda Ewropea li ġie deciż fil-ftehim bejn il-pajjiżi membri li s-sede tal-Parlament Ewropew jitpoġġa fi Strasburgu. Dil-ħaġa ma tistax tinbidel jekk ma jkunx hemm ftehim unanimu bejn il-pajjiżi membri. Ħaġa ċara li l-Franċiżi, huma min huma, mhumiex se jaqblu.
Mill-aħħar kontroversja madankollu, ħareġ punt ġdid – li jorbot mal-idea li wara kollox, il-Brexit jista’ joffri wkoll opportunitajiet. Minħabba fih, is-sede tal-Awtorità Bankarja Ewropea trid tiċċaqlaq minn Londra. Intqal: kieku tintbagħat fi Strasburgu minflok il-Parlament Ewropew li jitlaq lejn Brussell, ma jkunx skambju aċċettabbli? Hekk naħseb.

Engish Version – Immigration

For some time immigration had departed centre stage but this summer it came back with a vengeance as a main problem… or better, crisis. About it there still persists a profound disagreement among EU member states. As a result, the differences between them are again out in the open.

Italy is quite right to expect the “solidarity” of other European countries as it struggles to cope with a new wave of migrants reaching its shores. I doubt whether it will be successful in this. Greece is still waiting to receive the resources needed to extend the treatment promised to migrants who are still on its territory, as well as for their repartitioning among EU members.

What can be done about this? Unless there is unanimous agreement, progress will be minimal. Prime Minister Muscat told the European Parliament that the divergences among European countries go beyond simple disagreement; the fundamental dispute is now about “values”.

Perhaps he’s right. However values upheld by states always reflect national interests, in accordance with the strategies adopted by those who are appointed to defend such interests.

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G 20

The G20 gathering in Hamburg triggered fierce street protests called mainly to contest capitalism. Protesters and police, both highly mobilised, indulged in violence.

It is a pity that the criticism of capitalism we get to hear is mostly made on such occasions. Political parties and social movements which speak and act in order to counter capitalism are practically extinct. The consensus is that there is no better way to manage economies than capitalism. So now this is the driver in all countries as well as on a global scale.

We only go as far as agreeing that capitalism should be “regulated”. The state is no longer expected to act as an economic agent but as a referee to ensure that the economic game is being played according to “fair” rules that enable capitalism to flourish.

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Strasbourg

There has been another round in the ongoing controversy about whether the European Parliament should continue to meet in Strasbourg. A big majority of MEPs consider correctly that the monthly appointment of the plenary in that city is a huge and unnecessary inconvenience. In addition it involves the Union in incredible extra expense.

It was during the first years of the Union’s life that it was decided to establish Strasbourg as the seat of the European Parliament. That decision can only be reversed by unanimous agreement among member states. Obviously the French, no matter who is in government, will never agree to have the current arrangement reversed.

However as part of the latest round of controversy, a new take on the matter has emerged; one which ties in with the idea that after all, Brexit might offer new opportunities. Due to Brexit, the headquarters of the European Banking Authority must leave London. The suggestion has been made: would it be a fair bargain if the EBA is relocated to Strasbourg instead of the European Parliament, which would migrate to Brussels? I think it would.