Since facing the threat of Ebola, public and international authorities aimed at not raising panic. For months, we have received statements minimizing the threat. As time passed by, they seemed to be too optimistic. In African countries the crisis worsened. Ebola cases spread to Europe and the US. The WHO says that a major outbreak in the West is unlikely. It also says the threat was not threated with the deserved seriousness. And this is still happening. One wonders how in Europe mobilization initiatives remained so weak. It was obvious that Ebola could not be stopped only at a national level. Transport and globalized trade easily spread it worldwide. Nor could we be prepared only at a medical level. Beyond humanitarian aid, transnational mobilization on other levels such as transport, border control, research, and development aid, was also required. Europe has vital interests in the Ebola-affected countries in Africa. However, a strategic and integrated plan is still inexistent. So I understood from the Commission reply to my question on an integrated EU plan against Ebola. Many Europeans are asking how the EU is useful to them. Against such threat, the EU can showcase its effectiveness. This has not happened as yet.

Maltese Version

Kemm ilna ffaċċjati bit-theddida tal-ebola, l-awtoritajiet pubbliċi u internazzjonali ħasbu biex ma jqajmux paniku. Għal xhur smajna stqarrijiet li jimminimizzaw it-theddida. Biss, aktar ma għadda ż-żmien, dawn aktar dehru bħala wisq ottimistiċi. Fil-pajjiżi tal-Afrika l-kriżi aggravat. Każi ta’ infezzjoni qamu fl-Ewropa u fl-Istati Uniti. Issa, l-Organizzazzjoni tas-Saħħa qed tgħid li r-riskju ta’ epidemja serja fl-Ewropa u fl-Istati Uniti mhux kbir. Qed tgħid ukoll li t-theddida tal-ebola ma tqisitx bis-serjetà li jistħoqqilha. Hekk għadu qed jiġri. Niskanta kif fl-Ewropa il-mobilizzazzjoni ta’ inizjattivi baqgħet daqstant dgħajfa. Sa mill-bidu, kien ovvju li ma stajniex nilqgħu tajjeb għall-ebola biss fuq livell nazzjonali. It-trasport u l-kummerċ globalizzati faċilment se jwassluha mad-dinja kollha. Lanqas stajna nilqgħulha sempliċement fuq livell mediku. Lil hinn mill-oqsma tal-għajnuna umanitarja, kienet meħtieġa wkoll mobilizzazzjoni transnazzjonali fost oħrajn, fil-livelli ta’ trasport, kontroll tal-fruntieri, riċerka u għajnuna għall-iżvilupp. L-Ewropa għandha interess vitali fil-pajjiżi Afrikani milquta bl-epidemja. Madankollu, baqgħet ma varatx pjan strateġiku u integrat fl-oqsma kollha rilevanti. Hekk fhimt mir-risposta li tatni l-Kummissjoni Ewropea għall-mistoqsija dwar jekk għandniex pjan integrat kontra l-ebola. Ħafna ċittadini Ewropej qed jistaqsu xinhu s-siwi għalihom tal-Unjoni Ewropea. Quddiem theddida bħal tal-ebola li kulħadd jibża’ minnha, l-Unjoni setgħet turi li tista’ tagħmel differenza. Dan baqa’ ma sarx.

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