Alfred Sant: Il-Parlament Ewropew ftit li xejn qed jagħti kas tan-newtralità ta’ ċerti Stati Membri

Fir-reazzjoni tiegħu għal dibattitu plenarju fil-Parlament Ewropew dwar Rapport tal-Parlament dwar l-implimentazzjoni ta’ Politika ta’ Sigurtà u Difiża Komuni (PSDK) ċivili u assistenza oħra fil-qasam tas-sigurtà ċivili Ewropea, l-eks Prim Ministru Alfred Sant enfasizza li l-mod kif qed tiġi żviluppata dil-politika tagħti ftit kas tal-pożizzjoni ta’ dawk l-Istati Membri li huma newtrali.

“Madanakollu taħt ir-regoli tal-Unjoni Ewropea l-Istati Membri li huma newtrali jipparteċipaw bis-sħiħ fl-ibbaġitjar għal dan l-aspett tal-policies Ewropej”, huwa innota. Sant sostna li bil-kostituzzjoni tagħha, Malta ma tistax tieħu sehem f’alleanzi militari sakemm ma jkunux jaqgħu taħt il-patroċinju tal-Ġnus Magħquda. L-approvazzjoni tal-PSDK ma tistax ma tkunx problematika għal Malta.

Ir-rapport jappella lill-Istati Membri biex jużaw il-Patt il-ġdid tal-PSDK ċivili, li għandu jiġi adottat f’Mejju, biex isaħħu l-viżjoni strateġika tagħhom fit-tmexxija ċivili tal-kriżijiet billi jiċċaraw l-irwol, l-effettività u l-valur miżjud tal-PSDK ċivili u billi jiddefinixxu livell komuni fl-isettjar ta’ għanijiet għall-immaniġġjar tal-kriżijiet li jinqalgħu. Bħalissa hemm 12-il missjoni Ċivili tal-PSDK li jimpjegaw aktar minn 2200 ħaddiem. Il-missjonijiet jiffokaw prinċipalment fuq ir-riforma tas-settur tas-Sigurtà, il-bini tal-kapaċitajiet u l-monitoraġġ u d-diżarm fost l-oħrajn.

Alfred Sant innota li l-Politika ta’ Sigurtà u Difiża Komuni tal-Unjoni Ewropea (PSDK) tifforma parti ċentrali mill-politika ta’ difiża tal-Unjoni li qed tiżviluppa. L-intenzjoni hija ċara li tkompli tiżdied il-komponent tad-difiża/militari tal-Unjoni.

Il-fatt li l-PSDK tkopri “biss” aspetti ċivili tal-interventi esterni tal-Unjoni Ewropea ma jistax iwarrab ir-realtà tar-rabta li teżisti u li se ssir aktar profonda, bejn interventi militari u ċivili”, iddikjara Sant. Il-kitba fir-rapport fil-fatt tirrifletti din il-pożizzjoni li tingħaraf bil-kbir fis-sostenn profond ta’ għanijiet ta’ difiża/militari komuni li r-rapport iqis bħala xi ħaġa lesta u aċċettata”, żied jgħid.

Ir-Rapport ġie adottat b’493 vot favur, 81 kontra u 66 astensjoni fosthom dik tal-MPE Sant.

---

Alfred Sant: The European Parliament is giving scant attention to the neutrality of certain Member States

In his reaction to a plenary debate on a European Parliament Report on the implementation of civilian Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and other European civilian security assistance, former Prime Minister Alfred Sant emphasized that the way the policy is being developed provides scant attention to the position of neutral Member States. 

“Yet under European Union rules they participate fully in budgeting for this aspect of European policies”, he noted. Sant argued that by its constitution, Malta is prevented from taking part in military alliances unless under the aegis of the United Nations. Endorsement of the CDSP cannot but be problematic for it.

The report calls on the Member States to use the new civilian CSDP Compact, due to be adopted in May, to strengthen their strategic vision for civilian crisis management by clarifying the role, effectiveness and added value of civilian CSDP and by defining a common level of ambition for civilian crisis management. There are currently 12 Civilian CSDP missions employing over 2200 personnel, with missions focusing mainly on Security sector reform, building capacities and monitoring and disarmament amongst others.

Alfred Sant noted that the European Union Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) forms an integral part of the Union’s developing defence policy. The intention clearly is to continue ramping up the defence/military component of the Union.

The fact that the CDSP covers “only” civilian aspects of the European Union external interventions does not screen the reality of an overlap, destined to become deeper, between military and civilian interventions”, Sant declared. The text of the report actually reflects this overlap not least because of the deeper underpinning of common defence/military aims that it assumes to hold”, he added.

The Report was adopted with 493 votes in favour, 81 against and 66 abstentions among which that of MEP Sant.