Alfred Sant jappella biex in-newtralità ta’ Malta tiġi rispettata mill-Istati Membri Ewropej

L-eks Prim Ministru Sant enfasizza fil-plenarja tal-parlament Ewropew fi Strasburgu li s-sovranità ta’ pajjiżi Ewropej bħal Malta li l-interessi ewlenin tas-sigurtà tagħhom mhumiex allinjati ma’ dawk ta’ Stati Membri akbar “komuni” mhux qed tiġi kkunsidrata f’rapport dwar il-politika barranija, ta’ sigurtà u ta’ difiża tal-Unjoni Ewropea wara l-invażjoni Russa tal-Ukrajna. Huwa staqsa dwar kif in-newtralità ta’ Stat Membru tidħol f’arkitettura komuni Ewropea ta’ sigurtà u difiża.

Il-Kumitat għall-Affarijiet Barranin (AFET) adotta r-rapport b’rakkomandazzjonijiet dwar il-politika barranija, tas-sigurtà u tad-difiża Ewropea wara l-invażjoni Russa tal-Ukrajna. Ir-rapport jappella biex jitħaffef ix-xogħol fil-politika barranija u l-kooperazzjoni tad-difiża fil-livell Ewropew filwaqt li jipproponi li tinbena unjoni tad-difiża b’għanijiet aktar ambizzjużi, f’konformità mal-istrateġija tal-Compass Strateġiku tal-Unjoni Ewropea.

Il-MPE Laburista Sant irrikonoxxa li l-invażjoni Russa fuq l-Ukrajna xprunat passi lejn aktar għaqda Ewropea, b’mod partikolari fuq kwistjonijiet bħall-indipendenza tal-enerġija u l-awtonomija strateġika. Sar progress lejn l-iżvilupp ta’ politika barranija komuni flimkien ma’ aġenda ta’ difiża u militari komuni. Dawn jirriskjaw li f’daqqa waħda jittrasformaw l-Unjoni Ewropea f’alleanza militari, huwa wissa.

Sant esprima wkoll in-nuqqas ta’ qbil mal-kunċett ukoll fir-rapport li jiddaħħal il-prinċipju tal-estensjoni tal-votazzjoni b’maġġoranza kwalifikata għall-politika barranija tal-Unjoni Ewropea. “Estensjoni bħal din tistabbilixxi l-bażi għal kontestazzjoni tal-approċċi tal-politika barranija tal-Unjoni Ewropea fuq il-bażi li dawn jiksru s-sovranità nazzjonali, huwa saħaq.

Ir-rapport ġie adottat b’438 vot favur, 65 kontra u 94 astensjoni.

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Alfred Sant calls for Malta’s neutrality to be respected by European Member States

Former Prime Minister Sant emphasized at the plenary of the European parliament in Strasbourg that the sovereignty of European countries like Malta whose core security interests are not aligned with those of “mainstream” larger Member States were not being taken into account in a report on the European Union’s foreign, security and defence policy after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He queried as to how the neutrality of a Member State would fit into a common European security and defence architecture.

The Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) adopted the report with recommendations on European foreign, security and defence policy after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The report calls for brisk advances on foreign policy and defence cooperation at European level while proposing to build a defence union with more ambitious objectives, in line with the European Union’s Strategic Compass strategy.

Labour MEP Sant acknowledged that the Russian invasion on Ukraine has triggered moves towards greater European unity, in particular on issues like energy independence and strategic autonomy. A headwind has built up towards the development of a common foreign policy plus a common defence and military agenda. These risk abruptly transforming the European Union into a military alliance, he warned.

Sant also expressed disagreement with the notion also in the report of introducing the principle of extending qualified majority voting to European Union foreign policy. “Such an extension would set the basis for a contestation of European Union foreign policy approaches on the grounds that they breach national sovereignty, he insisted.

The report was adopted with 438 votes in favour, 65 against and 94 abstentions.