Alfred Sant jappella għal aktar għajnuna mill-istat biex ittaffi l-impatt ekonomiku tal-Covid-19

Fi stqarrija lis-sessjoni plenarja, il-Kap tad-Delegazzjoni Laburista fil-Parlament Ewropew qal li meta tiddiskuti l-pandemija Covid-19, l-ewwel ħsibijiet dejjem imorru fil-vittmi segwiti mit-tbatija ekonomika li għaddejjin minnha ħafna nies u operaturi.

“Fuq livell nazzjonali, l-għajnuna mill-istat u l-qafas temporanju tal-UE kienu salvataġġ importanti fil-ħajja ta’ ħafna setturi u pajjiżi”.

Waqt dibattitu plenarju intitolat “Nindirizzaw l-impatt ekonomiku tal-pandemija COVID billi niffukaw fuq l-investiment u l-kompetittività” li sar fil-preżenza tal-Kummissarju Ewropew għall-Ekonomija Paolo Gentiloni, Alfred Sant irrimarka li l-Kummissjoni Ewropea, fid-dikjarazzjonijiet varji tagħha, affermat li hi impenjata li tiżgura rispons ikkoordinat u konsistenti.

“Madankollu, ċifri ppubblikati juru li l-livell ta’ għajnuna mill-istat jvarja ħafna bejn l-Istati Membri. Għalkemm ir-regoli dwar l-għajnuna mill-istat japplikaw ugwalment għal kulħadd, dan ma japplikax għar-riżorsi disponibbli għall-gvernijiet nazzjonali. Din id-diskrepanza qed twassal għal intensifikazzjoni tal-firda soċjoekonomiku diġà eżistenti bejn ir-reġjuni Ewropej u l-Istati Membri”, qal Alfred Sant.

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Alfred Sant calls for more state aid to soften economic impact of Covid-19

Public intervention, at both national and European level, has been crucial in cushioning the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and should clearly continue, ideally focusing on future-oriented investment, Alfred Sant told the European Parliament.

In a statement to the parliament’s plenary session, the Head of Malta’s Labour Delegation stated that when discussing the COVID pandemic, the first thoughts always go to the victims followed by the economic hardship that many are going through. 

“At a national level, state aid and the related EU’s temporary framework have been a lifesaver in many sectors and countries”. 

During a plenary debate entitled “Tackling the economic impact of the COVID pandemic by focusing on investment and competitiveness” held in the presence of European Commissioner for the Economy Paolo Gentiloni, Alfred Sant pointed out that the European Commission, in its various statements, asserted that it is committed to ensure a coordinated and consistent response. 

“Yet, figures published show that the level of state aid between Member States differ immensely. Although state aid rules apply equally to all, the resources available to national governments do not. This discrepancy is leading to an intensification of the already existing socioeconomic cleavage between European regions and Member States” Alfred Sant said.