Alfred Sant joġġezzjona għal Ewropa aktar militarizzata

“It-test jinjora l-prinċipju tan-newtralità li huwa fil-qalba kostituzzjonali ta’ stati membri tal-UE bħal Malta. Barra minn hekk, jien kritiku għall-Fond tad-Difiża u l-hekk imsejħa “awtonomija strateġika” li tiffoka fuq il-militar”, iddikjara Alfred Sant.

Il-Fond Ewropew tad-Difiża l-ġdid se jappoġġa azzjonijiet kollaborattivi u kooperazzjoni bejn membri stati tal-UE, f’kull stadju taċ-ċiklu industrijali relatat mal-prodotti u t-teknoloġiji tad-difiża.

Fi stqarrija lill-plenarja tal-Parlament Ewropew, Alfred Sant qal li madwar nofs l-għotjiet allokati taħt il-Fond qed imorru għand l-akbar produtturi u esportaturi tal-armi fl-UE, li jħalli lill-fornituri tal-armi minn Stati Membri oħra tal-UE b’finanzjament limitat.

Alfred Sant iddikjara li l-ilmenti li dan ilu jiġri b’nuqqas ta’ trasparenza għandhom jiġu investigati filwaqt li nnota li wieħed jista’ biss ikun xettiku dwar politika ta’ “sigurtà” strateġika li tinjora l-perspettivi ta’ stati membri newtrali tal-UE li m’għandhomx interess fil-produzzjoni tal-armi. Madankollu dawn qed jikkontribwixxu għall-fond li minnu qed jiġu finanzjati l-programmi ta ‘”sigurtà” tal-UE lill-produtturi tal-armi.

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Alfred Sant objects to further militarisation of Europe

Alfred Sant has abstained on a European Parliament report on the implementation of the Common Security and Defence Policy as it may imply support for further militarisation of Europe. 

“I did so out of prudence. The text ignores the neutrality principle that is a constitutional core of EU member-states like Malta. Moreover, I am critical of the Defence Fund and the so-called “strategic autonomy” focusing on the military that is being advocated in it”, stated Alfred Sant.

The new European Defence Fund will support collaborative actions and cross-border cooperation throughout the EU, at each stage of the industrial cycle relating to defence products and technologies. 

In a statement to the European Parliament plenary, Alfred Sant said that about half of the grants allocated under the Fund happen to go to the biggest EU arms producers and exporters, which leaves arms suppliers from other EU Member States with limited funding on which to draw. 

Alfred Sant noted that complaints that this has been happening with a lack of transparency need to be investigated and added that one can only remain sceptical about a strategic “security” policy that ignores the perspectives of neutral EU member states that also have no stake in arms production. Yet they are contributing to the fund from which EU “security” programmes are being disbursed to arms producers.