Emendi tat-Trattati Ewropej ibbażati fuq nuqqas ta’ għarfien tar-realtajiet Ewropej

L-eks Prim Ministru u MPE Alfred Sant ivvota kontra Rapport dwar proposti tal-Parlament Ewropew biex jiġu emendati t-Trattati Ewropej u approva biss il-kapitlu soċjali tiegħu. Alfred Sant sostna li r-riżoluzzjoni hija nieqsa minn kull prudenza fil-preżentazzjoni tal-emendi biex jiġu riveduti t-Trattati. “Ir-Rapport juri disprezz totali għas-sensibilitajiet nazzjonali u għall-ħtieġa ta’ bilanċ bejn il-ħtieġa ta’ ċentralizzazzjoni li tressaq lejn stat federali u s-sovranità tal-istati iżgħar u ta’ daqs medju fl-Unjoni”, huwa wissa.

Il-Kap tad-delegazzjoni Laburista tal-S&D stqarr li vvota kontra r-riżoluzzjoni għax l-emendi proposti huma bbażati fuq nuqqas ta’ għarfien tar-realtajiet Ewropej tal-lum. L-emendi ma jurux ir-rispett meħtieġ lejn aspetti kruċjali tal-identità Ewropea, u jagħmluhom inaċċettabbli għall-popli tal-Ewropa, huwa saħaq.

Wara li kienet inżammet il-Konferenza dwar il-Futur tal-Ewropa u fil-kuntest ta’ sfidi bla preċedent u kriżijiet varji, il-Membri Parlamentari Ewropej ressqu proposti biex jemendaw it-Trattati tal-Unjoni Ewropea. L-idea kienet li b’hekk il-Parlament ikun qed iwieġeb għall-aspettattivi taċ-ċittadini għal Unjoni aktar effettiva u demokratika, waqt li juri qbil mal-proposti tal-Konferenza dwar il-Futur tal-Ewropa.

Alfred Sant esprima riżervi qawwija dwar l-isforz qawwi li qed jittella’ favur il-votazzjoni b’maġġoranza kwalifikata, bidliet fl-istrutturi ta’ kif jittieħdu d-deċiżjonijiet u t-twaqqif ta’ Unjoni Ewropea tad-Difiża mingħajr salvagwardji ċari u mingħajr il-possibilità li wieħed ma jipparteċipax. Huwa nnota li r-riżervi tal-co-rapporteur tar-riżoluzzjoni Helmut Scholz rigward l-emendi proposti għall-Politika Barranija, ta’ Sigurtà u ta’ Difiża jaqblu ma’ dawn il-kunsiderazzjonijiet.

Sant innota kif in-nuqqas ta’ ċarezza dwar kif se jitnaqqsu l-kapaċitajiet militari doppji fi ħdan in-NATO u l-konsegwenzi budġetarji ta’ dan qed joħorġu fid-deher. F’din il-perspettiva tqum il-mistoqsija għaliex l-Istati Membri li jibqgħu barra mill-politika ta’ difiża komuni jew li huma newtrali għandhom jikkontribwixxu biex jiffinanzjawha permezz tal-baġit tal-Unjoni Ewropea? hu staqsa. F’dan l-isfond, huwa appella għall-ħolqien ta’ kunċett ta’ sigurtà komprensiva imma mhux militari marbut ma’ osservanza stretta tad-dritt internazzjonali li jitwettaq qabel ikun hemm xi avvanz lejn ristrutturar tal-politika Ewropea dwar sigurtà u difiża.

Ir-Rapport ġie adottat b’291 vot favur, 274 kontra u 44 astensjoni.

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Amendments of the European Treaties based on a  misunderstanding of European realities

Former Prime Minister and MEP Alfred Sant voted against a Report on proposals of the European Parliament for the amendment of the European Treaties and only endorsed its social chapter. Alfred Sant argued that the resolution lacks all prudence in the presentation of amendments to revise the Treaties. “It manifests a total disregard for national sensibilities and the need for balance between central federalizing requirements and the sovereignty of the smaller and medium sized states in the Union”, he warned.

The Head of the Labour S&D delegation stated that he voted against the resolution because the proposed amendments are based on a misunderstanding of today’s European realities. The amendments lack the necessary respect for crucial aspects of the European identity, making them unacceptable to the peoples of Europe, he stressed.

Following the Conference on the Future of Europe and in the context of unprecedented challenges and multiple crises, MEPs put forward proposals to amend the European Union Treaties. The idea was that as a result of these amendments the Parliament would be responding to citizens’ expectations for a more effective and democratic Union, in line with the proposals of the Conference on the Future of Europe.

Alfred Sant expressed strong reservations on the push for qualified majority voting, changes in decision-making and the establishment of a European Defence Union without clear safeguards and opt-outs. He noted that co-rapporteur Helmut Scholz’s reservations regarding the proposed amendments to Foreign, Security and Defence Policy are in line with these considerations.

Sant noted that the lack of clarity on mitigating duplication of military capacity with NATO and the potential budgetary implications is revealing. To this end, why should Member States which stay out of the common defence policy or which are neutral contribute to fund it through the European Union budget? he asked. Against this background, he called for a comprehensive but non-military concept of security coupled with adherence to international law that is carried out before there is any progress towards restructuring the European Security and Defence Policy.

The Report was adopted with 291 votes in favour, 274 against and 44 abstentions.