Il-Konferenza dwar il-Futur tal-Ewropa ser tkun organizzata mill-Parlament Ewropew, il-Kunsill u l-Kummissjoni Ewropea u kienet mistennija tibda f’Mejju 2020 u ddum għal sentejn. Waqt li rrikonoxxew li l-Konferenza ġiet ittardjata minħabba l-pandemija COVID-19, l-Ewroparlamentari appellaw liż-żewġ istituzzjonijiet l-oħra tal-UE biex isibu ftehim komuni dwar il-Konferenza.
Alfred Sant qal fil-plenarja tal-Parlament Ewropew li, għalkemm dibattitu dwar il-ġejjieni tal-Ewropa jista’ jkun utli, huwa kellu dubji serji dwar l-attitudni adottata minn xi entitajiet ibbażati fi Brussell.
“Minflok ma jisimgħu dak li ċ-ċittadini Ewropej mill-partijiet differenti tal-kontinent jixtiequ għall-futur tagħhom, jidher li xi atturi politiċi jixtiequ jimponu l-aġendi tagħhom fuq din il-konferenza. Madankollu, jekk l-Ewropa trid tirnexxi, huwa essenzjali li tkun adottata attitudni minn isfel għal fuq għal dan id-dibattitu. ” qal Alfred Sant.
Id-dibattitu għandu jiffoka fuq kisbiet realistiċi u li jistgħu jitwettqu aktar milli fuq diskussjonijiet bla tmiem li ma jwasslu għall-ebda konklużjoni. Ħafna għandhom jindunaw li minkejja l-poter dejjem jiżdied tal-Unjoni, iċ-ċittadini jibqgħu jħossuhom eqreb lejn il-gvernijiet u l-parlamenti nazzjonali tagħhom. Għalhekk huwa essenzjali li r-rappreżentanti nazzjonali jingħataw rwol ewlieni f’dan id-dibattitu sabiex nisimgħu u nifhmu dak li hu meħtieġ għal futur aħjar.
Ir-riżoluzzjoni, adottata b’528 vot favur, 124 kontra u 45 astensjoni, iddikjarat li għaxar snin wara t-Trattat ta’ Lisbona u sebgħin sena wara d-Dikjarazzjoni ta’ Schuman kif ukoll fil-kuntest tal-pandemija COVID-19, wasal iż-żmien biex issir valutazzjoni mill-ġdid tal-Unjoni Ewropea.
Citizens should be at the forefront of the Conference on the Future of Europe
The Conference on the Future of Europe is set to be organised by the European Parliament, Council and the European Commission and was expected to start in May 2020 and run for two years. Acknowledging that the Conference has been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, MEPs called on the other two EU institutions to find common agreement on the Conference.
Alfred Sant told the plenary of the European Parliament that, although a debate on where Europe is heading could be useful, he had serious doubts on the approach adopted by some Brussels based entities.
“Rather than listening to what European citizens from the different parts of the continent would wish for their future, some political actors seem to wish to impose their agendas on this conference. Yet, if Europe wants to succeed, it is essential that a bottom-up approach for this debate is adopted.” Alfred Sant said.
The debate should focus on realistic and doable achievements rather than on endless discussions that lead to no conclusion. Many should come to a realisation that despite the increasing power of the Union, citizens continue to feel closer to their national governments and parliaments. It is therefore essential that national representatives be given a leading role in this debate for the rest of us to listen and understand what is needed for a better future.
The resolution, adopted with 528 votes for, 124 against and 45 abstentions, declared that ten years after the Lisbon Treaty, seventy years after the Schuman Declaration and in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the time is ripe for a reappraisal of the European Union.
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