Il-Mekkaniżmu Legali Kontra l-Isfurzar Ekonomiku mhuwiex għodda offensiva iżda difensiva – Alfred Sant

L-eks Prim Ministru Alfred Sant ivvota favur Rapport tal-Parlament Ewropew dwar l-introduzzjoni ta’ Mekkaniżmu Legali għal Kontra l-Isfurzar Ekonomiku li jista’ jsir minn pajjiżi terzi. Huwa ssuġġerixxa li dak li jiskatta dan il-mekkaniżmu għandu jkun spjegat b’mod wiesa’ u bl-ebda mod ma jkun imfassal biex jidher li hu indirizzat sa mill-prinċipju tiegħu kontra xi pajjiż speċifiku, peress li l-isfurzar ekonomiku jista’ jieħu diversi forom. Alfred Sant saħaq li għandha tinżamm bħala ħaġa ċara li l-Mekkaniżmu Legali kontra l-Isfurzar Ekonomiku mhuwiex għodda offensiva iżda difensiva, maħsuba biex tipproteġi l-ispazju leġittimu tal-politika tal-Unjoni.

L-Ewroparlamentari Laburista Alfred Sant irrikonoxxa li fin-nuqqas ta’ Mekkaniżmu Kontra l-Isfurzar Ekonomiku, l-Unjoni Ewropea tibqa’ vulnerabbli għall-thedid ekonomiku minn pajjiżi terzi. Madanakollu, huwa esprima riżervi dwar kemm din il-leġiżlazzjoni ser tpoġġi lill-Unjoni Ewropea f’qagħda aktar vantaġġjuża fit-tmexxija tar-relazzjonijiet tagħha ekonomiċi u oħrajn ma’ pajjiżi terzi.

Sfurzar ekonomiku huwa sitwazzjoni fejn pajjiż terz jipprova jeżerċita pressjoni fuq l-Unjoni Ewropea jew Stat Membru biex jagħmlu xi għażla partikolari billi japplika jew jhedded li japplika, miżuri li jaffettwaw il-kummerċ jew l-investiment fi ħdan l-Unjoni jew L-Istat Membru. Il-Mekkanżimu Legali Kontra l-Isfurzar Ekonomiku huwa deterrent għal pajjiżi terzi. Minħabba fih, ikollhom inaqqsu t-thedid fil-kummerċ u l-investiment billi jinstiga aktar djalogu.

“Kemm fuq bażi bilaterali kemm multilateralment, ir-relazzjonijiet jiżviluppaw wara negozjati li matulhom in-naħat kollha jippruvaw jinfluwenzaw it-tfassil tal-politika tal-partijiet l-oħra fuq bażi ħokkli dahri biex inħokklok tiegħek. Din it-tip ta’ influwenza tista’ tieħu s-sura ta’ miżuri f’oqsma mhux relatati man-negozjati li għaddejjin”, innota Alfred Sant.

Ir-Rapport ġie adottat b’578 vot favur, 24 vot kontra u 19-il astensjoni.

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The Anti-Coercion Instrument is not an offensive but a defensive tool – Alfred Sant

Former Prime Minister Alfred Sant voted in favour of a European Parliament Report about the setting up of an Anti-Coercion Instrument to combat economic coercion by third countries. He opined that the triggers for this instrument should be broadly defined, and country neutral, as so-called economic coercion can manifest itself in various forms. Alfred Sant stressed that it should be made clear that the instrument is not an offensive but a defensive tool, meant to protect the Union’s legitimate policy space.

Labour MEP Alfred Sant acknowledged that in the absence of an Anti-Coercion Instrument, the European Union would remain vulnerable to economic coercion from third countries. However, he expressed reservations on whether this legislation would bring much value added to the European Union in its conduct of economic and other relations with third parties.

Economic coercion is a situation where a third country attempts to pressure the European Union or a Member State into making a particular choice by applying or threatening to apply, measures affecting negatively trade or investment within the Union or a Member State. The Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI), is a deterrent for third countries when considering to apply economic coercion measures and inducing them to discontinue coercive measures in trade and investment by restoring instead to dialogue.

“Whether on a bilateral or multilateral basis, relations develop following negotiations during which all sides try to influence the policy making of the other parties on a tit-for-tat basis. Such influence may take form of measures in areas unrelated to the negotiations in course”, Alfred Sant noted.

The Report was adopted with 578 votes in favour, 24 votes against and 19 abstentions.