Il-Parlament Ewropew għandu jikkunsidra li jnaqqas il-kollaborazzjoni tal-finanzjament tal-UE mal-Iżrael – Alfred Sant

Fil-kontribut tiegħu għal dibattitu plenarju tal-Parlament Ewropew dwar il-prijoritajiet tal-baġit tal-UE għall-2025 u r-regoli finanzjarji ġodda tal-UE, l-eks Prim Ministru Alfred Sant appoġġja l-approċċ ġenerali adottat fir-rigward tal-prijoritajiet ewlenin inkluż l-appoġġ għal koeżjoni akbar fis-soċjetà. Huwa nnota li l-linji gwida jħaddnu l-idea tal-baġit tal-UE bħala għodda ta’ investiment Ewropew f’linja waħda mal-irwol ta’ programmi ewlenin ta’ finanzjament tal-UE bħal InvestEU u l-Faċilità ta’ Rkupru u Reżiljenza.

Il-baġit annwali tal-UE jistabbilixxi n-nefqa u d-dħul kollu tal-Unjoni Ewropea għal sena. Il-baġit tal-UE għall-2025 se jkun l-ewwel proċedura annwali li se tapplika u timplimenta bis-sħiħ id-dispożizzjonijiet il-ġodda taħt il-Qafas Finanzjarju Multiannwali li ġie rivedut riċentement. Fost il-prijoritajiet għall-baġit tal-UE għas-sena d-dieħla hemm appoġġ akbar għat-tranżizzjonijiet ekoloġiċi u diġitali, l-inklussività, u s-sigurtà madwar l-UE.

Il-MPE Laburista Alfred Sant qabel bis-sħiħ mal-pożizzjoni tal-Parlament dwar it-tkomplija tal-għajnuna tal-UE lill-Palestina. B’mod partikolari l-finanzjament għall-Aġenzija tan-Nazzjonijiet Uniti għall-Għajnuna u x-Xogħlijiet għar-Refuġjati tal-Palestina fil-Lvant Qarib għandu jkompli. “Il-pożizzjoni mhix importanti biss mill-aspett finanzjarju, iżda tipprovdi wkoll messaġġ politiku ċar fil-kuntest tal-gwerra f’Gaża. F’dan ir-rigward, il-Parlament għandu jikkunsidra li jaqta’ kull kollaborazzjoni li permezz tagħha jingħata finanzjament Ewropew lill-Iżrael”, huwa ssuġġerixxa.

Alfred Sant esprima riżervi qawwija fil-konfront tal-fondi tal-UE ddedikati għad-difiża. Huwa enfasizza li l-baġit tal-UE m’għandux iservi biex jiffinanzja materjal tad-difiża jew l-armi. Filwaqt li dan jikkontradixxi l-istatus ta’ newtralità ta’ xi Stati Membri, imur kontra l-idea tal-proġett tal-UE bħala proġett ta’ paċi.

Il-linji gwida baġitarji tal-Parlament għall-2025 ġew approvati bi 380 vot favur, 102 vot kontra u 100 astensjoni. Alfred Sant ivvota favur.

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The European Parliament should consider cutting EU financing collaboration with Israel – Alfred Sant

In his contribution to a European Parliament plenary debate on the EU’s budget priorities for 2025 and new EU financial rules, former Prime Minister Alfred Sant supported the general approach adopted with regard to major priorities including support for societal cohesion. He noted that the guidelines embrace the idea of the EU budget as a European investment tool in line with the role of major EU funding programmes such as InvestEU and the Recovery and Resilience Facility.

The EU’s annual budget lays down all the European Union’s expenditure and revenue for one year. The 2025 EU budget will be the first annual procedure that will fully apply and implement the new provisions under the recently revised Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). Among the priorities for next year’s EU budget are enhanced support for green and digital transitions, inclusiveness, and security across the EU.

Labour MEP Alfred Sant fully agreed with the Parliament’s position on the continuation of EU aid to Palestine. In particular the funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) should continue. “The position is not only important from a financial aspect but is also provides a clear political message in the context of the war in Gaza. In this respect, Parliament should well consider cutting any EU financing collaboration with Israel”, he opined.

Alfred Sant expressed strong reservations vis-à-vis EU funding dedicated to defence. He emphasized that the EU budget should not serve to fund defence capabilities or weapons. While this contradicts the neutrality status of some Member States, it runs counter to the idea of the EU project as a peace project.

The Parliament’s budgetary guidelines for 2025 were approved with 380 votes in favour, 102 votes against and 100 abstentions. Alfred Sant voted in favour.