L-Ewropa u l-Afrika u l-politika reġjonali Ewropea

Is-suġġetti diskussi waqt il-programm televiżiv Temi Maltin u Ewropej sponsorjat mill-uffiċċju ta’ Alfred Sant bl-appoġġ tal-Grupp tas-S&D fil-Parlament Ewropew kienu “L-Ewropa u l-Afrika” u “Il-politika reġjonali tal-Unjoni Ewropea”.

Temi Maltin u Ewropej huwa programm televiżiv ta’ informazzjoni u diskussjoni prodott mill-Uffiċċju Lokali tal-Membru Parlamentari Ewropew Alfred Sant li tnieda s-sena l-oħra. Alfred Sant ikun mistieden bħala kelliem f’kull programm f’diskussjoni ma’ mistieden li jkun intiż fis-suġġett li qed jiġi diskuss. Kevin Mercieca jipproduċi u jippreżenta l-programm filwaqt li Antoinette Falzon twassal l-informazzjoni billi tagħti sfond dwar it-temi magħżula għalih.

F’diskussjoni mas-Sinjura Anna Zammit, uffiċjal tal-komunikazzjoni fl-uffiċċju tal-Parlament Ewropew f’Malta dwar ir-relazzjonijiet bejn l-Ewropa u l-Afrika, in-natura tal-interess ġeopolitiku Ewropew fl-Afrika ġiet imfissra b’mod kritiku. Illum ir-relazzjonijiet Ewropej mal-Afrika jiffokaw primarjament fuq il-migrazzjoni u s-sigurtà. Iżda s-sehem tal-Ewropa fl-isforzi biex jitħaffef l-iżvilupp Afrikan huwa aspett ewlieni ieħor. Il-problema hija li l-Ewropa hija l-aktar interessata li żżomm barra mit-territorju tagħha immigranti llegali mill-Afrika filwaqt li xorta jkollha aċċess sħiħ u rħis għar-riżorsi minerali u umani ta’ dak il-kontinent.

F’diskussjoni ma’ Dr Daniel Attard, kandidat tal-Partit Laburista għall-Elezzjonijiet li jmiss għall-Parlament Ewropew dwar il-politika reġjonali tal-Unjoni Ewropea ġie enfasizzat li r-reġjuni Ewropej jiffaċċjaw sfidi differenti. Huma jeħtieġu miżuri li jistgħu jindirizzaw il-ħtiġijiet partikolari tagħhom u fl-istess ħin jistimulaw l-iżvilupp ekonomiku, soċjali u territorjali tagħhom. Il-politika reġjonali tappoġġja u tinkoraġġixxi l-iżvilupp ekonomiku, soċjali u territorjali biex tikkumpensa għall-iżbilanċi bejn pajjiżi u reġjuni differenti. Punt importanti li ħareġ mill-programm kien li waqt li d-differenzi bejn ir-reġjuni Ewropej ikunu qed jiġu ttrattati b’mod effettiv irid jiġi żgurat li kull reġjun jippreserva l-identità, il-kultura u t-tradizzjoni tiegħu.

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Europe and Africa and the European regional policy

Topics on the agenda of the TV programme Temi Maltin u Ewropej sponsored by Alfred Sant’s office with the support of the S&D Group in the European Parliament were “Europe and Africa” and the “European Union regional policy”. 

Temi Maltin u Ewropej is an information and discussion TV programme produced by Alfred Sant’s MEP Local office which was launched last year. Alfred Sant features as the guest speaker in every programme in discussion with a guest who is knowledgeable in the topic under discussion. Kevin Mercieca produces and presents the programme, Antoinette Falzon presents background information on programme themes. 

In discussion with Ms Anna Zammit, press officer at the European Parliament office in Malta about the relations between Europe and Africa, the nature of European geopolitical interest in Africa was reviewed critically. Today European interactions with Africa focus primarily on migration and security. But the share of Europe in efforts to speed up African development is another major aspect. The problem is that Europe is mostly interested in keeping out of its territory illegal immigrants from Africa while still having full and cheap access to that continent’s mineral and human resources.

In discussion with Dr Daniel Attard, Labour Party candidate for the upcoming European Parliament Elections about the European Union’s regional policy it was emphasized that European regions face different challenges. They  require measures which can address their particular needs and at the same time stimulate their economic, social and territorial development. The regional policy supports and encourages economic, social and territorial development to correct imbalances between different countries and regions. One important point that came out of the programme was that the disparities between different European regions should be tackled effectively while ensuring that every region preserves its identity, culture and tradition.