L-UE għandha tibqa’ lura milli tinvolvi ruħha f’politika ta’ difiża jew milli tipparteċipa f’unjoni tad-difiża – Alfred Sant

Fil-kontribut tiegħu għal dibattitu plenarju tal-Parlament Ewropew dwar Rapport fuq  ir-relazzjonijiet bejn l-UE u l-Istati Uniti l-eks Prim Ministru Alfred Sant esprima riżervi qawwija dwar il-kontenut relatat man-NATO fir-Rapport. Min-naħa l-oħra, huwa qabel bis-sħiħ mal-emfasi fir-Rapport dwar il-valuri kondiviżi tal-UE u l-Istati Uniti bħalma huma l-libertà u d-demokrazija.

L-Ewroparlamentari Laburista Alfred Sant innota li l-UE u l-Istati Uniti għandhom strutturi istituzzjonali u politiċi distinti. Kull waħda minn dawn l-istrutturi tkopri kompetenzi differenti u tagħmel l-alleanza tagħhom intrinsikament żbilanċjata. “F’dawn l-aħħar snin, dan l-iżbilanċ ġie trasferit għal pożizzjonijiet politiċi, dwar kwistjonijiet ta’ sigurtà, ambjentali u ta’ kompetittività globali”, żied jgħid.

Matul l-aħħar 70 sena, il-kooperazzjoni, is-sħubija u l-ħbiberija transatlantika qawwija bejn l-UE u l-Istati Uniti kkontribwew għall-iżvilupp, il-prosperità u l-integrazzjoni b’suċċess tal-Ewropa. Fir-Rapport tressqu diversi rakkomandazzjonijiet dwar kif iż-żewġ kontinenti jistgħu jkomplu jaħdmu biex jiddefendu l-multilateraliżmu, jindirizzaw l-isfidi globali u r-realtajiet ġeopolitiċi.

Alfred Sant innota li xi drabi r-Rapport naqas milli jindirizza b’attenzjoni kwistjonijiet ta’ fiduċja u affidabbiltà. “Probabbilment ir-raġuni għal dan huwa biex tinħeba l-inċertezza dwar jekk l-UE għandhiex taċċetta u ssegwi l-pożizzjonijiet tal-Istati Uniti jew jekk għandhiex tasserixxi pożizzjoni kompletament differenti”, huwa sostna. Eżempju ċar ta’ dan huwa l-mod kif ir-Rapport tratta r-relazzjonijiet maċ-Ċina fejn kien hemm bżonn ta’ approċċ li jdaħħal fih pożizzjonijiet varji.

Barra minn hekk, Sant emfasizza li huwa jemmen li l-UE għandha tibqa’ lura milli tinvolvi ruħha f’poltiika ta’ difiża jew milli tipparteċipa f’unjoni tad-difiża.

Ir-Rapport ġie adottat b’485 vot favur fosthom dak ta’ Sant, 77 vot kontra u 70 astensjoni.

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The EU should not engage in defence affairs or commit to a defence union – Alfred Sant

In his contribution to a European Parliament plenary debate about a Report on EU-US relations former Prime Minister Alfred Sant expressed strong reservations about the NATO-related content of the Report. On the other hand, he strongly agreed with the emphasis in the Report on EU and US shared values such as freedom and democracy.

Labour MEP Alfred Sant noted that the EU and the US possess distinct institutional and political structures. These structures cover different competences and make their alliance inherently asymmetrical. “In recent years, the asymmetry has been carried over to political stances, on security, environmental and global competitive issues”, he added.

Over the past 70 years the strong EU-US transatlantic cooperation, partnership and friendship has contributed to Europe’s development, prosperity, and successful integration. In the Report several recommendations are brought forward on how the two continents can continue working to defend multilateralism, tackle global challenges and geopolitical realities.

Alfred Sant noted that at times the Report failed to address issues of trust and reliability. “Probably the reason for this is to camouflage uncertainity as to whether the EU should unfailingly accept and follow US positions or whether it should assert a completely different stance”, he argued. A case in point is the Report’s treatment of relations with China where more nuance was indicated.

Moreover, Sant emphasized his belief that the EU should not engage in defence affairs or commit to a defence union.

The Report was adopted with 485 votes in favour including Sant’s, 77 votes against and 70 abstentions.