L-Unjoni Ewropea għandha tieħu kont tas-sitwazzjoni ġeopolitika ta’ Stati Membri newtrali

Rapport approvat mill-Parlament Ewropew waqt l-aħħar plenarja tiegħu qabel il-vaganzi tas-sajf dwar l-Unjoni Ewropea u d-difiża tal-multilateraliżmu jiddeskrivi b’mod aktar ċar dak li trid l-Unjoni Ewropea għal u mis-sistema multilaterali. Il-multilateraliżmu huwa sitwazzjoni li fiha numru wiesa’ ta’ pajjiżi jaħdmu flimkien skont prinċipji maqbula bejniethom biex jiksbu għanijiet komuni. Ir-rapport jistabbilixxi wkoll kif l-Unjoni Ewropea tista’ tikseb dak li trid billi ssaħħaħ is-sistema u biex tieħu passi meħtieġa fil-qasam internazzjonali.

Waqt li vvota favur ir-rapport Alfrted Sant esprima riżervi sodi għall-appoġġ tar-rapport għall-Votazzjoni b’Maġġoranza Kwalifikata fil-politika barranija u ta’ sigurtà u dan minflok l-unanimità. Huwa esprima wkoll in-nuqqas ta’ qbil mas-sejħa li saret lill-Istati Membri biex jingħaqdu ma’ inizjattivi Ewropej ta’ sigurtà u difiża. Dan ma jqisx is-sitwazzjoni ġeopolitika ta’ pajjiżi Ewropej differenti, bħal dik ta’ pajjiżi newtrali, ħaġa li hi inaċċettabbli, qal Sant.

Sant qabel li sfidi globali bħal dawk relatati mal-klima, is-saħħa u l-kunflitti jeħtieġu soluzzjoni globali. Filwaqt li rrikonoxxa li t-tmiem tal-Gwerra Bierda pprovda opportunità għal koordinazzjoni globali fuq kwistjonijiet ewlenin, huwa nnota li l-multilateraliżmu qala’ daqqiet kbar b’riżultat dirett tat-tieni amministrazzjoni Bush u l-interventi tagħha fil-Lvant Nofsani kif ukoll bl-indħil tal-Istati Uniti/Ewropa f’reġjuni ta’ interess, bħal-Libja. 

Il-MPE Laburista nnota kif pajjiżi ewlenin Ewropej jappoġġjaw il-multilateraliżmu bħala triq ‘il quddiem għar-relazzjonijiet internazzjonali u sostna li l-Unjoni Ewropea trid tiddefendi l-multilateraliżmu u tevita azzjonijiet li jimminawha.

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The European Union to take account of the geopolitical situation of neutral Member States

A report approved by the European Parliament during its last plenary before the summer recess on the European Union and the defence of multilateralism describes more clearly what the European Union wants for and from the multilateral system. Multilateralism is a situation in which a vast number of countries work together according to principles agreed between them to achieve a common goal. The report also sets out how the European Union can achieve what it wants by reinforcing the system and to take the necessary steps internationally. 

While voting in favour of the report Alfred Sant expressed firm reservations to the report’s support for Qualified Majority Voting in foreign and security policy instead of unanimity. He also expressed disagreement with the call made to Member States to join European security and defence initiatives. This does not take into consideration the geopolitical situation of different European countries, such as those of neutral countries, which is unacceptable, Sant stated.

Sant agreed that global challenges such as those related to climate, health and conflict require a global solution. While acknowledging that the end of the Cold War provided an opportunity for global coordination on major issues, he noted that multilateralism experienced huge setbacks as a direct result of the second Bush administration and its interventions in the Middle East as well as the United States/European meddling in regions of interest, such as Libya. 

The Labour MEP noted how major European countries support multilateralism as a way forward for international relations and argued that the European Union must defend multilateralism and avoid actions that undermine it.