Proposti biex jiżdiedu r-riżorsi proprji tal-UE jistgħu jagħmlu ħsara lil stati żgħar

Ir-reviżjoni tas-sistema tar-riżorsi proprji tal-UE tirrappreżenta r-riforma dwar sorsi tad-dħul tal-Qafas Finanzjarju Multiannwali, li kiseb rilevanza dejjem tikber bit-tixrid tal-pandemija Covid-19 u l-impatt fuq l-ekonomija tal-UE.

Il-Parlament Ewropew qed jitlob li juża d-dħul kollu ġġenerat mill-implimentazzjoni futura ta’ riżorsi proprji ġodda primarjament għall-iskema ta’ ħlas lura tal-Pjan ta’ Rkupru għall-Ewropa.

Fi spjegazzjoni tal-vot, Alfred Sant irrikonoxxa li, fis-sitwazzjoni ekonomika attwali u hekk kif tespandi l-orizzonti tal-politika tagħha, l-Unjoni Ewropea teħtieġ ħafna iktar flus x’tonfoq.  Għaldaqstant, reviżjoni tas-sistema attwali tar-riżorsi proprji tal-UE hija inevitabbli.

“Proposti li jirriflettu l-għanijiet tal-UE rikonoxxuti minn kulħadd, bħal tariffa imposta tal-plastik miftiehma fil-livell tal-Kunsill, huma tajbin ħafna. Minkejja dan, proposti oħra fir-rapport ġew avvanzati bla ma kienet meqjusa l-ħsara li ser jikkawżaw lill-ekonomija ta’ Stati Membri individwali”, iddikjara Alfred Sant.

Il-problema hi li l-iktar affettwati huma l-iStati Membri iżgħar iżgħar tal-Unjoni Ewropea. Kieku kien mod ieħor, u kienu meqjusa l-interessi tal-istati l-kbar,  il-perspettiva kienet tkun ferm iktar kawtiela.

Fil-konklużjoni tiegħu, Alfred Sant qal li l-mistoqsija dwar jekk ir-riżorsi proprji humiex l-aħjar rispons għall-ħtieġa kritika tal-UE għal aktar fondi biex twettaq il-missjoni tagħha, u dwar kif ir-riżorsi proprji ġodda għandhom jiġu identifikati, jistħoqqilha reviżjoni urġenti.

---

 

Proposals to expand EU own resources may harm smaller states

The revision of the system of own resources of the EU represents the reform of the revenue side of the upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework, which has acquired growing relevance following the diffusion of the Covid-19 virus and its consequences for the EU economy.

The European Parliament is demanding to use all revenues generated by the future implementation of new own resources primarily for the repayment scheme of the Recovery Plan for Europe.

In an explanation of vote, Alfred Sant acknowledged that, in the current economic situation and as it expands its policy horizons, the European Union needs lots more money to spend and a revision of the EU’s current system of own resources is therefore inevitable.

“Proposals reflecting EU objectives acknowledged by all, such as the plastic levy agreed upon at Council level, are extremely fit for purpose. Nevertheless, other proposals in the text have been advanced with a regrettable disregard for the damage they would inflict on the economy of individual Member States”, Alfred Sant stated.

The problem is that mostly, the smaller to smallest Member States are affected. Were it otherwise, and the interests of the larger states were involved, the approach would be much more cautious.

In his conclusive remarks, Alfred Sant said that the questions as to whether own resources is the best response to the EU’s crying need for more funds to carry out its mission, and as to how new own resources should be identified, merit an urgent revisit.