Sant jappella biex l-operazzjonijiet tal-RRF iżommu l-flessibbiltà sħiħa

L-eks Prim Ministru Sant ivvota favur rapport lill-plenarja tal-parlament Ewropew dwar l-implimentazzjoni tal-Faċilità ta’ Rkupru u Reżiljenza (RRF). Minkejja dan huwa wissa li r-rapport ma jagħmilx biżżejjed konċessjoni għall-ħtieġa li tinżamm flessibbiltà sħiħa fl-operazzjonijiet tal-RRF, politikament, istituzzjonalment, ekonomikament u soċjalment. Sant enfasizza li fid-dawl tas-sitwazzjoni ferm instabbli li teżisti fl-Ewropa, huwa vitali li l-pjanijiet nazzjonali ta’ rkupru u dawk li qed jimbuttawhom ‘il quddiem jibqgħu miftuħa għall-ħtieġa possibbli ta’ adattament kif meħtieġ.

Il-Faċilità ta’ Rkupru u Reżiljenza (RRF) hija l-għodda ewlenija fil-pjan ta’ rkupru tal-Covid-19 tal-Unjoni Ewropea. Se toffri appoġġ fuq skala kbira lill-Istati Membri Ewropej għall-investimenti u r-riformi meħtieġa biex jittaffew il-konsegwenzi ekonomiċi u soċjali li ġġib magħha l-pandemija. Barra minn hekk, l-RRF se jservi bħala programm ewlieni biex jipprepara l-ekonomiji Ewropej għal futur diġitali sostenibbli.

L-Ewroparlamentari Laburista Sant saħaq li fl-evalwazzjoni tal-implimentazzjoni tal-RRF, għandha tiġi adottata ħarsa estensiva ta’ dak li jinsab f’riskju. Filwaqt li rrikonoxxa li l-RRF ipprova jiġġieled il-kriżi billi investa ħafna fi proġetti definiti mill-prijoritajiet politiċi tal-Unjoni Ewropea, b’mod partikolari t-tisħin tal-klima u l-miri diġitali, huwa irrimarka li sadanittant is-sitwazzjoni ġeopolitika li qed tiffaċċja l-Ewropa inbidlet drastikament.

“Inflazzjoni maħluqa mill-provvista qed tikber minħabba ġlied ekonomiku mar-Russja li jwassal għal konsegwenzi soċjoekonomiċi li ma ġewx ikkunsidrati meta ġiet abbozzata l-Faċilità”, saħaq Sant. B’riżultat ta’ dan, il-ħaddiema, in-negozji kbar u żgħar u l-amministrazzjonijiet pubbliċi qed ibatu biex ilaħħqu. Sant irrimarka li l-istrutturi attwali tal-RRF jistgħu ma jibqgħux tajbin għall-iskop li saru u ta parir li jibqgħu miftuħa għal kull adattament meħtieġ.

Ir-rapport ġie adottat b’420 vot favur, 90 kontra u 83 astensjoni.

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Sant calls for RRF operations to maintain full flexibility

Former Prime Minister Sant voted in favour of a report to the European parliament’s plenary on the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). That said, he warned that the report does not make sufficient allowance for the need to maintain full flexibility in RRF operations, politically, institutionally, economically and socially. Sant emphasized that in view of the very unstable situation prevailing in Europe, it is imperative that national recovery plans and their drivers remain open to the possible need of adaptation as needed.

The Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) is the key tool in the European Union’s Covid-19 recovery plan. It will offer large-scale support to European Member States for the investments and reforms needed to mitigate the economic and social consequences brought up by the pandemic. Furthermore, the RRF will serve as a flagship programme to prepare the European economies for a sustainable, digital future.

Labour MEP Sant emphasized that in evaluating the implementation of the RRF, a comprehensive view of what is at stake should be adopted. While acknowledging that the RRF attempted to counter the crisis by investing heavily in projects defined by the European Union’s political priorities, in particular climate warming and digital targets, he remarked that that in the meantime the geopolitical situation facing Europe has changed drastically.

“A supply-induced inflation is being amplified by an economic tug-of-war with Russia triggering socio-economic consequences that were not considered when the Facility was drafted”, Sant stressed. As a result, workers, big and small businesses and public administrations are struggling to cope. Sant remarked that the current structures of the RRF might no longer be fit for purpose and he advised that they remain open for any required adaptations.

The report was adopted with 420 votes in favour, 90 against and 83 abstentions.