Sant jesprimi riżervi dwar l-armonizzazzjoni tar-regoli tal-finanzjament tal-partiti u l-fondazzjonijiet Ewropej

L-eks Prim Ministru Alfred Sant ivvota favur rapport lill-plenarja tal-Parlament Ewropew dwar l-istatut u l-finanzjament tal-partiti politiċi Ewropej u l-fondazzjonijiet politiċi Ewropej. Filwaqt li qabel ma’ diversi suġġerimenti li ġew inklużi mill-Membri Parlamentari Ewropej fir-rapport, Sant esprima kawtela dwar rakkomandazzjoni li tenfasizza li r-rispett għall-valuri fundamentali tal-UE għandu jsir biex japplika għall-partiti politiċi Ewropej u l-partiti membri tagħhom. “Din il-kundizzjoni trid tiġi interpretata b’attenzjoni kbira peress li tista’ tiġi applikata b’mod partiġġjan minn maġġoranzi politiċi prevalenti fuq kwistjonijiet kontenzjużi bħall-migrazzjoni, id-drittijiet tal-bniedem, l-abort, is-seċessjoni minn entitajiet nazzjonali u t-twemmin u d-drawwiet reliġjużi”, huwa wissa.

L-MPE Laburista qabel ma’ proposta għat-tisħiħ tal-qafas li japplika għall-istatus u l-finanzjament tal-partiti politiċi u l-fondazzjonijiet politiċi. Fuq kollox, Sant esprima qbil ma’ stqarrijiet li jsejħu lill-partiti politiċi Ewropej sabiex josservaw proċeduri demokratiċi u trasparenti fejn jidħlu l-għażla tal-mexxejja tal-partiti, kandidati għall-elezzjonijiet u anke fir-rigward tal-adozzjoni ta’ regoli interni u programmi politiċi. Proposti oħra jinkludu t-titjib tal-monitoraġġ tad-donazzjonijiet, ir-rifjut ta’ fondi meta l-partiti membri ma jkunux konformi mal-valuri tal-UE u t-tnaqqis tal-ostakli ta’ komunikazzjoni bla bżonn.

Madanakollu, Sant esprima n-nuqqas ta’ qbil tiegħu mal-kunċett tal-armonizzazzjoni tar-regoli ta’ finanzjament tal-partiti politiċi Ewropej u l-fondazzjonijiet tagħhom f’konformità mal-kampanji transnazzjonali ta’ kostitwenza fl-elezzjonijiet Ewropej. “Ma naqbilx mal-introduzzjoni ta’ kampanji bħal dawn u xorta waħda nemmen li din il-kwistjoni taqa’ barra mill-ambitu ta’ din ir-riżoluzzjoni”, huwa stqarr.

Ir-rapport ġie adottat b’428 vot favur, 92 kontra u 49 astensjoni.

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Sant expresses reservations on harmonising European parties and foundations financing rules.

Former Prime Minister Alfred Sant voted in favour of a report to the plenary of the European Parliament on the statute and funding of European political parties and European political foundations. While agreeing with several suggestions included by MEPs in the report, Sant expressed caution about a recommendation highlighting that respect for EU fundamental values should be made to apply to European political parties and their member parties. “Such a proviso has to be interpreted with great care since it could be applied in a partisan manner by prevailing political majorities on contentious issues like migration, human rights, abortion, secession from national entities and religious beliefs and customs”, he warned.

The Labour MEP agreed with a proposal for strengthening the framework applying to the status and funding of political parties and political foundations. Most of all, Sant expressed agreement with statements calling European political parties to observe democratic and transparent procedures when it comes to the selection of party leaders, candidates for elections and also with regards to the adoption of internal rules and political programmes. Other proposals include improving donation monitoring, holding back funds when member parties are not in adherence with EU values and reducing needless organisational hurdles.

However, Sant expressed his disagreement with the notion of harmonising financing rules of European political parties and their foundations in line with transnational constituency campaigns at the European elections. “I do not agree with the introduction of such campaigns and anyway believe that this matter falls outside the scope of this resolution”, he stated.

The report was adopted with 428 votes in favour, 92 against and 49 abstentions.