Sant jinnota kif il-ftehim ta’ partnership bejn l-UE u l-Iżvizzera juri li l-partnership minflok is-sħubija fl-UE hija għażla prattikabbli

Waqt dibattitu plenarju tal-Parlament Ewropew dwar Rapport dwar ir-relazzjonijiet bejn l-UE u l-Iżvizzera, l-eks Prim Ministru Alfred Sant innota li l-Iżvizzera hija sieħeb importanti biex jiġu indirizzati sfidi globali, inkluż l-paċi internazzjonali u d-drittijiet tal-bniedem. “L-allinjament tiegħu mas-sanzjonijiet Ewropej kontra r-Russja jenfasizza l-impenn tal-pajjiż għall-valuri kondiviżi tagħna”, huwa sostna.

L-Ewroparlamentari Laburista Alfred Sant qabel mal-argument konvinċenti li tqajjem fir-Rapport favur ftehim ġdid ta’ partnership bejn l-UE u l-Iżvizzera. Huwa faħħar il-proposta biex jiġu mmodernizzati u kkonsolidati l-fergħat kollha ta’ dak li nkiseb matul is-snin fir-relazzjonijiet bejn l-UE u l-Iżvizzera billi dawn jitpoġġew f’dokument wieħed ta’ partnership. Filwaqt li dan se jnaqqas l-ostakli għall-kummerċ u jiżgura kundizzjonijiet ugwali għaċ-ċittadini u l-operaturi ekonomiċi Ewropej u Żvizzeri, se jwitti t-triq għat-tkabbir ekonomiku u l-prosperità.

L-għan ewlieni tar-Rapport kien li jinkoraġġixxi aktar fiduċja bejn l-UE u l-Isvizzera. Din il-fiduċja għandha tkun ibbażata fuq trasparenza u kooperazzjoni akbar b’mod partikolari fil-qasam istituzzjonali. Ir-Rapport iħeġġeġ kemm lill-UE kif ukoll lill-Iżvizzera biex jiżviluppaw partnership aġġornat kkaratterizzat minn ftehim ambizzjuż biex inaqqsu l-ostakli għall-kummerċ u jistabbilixxu kundizzjonijiet ta’ kompetizzjoni ġusta kemm għaċ-ċittadini kif ukoll għan-negozji Ewropej.

Minn perspettiva Maltija Sant fakkar li fil-passat u matul bosta snin qabel is-sħubija ta’ Malta fl-UE, f’Malta kien argumentat li relazzjoni ta’ partnership bejn l-UE u pajjiż Ewropew ieħor ma kinitx possibbli. “Din l-istqarrija falza ġiet użata biex timbotta  lill-elettorat Malti lejn vot favur id-dħul ta’ Malta fl-UE. L-ispirtu u t-termini tar-Rapport għal darb’oħra juru kemm din kienet stqarrija falza”, huwa enfasizza.

Ir-Rapport ġie adottat b’538 vot favur, 42 kontra u 43 astensjoni. Alfred Sant ivvota favur.

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Sant notes how EU-Switzerland partnership agreement shows that partnership instead of EU membership is a viable option

During a plenary debate of the European Parliament on a Report about EU-Switzerland relations, former Prime Minister Alfred Sant noted that Switzerland is an important partner in addressing global challenges, including international peace and human rights. “Its alignment with European sanctions against Russia underlines the country’s commitment to our shared values”, he claimed.

Labour MEP Alfred Sant agreed with the Report’s thrust in favour of a new EU-Switzerland partnership agreement. He commended the proposal to modernize and consolidate all the strands of what has been achieved over the years in EU-Swiss relations within one partnership document. While this would reduce trade barriers and ensure a level playing field for European and Swiss citizens and economic operators, it would pave the way for economic growth and prosperity.

The Report’s main objective was to encourage more trust between the EU and Switzerland. This trust should be based on a greater transparency and cooperation in particular in the institutional area. The Report urges both the EU and Switzerland to develop an updated partnership characterized by an ambitious agreement to minimize trade barriers and establish fair competition conditions for both European citizens and businesses.

From a Maltese perspective Sant recalled that in the past and over many years preceding Malta’s EU membership, in Malta it was argued that a partnership relation between the EU and another European country was not possible. “This false claim, used to stampede the electorate towards EU accession, is again fully rebutted by the spirit and terms of the Report”, he emphasized.

The Report was adopted with 538 votes in favour, 42 against and 43 abstentions. Alfred Sant voted in favour.