Stati Membri newtrali ma jistgħux isegwu politika ta’ difiża li tikkontradixxi l-istatus tagħhom – Alfred Sant

Fl-intervent tiegħu fuq Rapport dwar l-irwol tal-Parlament Ewropew u d-diplomazija parlamentari tiegħu fil-politika barranija u ta’ sigurtà tal-Unjoni Ewropea, l-eks Prim Ministru Alfred Sant saħaq li biex il-politika tal-Parlament Ewropew fuq affarijiet internazzjonali tkun waħda rilevanti ma tistax tkun simili għal dik ta’ nazzjon. “Dan japplika aktar u aktar fir-rigward ta’ politika Ewropea ta’ difiża u sigurtà li qed titfassal skont iċ-ċirkostanzi li jinqalgħu”, huwa sostna.

Huwa nnota li l-politika barranija u ta’ sigurtà tiddependi mill-qagħda tar-relazzjoni li l-maġġorparti tal-Istati Membri Ewropej għandhom man-NATO. Dan jinjora l-interessi ta’ Stati Membri newtrali li ma jistgħux jissottoskrivu għal politika ta’ difiża li tikkontradixxi l-istatus newtrali tagħhom.

Ir-Rapport jiddefinixxi d-diplomazija preventiva bħala azzjoni diplomatika mmirata biex tevita t-tilwim milli jeskala f’kunflitti u tnaqqas it-tixrid tiegħu. Ir-Rapport jipproponi miżuri bħat-titjib tal-ftehimiet kulturali li jkunu saru fiż-żoni ta’ kunflitt u t-tisħiħ tas-sistema ta’ twissija minn qabel.

L-Ewroparlamentari Laburista Alfred Sant issuġġerixxa li sabiex tiġi stabbilita diplomazija sinifikanti mal-parlamenti madwar id-dinja, il-Parlament Ewropew ikun l-aktar effettiv jekk iservi biex b’mod trasparenti jaqsam informazzjoni u fehmiet dwar kwistjonijiet ta’ difiża miżmuma mill-istati. Madanakollu, dan l-eżerċizzju jista’ ma jkunx effettiv biżżejjed minħabba li l-fehma li teżisti barra l-Ewropa hi li d-diplomazija Ewropea tipprattika standards doppji, huwa wissa.

Ir-Rapport ġie adottat b’492 vot favur, 73 vot kontra u 55 astensjoni. Alfred Sant astjena.

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Neutral Member States cannot subscribe to a defence policy that contradicts their status – Alfred Sant

In his intervention on a Report about the role of the European Parliament and its parliamentary diplomacy in the EU’s foreign and security policy, former Prime Minister Alfred Sant emphasized that the European Parliament cannot project a coherent political view about international affairs, similar to that of a nation state. “This holds even less regarding a European defence and security policy which is being fashioned on the hoof”, he claimed.

He noted that foreign and security policy is strongly tied to the relationship most European Member States have with NATO. This disregards the interests of neutral Member States which cannot subscribe to a defence policy that contradicts their neutral status.

The Report defines preventive parliamentary diplomacy as diplomatic action aimed at averting disputes from escalating into conflicts and limiting their spread. It proposes measures such as improving cultural understanding in conflict zones and strenghtening the early warning system. 

Labour MEP Alfred Sant suggested that in order to establish a meaningful diplomacy with parliaments across the world, the European Parliament would be most effective if it served to transparently exchange information and viewpoints on defence issues held by nation-states. However, this exercise could be undermined due to the widespread perception outside Europe, that European diplomacy practices double standards, he warned.

The Report was adopted with 492 votes in favour, 73 votes against and 55 abstentions. Alfred Sant abstained.