Wasal iż-żmien sabiex l-alleanza transatlantika tkun stabbilita mill-ġdid – Alfred Sant

Wasal iż-żmien li terġa’ tkun stabbilita mill-ġdid l-alleanza storika bejn in-nazzjonijiet Ewropej u l-Istati Uniti, iddikjara Alfred Sant fil-Parlament Ewropew. Fir-reazzjoni tiegħu għal dibattitu plenarju dwar il-futur tar-relazzjonijiet bejn l-Istati Uniti u l-UE huwa saħaq li r-relazzjoni transatlantika bejn l-Istati Uniti u l-Ewropa kienet ta’ benefiċċju għaż-żewġ naħat u għad-dinja kollha. Madanakollu, issa jeħtieġ li din ir-relazzjoni tiġi adattata.

Il-plenarja tal-Parlament Ewropew kienet qed tiddiskuti rapport miktub mill-MPE tal-S&D Tonino Picula, li mbagħad ivvutaw fuqu.

Il-MPE Laburista Sant saħaq li l-Istati Uniti u l-UE għandhom profil istituzzjonali u politiku differenti u kompetenzi differenti. F’dan ir-rigward sostna li “ir-relazzjoni tagħhom mhix bħaż-żwieġ, ma tistax tkun simmetrika u lanqas purament reċiproka iżda l-problemi ta’ fiduċja u affidabbiltà qed isiru ta’ importanza kbira.”

Għalhekk staqsa, il-kontinwazzjoni tas-sħubija bejn l-UE u l-Istati Uniti għandha tiġi stabbilita fuq “valuri kondiviżi” jew “interessi konverġenti”? Mhuwiex realistiku li jkollok it-tnejn, huwa sostna. Sant wissa li fl-aġġustament tar-relazzjoni tagħha mal-Istati Uniti, l-UE m’għandhiex tappoġġja lill-Istati Uniti bla ħsieb f’xi tellieqa kontra ċ-Ċina u lanqas m’għandha timbotta lill-UE lejn xi unjoni ta’ difiża prematura. Sant staqsa wkoll, jekk fid-dawl tan-natura u l-kompetenzi attwali tal-UE, jagħmilx aktar sens li l-ewwel u qabel kollox jiġu indirizzati l-ħafna interessi konverġenti li jeżistu bejn l-UE u l-Istati Uniti “biex tiġġedded ir-relazzjoni bejn it-tnejn.” 

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The time has come for a rewiring of the transatlantic alliance – Alfred Sant

The time has come for a rewiring of the historic alliance between the European nations and the US, Alfred Sant affirmed in the European Parliament. In his reaction to a plenary debate on the future of relations between the US and the EU he stated that the transatlantic relationship between the United States and Europe had been beneficial to both sides and to the entire world. However, it now needs adapting.

The plenary of the European Parliament was debating a report written by S&D MEP Tonino Picula, on which they then voted.

Labour MEP Sant highlighted that the US and the EU have a different institutional and political profile and different competences. In this regard he stated that “their relationship is not like a marriage, it cannot be symmetrical nor purely reciprocal but problems of trust and reliability are becoming paramount.”

So he queried, should the continuation of the EU-US partnership be established on “shared values” or “converging interests”? It is not realistic to have both, he argued. Sant warned that in adjusting its relationship with the US, the EU should not support unthinkingly the US in some race against China and neither should it hustle the EU into a premature defence union. Sant also asked, if in view of the current nature and competences of the EU, would it make more sense to first and foremost address the many converging interests existing between the EU and the US “to renew the relationship between the two.”