X’jiġri jekk ir-Russja ma tissodisfax l-obbligi tagħha?

Meta tkellem waqt dibattitu dwar is-sitwazzjoni tas-sigurtà tal-Ewropa wara l-invażjoni Russa tal-Ukrajna, Alfred Sant stqarr li wieħed jifhem li l-Istati Membri tal-Unjoni Ewropea jħossu l-bżonn li jaġġornaw il-kapaċitajiet militari tagħhom u jikkoordinaw dan b’mod li kull pajjiż Ewropew ikun involut. Madanakollu, il-pajjiżi newtrali għandhom iżommu l-għażla li jibqgħu barra minn kwalunkwe impenn fit-tul li jkun ekwivalenti għal alleanza militari.

Il-MPE Laburista saħaq li l-kwistjonijiet li huma mportanti għan-nies għax jaffettwawhom personalment jibqgħu fundamentali għas-sigurtà interna tal-Ewropa. Hemm bżonn urġenti ta’ koordinazzjoni fil-livell tal-Unjoni Ewropea fuq kwistjonijiet bażiċi ħafna. Il-provvista sigura u stabbli tal-enerġija għandha tkun it-triq.

L-eks Prim Ministru Sant enfasizza li l-invażjoni Russa tal-Ukrajna tirriżulta minn instabbiltà li ilha żmien twil fl-arkitettura tas-sigurtà Ewropea li rriżultat mill-kollass tal-USSR li ġiet injorata. Dan ma kellux jintuża bħala skuża għall-gwerra li nediet ir-Russja.

Il-plenarja kienet qed tiddiskuti l-irwol tal-Ewropa f’dinja li qed tinbidel u s-sigurtà tal-kontinent wara l-aggressjoni Russa kontra l-Ukrajna. Il-Membri Parlamentari Ewropew ħarġu sejħa qawwija għal difiża aktar kollettiva tal-Unjoni Ewropea u biex l-Ewropa tneħħi gradwalment id-dipendenza fuq il-fjuwils Russi, jiġifieri l-importazzjonijiet tal-gass naturali, iż-żejt u l-faħam.

Il-Kap tad-delegazzjoni Maltija tas-S&D tal-Partit Laburista qal li f’dawn iż-żminijiet kruċjali l-ispinta fit-tul tal-Kummissjoni lejn il-liberalizzazzjoni tas-swieq tal-enerġija qed turi dgħufijiet kbar. Għal din ir-raġuni, il-provvisti tal-enerġija u s-sigurtà tagħhom ma jistgħux jitħallew f’idejn il-ġestjoni tal-interessi privati li joperaw taħt kundizzjonijiet tas-suq “ħieles”.

Fl-aħħar nett, Sant appella għal valutazzjoni bir-reqqa tar-riskji ta’ prattiċi ħżiena li jistgħu jinfirxu li falliment tar-Russja jġib fis-sistema ekonomika u finanzjarja Ewropea. Għandhom jitħejjew miżuri konkreti biex jiġġieldu tali riżultat.

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What if Russia defaults?

Speaking during a debate on the security situation of Europe following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Alfred Sant stated that one understands that European Union Member States feel the need to upgrade their military capabilities and coordinate this at a pan-European level. However, neutral countries must retain the option to stay out of any long-term commitment equating to a military alliance. 

The Labour MEP stressed that bread and butter issues remain fundamental to the internal security of Europe. There is an urgent need for European Union level coordination on very basic issues. The secure and stable supply of energy should lead the way.

Former Prime Minister Sant emphasized that the Russian invasion of Ukraine stems out of a long-standing instability in the European security architecture resulting from the collapse of the USSR that was glossed over. This should not have been used as an excuse for the war launched by Russia.

The plenary was debating Europe’s role in a changing world and the continent’s security in the wake of the Russian aggression against Ukraine. MEPs issued a strong call for more collective European Union defence and for Europe to phase out straight away the dependency on Russian fuels, namely natural gas, oil and coal imports.

The head of the Maltese Labour S&D delegation said that in these crucial times the Commission’s long-term push towards the liberalisation of the energy markets is showing major weaknesses. For this reason, energy supplies and their security cannot be left to the management of private interests operating under “free” market conditions. 

Finally, Sant called for a thorough assessment of the contagion risks that a Russia default would bring to the European economic and financial system. Concrete measures to counter such an outcome must be prepared.