Maltese MEP Alfred Sant asked ECOFIN President whether it is the time to push for an EU wide rise of say 5% in the national minimum wage where this applies, during an economic dialogue and exchange of views with Bulgaria’s Minister for Finance, Vladislav Goranov, who chaired the first Economic and Financial Affairs (ECOFIN) Council meeting under the Bulgarian Presidency. Dr Sant argued that if Europe wants to ensure the fast approaching European Parliament elections to be a successful milestone for the European project, member states need to show that following years of austerity, they are committed fast to an improvement in the well being of families and citizens across the EU.
Mr Goranov, who presented the EU Presidency’s priorities for the economy and finance, did not react to the Maltese MEPs proposal.
Dr Sant argued that by taking this proposal across the board, it would equalise competitive pressures. It would also be more effective in helping to reach inflation targets, than the monetary tools that the ECB has been deploying these past years. Such a measure can only be adopted at Council level.
“The most recent assessment of the economic situation shows that the economic expansion in the EU as a whole and in the euro area continues, and has become increasingly broad-based across countries. Given this economic improvement, it no longer makes sense to use the arguments of austerity to deny to working and middle classes as well as to pensioners, an improvement in their purchasing power while applauding the increased profitability of corporations.”
In this regard, wage growth contributes to the economic recovery by supporting aggregate demand, reduces inequalities and ensures high standards of living in the area, said the Maltese MEP.
You may view the interventions of Alfred Sant and Vladislav Goranov in this link:
Maltese Version – ALFRED SANT FAVUR 5% ŻIEDA FIL-PAGA MINIMA FIL-PAJJIŻI TAL-UE
Alfred Sant staqsa lil President tal-ECOFIN wasalx iż-żmien li ssir pressjoni biex il-paga minima tiżdied b’5% waqt laqgħa mal-Ministru tal-Finanzi Bulgaru Vladislav Goranov, President tal-ewwel laqgħa tal-Kunsill tal-Affarijiet Ekonomiċi u Finanzjarji (ECOFIN) tal-Presidenza Bulgara. Dr Sant qal li jekk l-Ewropa trid tiżgura suċċess fl-elezzjonijiet li qed joqorbu tal-Parlament Ewropew biex iservu ta’ tappa importanti għall-proġett Ewropew, l-istati membri jridu juru li wara snin ta’ awsterita`, qed jaħdmu favur titjib fil-qagħda tal-familji u ċ-ċittadini fl-Unjoni Ewropea kollha.
Vladislav Goranov, li ppreżenta l-prijoritajiet tal-Presidenza tal-Kunsill tal-Unjoni Ewropea għall-ekonomija u l-finanzi, ma rreaġixxiex għall-proposta tal-Ewroparlamentari Malti.
Dr Sant argumenta li jekk titwettaq din il-proposta fl-istati membri, ikunu bbilanċjati d-diffikultajiet imqanqla mill-kompetizzjoni. Din il-proposta jekk issir tkun aktar effettiva biex jintlaħqu l-miri tal-inflazzjoni, mill-għodda monetarji li l-Bank Ċentrali Ewropew uża f’dawn l-aħħar snin. Miżura bħal din tista’ tiġi adottata biss f’livell ta’ Kunsill, qal Dr Sant.
“L-aħħar analiżi tas-sitwazzjoni ekonomika turi li l-espansjoni ekonomika fl-Unjoni Ewropea kollha u fiż-żona ewro għadha għaddejja, u saret aktar wiesgħa. Minħabba dan it-titjib ekonomiku, m’għadux jagħmel aktar sens li jintużaw l-argumenti dwar awsterità biex il-klassijiet tal-ħaddiem, il-klassijiet tan-nofs u l-pensjonanti jiċċaħħdu minn titjib fil-poter tax-xiri tagħhom, filwaqt li l-korporazzjonijiet qed jingħataw il-prosit talli qed iżidu fil-profitti tagħhom.”
F’dan ir-rigward, żieda fil-pagi tikkontribwixxi lejn l-irkupru ekonomiku billi tnaqqas l-inugwaljanzi u tiżgura livelli għoljin ta’ għixien fiż-żona Ewropea, qal il-Kap tad-Delegazzjoni Laburista fil-Parlament Ewropew.
Tista’ ssegwi l-intervent ta’ Alfred Sant u Vladislav Goranov fuq din il-link:
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