The European Parliament approved a resolution on its position on the 2019 annual budget which includes amendments by Maltese MEP Alfred Sant demanding special attention to the case of island regions within the European Union. These amendments are crucial for Malta and the Mediterranean, boosting funds aiming at tackling migration.

The Maltese MEP had asked the European Commission to give special attention to the case of island regions within the European Union falling under the scope of Article 174 of the Lisbon Treaty on the functioning of the EU. Article 174 states that the Union aims at reducing disparities between the levels of development of the various regions and the backwardness of the least favoured regions.

The Maltese MEP said the European Parliament position has some important progressive dedications, including those allocated to tackling youth unemployment in the EU, and an increase in allocations for the Erasmus+ Programme. He voted in favour of the EP 2019 budget resolution which passed with 389 votes in favour, 158 against and 123 abstentions
Nevertheless MEP Sant voted against separate votes asking for a reduction of funds dedicated to Turkey.

“While in agreement on the need for improvement as regards the respect for human rights, I believe that the EP’s decision to further cut on financing support to Turkey is wrong. As made clear through recent years, Turkey is acting as the gatekeeper for the migration influx originating from the Middle East.”

Dr Sant said the EU must continue to assist and cooperate with Turkey. Cutting previously promised funding is jeopardising projects of importance to both Turkey and the EU. Clearly, it will also hurt the motivation of the Turkish authorities in sustaining their cooperation with the EU, potentially damaging the intended reforms in the affected areas.

Maltese Version – PROPOSTI TA’ ALFRED SANT DWAR GŻEJJER TAL-UE APPROVATI MILL-PARLAMENT EWROPEW

Il-Parlament Ewropew approva riżoluzzjoni għal baġit anwali tal-2019 li tinkludi proposti tal-MEP Alfred Sant li jinvokaw attenzjoni speċjali għall-gżejjer tal-Unjoni Ewropea. Dawn l-emendi huma kruċjali għal Malta u l-Mediterran u jżidu l-fondi immirati għal kontroll tal-immigrazzjoni.

Sant kien talab lil Kummissjoni Ewropea biex tagħti attenzjoni speċjali lil gżejjer fi ħdan l-UE kif miktub f’Artiklu 174 tat-Trattat ta’ Lisbona dwar it-tħaddim tal-UE. Artiklu 174 jgħid li l-Unjoni timmira biex tnaqqas id-differenzi fil-livell ta’ żvilupp ta’ reġjuni differenti u ma tħallix reġjuni b’kundizzjonijiet inqas favorevoli jaqgħu lura.

Dr Sant qal li l-pożizzjoni tal-Parlament Ewropew tinkludi fondi allokati biex jikkumbattu l-qgħad fost iż-żgħażagħ fl-UE, u żieda fl-allokazzjonijiet għal Programm Erasmus+.

L-MEP Malti ivvota favur ir-riżoluzzjoni tal-baġit 2019 li għaddiet bi 389 voti favur, 158 voti kontra u 123 astensjoni.

Minkejja dan, Sant ivvota kontra votazzjonijiet separati li talbu għal tnaqqis ta’ fondi ddedikati għat-Turkija.

“Filwaqt li naqbel mal-ħtieġa ta’ titjib fir-rigward tad-drittijiet tal-bniedem fit-Turkija, nemmen li d-deċiżjoni tal-PE li tnaqqas il-fondi li jappoġġjaw lit-Turkija hija ħażina. Kif deher ċar f’dawn l-aħħar snin, it-Turkija qed taġixxi bħal għassies li jżomm l-influss tal-immigranti mil-Lvant Nofsani.”

Dr Sant qal li l-UE għandha tibqa’ tassisti u tikkoopera mat-Turkija. Tnaqqis fil-fondi mwiegħda jaf jipperikola proġetti li huma importanti kemm għat-Turkija u kemm għall-UE. Huwa ċar li dan jagħti daqqa ta’ ħarta lil motivazzjoni tal-awtoritajiet Torok li jikkooperaw mal-UE, u potenzjalment iservi ta’ ħsara għar-riformi fiż-żoni affettwati.

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