Austrian presidency should bridge differences among EU member states

The main challenge for the Austrian presidency of the EU will be to bridge the differences among Member States while preserving a European political coherence, MEP Alfred Sant told the European Parliament during a debate on “Presentation of the programme of activities of the Austrian Presidency”.
Dr Sant said that on too many policy areas, divergences are deepening in the EU: surely, between the north and south of the Union on economic matters; this has been sharpened by the eurozone’s operational rules. Rifts between the west and the east have become clear, driven by the migration crisis, a growing economic disparity and different governance philosophies. Austria’s approach will be based on enhancing the principle of subsidiarity.
“I agree that by involving more national and local authorities, the divergences could be better tackled. However, in doing so, the European Institutions should not be shorn of their powers and responsibilities as defined … neither more nor less… by the Treaties. By putting as a priority social and economic cohesion, the Austrian presidency could help to lay the basis for an effective consolidation of EU decision-making ahead of the EU elections next year.”
The Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz presented the priorities of the Austrian Presidency to MEPs launched on the 1st of July running until December 2018. The priorities set by the Austrian government for its EU presidency under the slogan “A Europe that protects” are security, the fight against illegal migration, enhancing competitiveness through digitalisation and promoting stability in the European neighbourhood.

Maltese Version – IL-PRESIDENZA AWSTRIJAKA GĦANDHA TNAQQAS ID-DIFFERENZI BEJN L-ISTATI MEMBRI TAL-UE

L-ikbar sfida għal Presidenza Awstrijaka tal-UE se tkun dik li tnaqqas id-differenzi bejn l-Istati Membri u fl-istess waqt iżżomm koerenza politika Ewropea, qal Alfred Sant fil-Parlament Ewropew waqt id-dibattitu “Preżentazzjoni tal-programmi tal-attivitajiet tal-Presidenza Awstrijaka.”
Dr Sant qal li f’ħafna oqsma politiċi, id-diverġenzi qed jiżdiedu. Dan qed jiġri żgur bejn ir-reġjuni tan-Nord u s-Sud tal-Unjoni f’affarijiet ekonomiċi; Ir-regoli operazzjonali taż-żona ewro żiedu dawn id-differenzi. In-nuqqas ta’ qbil bejn il-punent u l-lvant ħarġu ċari, mmexxija mill-kriżi tal-immigrazzjoni, differenzi ekonomiċi li dejjem qed jiżdiedu u filosofiji differenti ta’ governanza. L-impenn tal-Awstrija ser ikun ibbażat fuq it-tisħiħ tal-prinċipju tas-sussidjarjeta`.
“Naqbel li bl-involviment ta’ aktar awtoritajiet nazzjonali u lokali, id-diverġenzi jistgħu jiġu trattati aħjar. Iżda l-istituzzjonijiet Ewropej ma għandhomx ikollhom inqas jew iżjed poteri u responsabbiltajiet minn dawk definiti mit-Trattati. Bit-tqegħid tal-koeżjoni soċjali u ekonomika bħala prijorita`, il-presidenza Awstrijaka tista’ tgħin biex issib il-bażi għal konsolidazzjoni effettiva għat-teħid tad-deċiżjonijiet tal-UE qabel l-elezzjonijiet tal-UE tas-sena d-dieħla.” qal il-Kap tad-Delegazzjoni Laburista fil-Parlament Ewropew.
Il-Kanċillier Awstrijak Sebastian Kurz ippreżenta lill-Parlament Ewropew il-prijoritajiet tal-Presidenza Awstrijaka li bdiet fl-1 ta’ Lulju u għandha sal-aħħar ta’ Diċembru 2018. Il-prijoritajiet imfassla mill-gvern Awstrijak għal presidenza tal-UE bl-islogan “Ewropa li tipproteġi” huma s-sigurta`, il-ġlieda kontra l-immigrazzjoni illegali, inżidu l-kompetittivita` permezz tad-diġitalizzazzjoni u l-promozzjoni tal-istabilita` fil-pajjiżi ġirien tal-UE.