Brexit illustrates the tension between continental unity and national control within the EU

Former Prime Minister Alfred Sant said that the Brexit crisis illustrates the tension between the principle of continental unity and the pull of national control over the destiny of states which will continue to dog the European Union. The Maltese MEP, addressing a large audience at INSPIRE, Marsascala, said that immigration and austerity under neo-liberal rules of economic management have exacerbated this tension. This tension was always very strong in the UK, but now it is growing across the EU.

Dr Sant said the British have always found it difficult to adapt to EU rules. “In fact they never speak of Europe, only of the “single market”. On their own, the hope now will be that the UK does not get taken over by right wing parties. These might keep new immigrants back but they could stoke up again in reaction, the threat of terrorism.”

In the rest of the EU, the temptation will again be that of giving the UK a hard deal to deter further exits from the Union, and to relaunch a process of further strengthening union rules. Both temptations will need to be resisted since eventually they will spark further anti-EU sentiment and lead to much confusion about the proper responses to immigration and terror.

“What the EU needs to do is consolidate its operations and present them in a way that can be understood and appreciated by people “on the ground”. However we have been saying this time after time and what happens is that after all this has been repeated over and over, business in Brussels goes on as usual.” remarked Dr Sant.

The seminar, organised by the Office of MEP Alfred Sant and S&D, was also addressed by Mark Camilleri and Nikita Zammit Alamango.

Maltese Version – IT-TENSJONI BEJN L-GĦAQDA KONTINENTALI U L-KONTROLL NAZZJONALI SE TIBQA’ SSUS FL-UNJONI EWROPEA

Il-kriżi li qanqlet il-Brexit hija turija oħra tat-tensjoni li se tibqa’ ssus fl-Unjoni Ewropea bejn il-prinċipju tal-għaqda kontinentali u l-ġibda lejn aktar kontrolli nazzjonali fuq id-destin tal-istati membri tal-UE. Dan qalu Alfred Sant quddiem udjenza numeruża dwar l-immigrazzjoni u t-terroriżmu fl-Ewropa fl-INSPIRE f’Marsaskala. Dr Sant qal li l-immigrazzjoni u l-awsterita`, taħt ir-regoli tat-tmexxija ekonomika neo-liberali, żiedu din it-tensjoni; tensjoni li minn dejjem kienet b’saħħitha fir-Renju Unit, imma li issa qed tikber madwar l-Istati Membri kollha.

Dr Sant qal li l-Brittanniċi minn dejjem sabuha diffiċli biex jadattaw għar-regoli tal-UE. “Il-Brittaniċi qatt ma jitkellmu dwar ‘Ewropa’, imma dwar ‘is-suq komuni’. Issa li nqatgħu mill-UE, it-tama tagħhom se tkun li r-Renju Unit ma jinħakimx minn partiti tal-lemin. Dawn il-partiti jistgħu jżommu immigranti ġodda milli jidħlu f’pajjżhom imma b’reazzjoni għal dan, jistgħu jqanqlu t-theddida tat-terroriżmu.”

Dr Sant qal li issa se jkun hemm żewġ tentazzjonijiet fl-UE . “L-ewwel tentazzjoni hija dik li tagħmel il-ftehim diffiċli għar-Renju Unit biex pajjiżi oħra ma jitħajrux joħorġu mill-UE. Tentazzjoni oħra hija li jkun hemm proċess ta’ tisħiħ tar-regoli ta’ sħubija. Hemm bżonn li dawn iż-żewġ tentazzjonijiet jingħelbu għax eventwalment iqanqlu aktar sentiment kontra l-UE u jwasslu għal konfużjoni dwar l-aħjar aġir fil-qasam tal-immigrazzjoni u t-terroriżmu. L-UE trid tikkonsolida l-operat tagħha u tippreżentah b’mod li jinftiehem u jkun apprezzat mill-popli f’pajjiżhom. Ilna żmien twil ngħidu dan kollu iżda li jiġri huwa dan – wara li jkun intqal il-paroli kollu, fi Brussell kollox jerġa’ jibqa’ miexi bl-istess mod.” qal Dr Sant.

Il-Konferenza organizzata mill-Uffiċċju ta’ Dr Sant u l-S&D kienet indirizzata wkoll minn Mark Camilleri u Nikita Zammit Alamango.