Economic reforms only make sense if they imply social progress

Economic reforms only make sense if they imply social progress for the working and middle classes, for young people and pensioners, Maltese MEP Alfred Sant told the European Parliament in Strasbourg in an intervention on the debate on the conclusions of the European Council.
The Maltese MEP said the European Council remains elusive on economic and social divergences which continue to grow within the Union, said economic reform programmes must dedicate more efforts to correct existing regional and national imbalances and to bridge gaps between member states in the area of social policy.
“The European Council fails to commit towards change on issues related to equal opportunities and access to the labour market, fair working conditions, social protection including the elimination of precarious employment of young people, and the need to counterbalance the growth of profits by an improvement in remuneration levels. Economic reforms only make sense if they imply social progress for the working and middle classes, for young people and pensioners.”
Alfred Sant said the European Union needs a strong economic base for prosperity and competitiveness to assert a meaningful role on the global stage.
“The Heads of State and Government say they stand for a long-term vision of the EU’s industrial policy, one that boosts investments in technology, research and innovation. However they fail to link this priority to the allocation of resources to research in the fundamental sciences.”
Alfred Sant said their commitment places Europe midstream in the flow from fundamental science to applied research noting that our best graduates in fundamental science drift towards the US and Asia.
During the European Council meeting held on 21-22 March, Heads of State and Government held discussions on Brexit, Jobs-growth and competitiveness, climate change, external relations, securing free and fair elections and fighting disinformation.

Maltese Version – RIFORMI EKONOMIĊI JAGĦMLU SENS BISS JEKK IĠIBU PROGRESS SOĊJALI

Ir-riformi eknomiċi jagħmlu sens jekk iġibu magħhom progress soċjali għal persuni fil-faxxa tan-nofs u dik tal-ħaddiem, għaż-żgħażagħ u għal pensjonanti, Alfred Sant qal lil Parlament Ewropew fi Strasburgu waqt id-dibattitu dwar il-konklużjonijiet tal-Kunsill tal-Unjoni Ewropea.
Alfred Sant qal li l-Kunsill tal-Unjoni Ewropea għadu ma tax direzzjoni ċara għad-diverġenzi soċjali u ekonomiċi li baqgħu jikbru fl-Unjoni. Programmi ta’ riforma ekonomika għandhom iħaddnu sforz biex ikunu korretti l-iżbilanċi reġjonali u nazzjonali filwaqt li jqarrbu l-politika soċjali tal-istati membri lejn l-istess livelli.
“Il-Kunsill Ewropew naqas milli jimpenja ruħu lejn bidla fuq kwistjonijiet relatati ma’ opportunitajiet indaqs u aċċess għas-suq tax-xogħol, kundizzjonijiet tax-xogħol ġusti, protezzjoni soċjali – inkluża l-eliminazzjoni ta’ impjiegi prekarji għaż-żgħażagħ, u l-ħtieġa li jkun bilanċjat it-tkabbir tal-profitti permezz ta’ titjib fil-pagi. Ir-riformi ekonomiċi jagħmlu sens biss jekk jimplikaw progress soċjali għall-klassijiet tax-xogħol u tan-nofs, għaż-żgħażagħ u l-pensjonanti. ”
Alfred Sant qal li l-Unjoni Ewropea teħtieġ bażi ekonomika soda għal prosperita` u l-kompetittivita` biex ikollha vuċi soda fix-xena globali.
“Il-kapijiet tal-Istati jgħidu li huma favur viżjoni fit-tul tal-politika industrijali tal-UE, viżjoni li tagħti spinta lill-investimenti fit-teknoloġija, fir-riċerka u fl-innovazzjoni. Madankollu huma jonqsu li jorbtu din il-prijorita` mal-allokazzjoni ta’ riżorsi għar-riċerka fix-xjenzi fundamentali.”

Alfred Sant qal li l-aqwa gradwati tagħna fix-xjenza fundamentali qed imorru lejn l-Istati Uniti u l-Asja.

Waqt il-laqgħa tal-Kunsill tal-Unjoni Ewropea li saret bejn il-21-22 ta’ Marzu, il-Kapijiet tal-Istat kellhom diskussjoni dwar il-Brexit, it-tkabbir fl-impjiegi u l-kompetittivita`, it-tibdil fil-klima, ir-relazzjonijiet esterni, l-iżgurar ta’ elezzjonijiet ħielsa u ġusti u l-ġlieda kontra l-misinformazzjoni.