European decisions may not be in malta’s interests

Decisions taken by the European Union in the next two and a half years may not be in Malta’s interests. Malta will be affected directly if the EU becomes a military union due to the island’s geographical position on the borders of the EU. Malta’s Constitution prohibits Malta to join military alliances but irrespective of this we must understand whether it is in our interests that the EU becomes a military union. Furthermore, facing economic stagnation in Europe, the Luxleaks and Panama Papers, European politicians now want to legislate on financial services’ sectors which can also affect adversely Malta’s financial services’ sectors which amounts to 25% of our economy. “Decisions taken at EU level, even if they seem remotely far away, will leave their mark on us and our families. We must follow what is happening in Europe and continuously ask how these developments will affect us,” former Prime Minister Alfred Sant told a packed house at Qawra Palace Hotel in Qawra, when speaking on Malta’s future in the EU.
“We must understand what is in our interests to take the necessary choices. The economy in Europe is recovering, but there still persists uncertainty that things can go to worse. European decision makers are not sure they have found the right solutions to the challenges facing Europe. Stagnation still persists in business and investment circles. The elderly are uncertain about their pensions, youths and workers face bleak prospects in the world of work. Where will this stagnation lead to? Discontent is spreading across Europe and those who have nothing to lose are distancing themselves from the traditional political parties and identifying themselves with far right parties. Europe is falling behind economically and socially and is not meeting citizens’ expectations,” remarked the Maltese MEP.
Dr Sant said Malta will preside over the EU Presidency at a delicate time when Europe is facing political, economic, social and diplomatic challenges. Contrary to the rest of Europe, during the past three years Malta has created new jobs and new businesses as a result of the right decisions taken by the Maltese government.
Dr Sant referred to the various crises hitting Europe during the last two and a half years including the sanctions against Russia which effected energy projects between Russia and Europe; the negative effects of immigration in Germany and elsewhere; Eastern countries’ objections to receive immigrants when countries like Italy and Malta had shouldered by themselves the influx of immigrants from North Africa; the lack of faith between the EU and Turkey which, if accepted as an EU member state, will become the largest member in the Union; terrorism which reached France and Belgium; the effects of BREXIT on the 27 other member states who are defending their interests in the negotiations to be held between the UK and the EU.

Maltese Version – DAK LI TIDDEĊIEDI L-EWROPA SE JKOLLU IMPATT DIRETT FUQ MALTA

Is-sentejn u nofs li ġejjin se jkunu determinanti għall-Unjoni Ewropea biex tilqa’ għall-isfidi li għandha quddiemha. L-UE tista’ tieħu deċiżjonijiet li ma jkunux fl-interess tagħna. Għalhekk rridu niflu l-effett tad-deċiżjonijiet li jittieħdu mill-UE. Jekk l-UE issir għaqda militari, Malta tkun fuq il-fruntiera ta’ din l-għaqda militari minħabba l-qagħda ġeografika tagħha. Il-Kostituzzjoni ta’ pajjiżna tipprojbixxi indħil f’alleanzi militari u irrispettivament minn dan irridu nifhmu jekk għaqda militari tal-UE tkunx fl-interess ta’ pajjiżna. L-Ewropa tista’ tieħu wkoll deċiżjonijiet li jaffettwaw is-servizzi finanzjarji f’pajjiżna. Quddiem l-istaġnar ekonomiku fl-Ewropa u wara l-iskandli tal-Luxleaks u tal-Karti tal-Panama, il-politiċi Ewropej issa jridu jilleġislaw dwar is-servizzi finanzjarji. Dawn il-miżuri jistgħu jaffettwaw is-servizzi finanzjarji f’pajjiżna li jammontaw għal 25% tal-ekonomija tagħna. Id-deċiżjonijiet li jittieħdu fl-Unjoni Ewropa, anke jekk jistgħu jidhru imbiegħda minn Malta, jaffettwaw lilna u lill-familji tagħna. Irridu insegwu dak li għaddej fl-Ewropa u nistaqsu kontinwament kif se niġu affettwati mill-iżviluppi fl-Ewropa.

Dan qalu l-Ewroparlamentari Alfred Sant fil-Qawra meta indirizza udjenza numeruża dwar il-futur ta’ Malta fl-Unjoni Ewropea. “Ninsabu lejlet il-Presidenza ta’ Malta tal-Unjoni Ewropea, li se tkun fi żmien delikat. Se jkunu sitt xhur impenjattivi għal pajjiżna biex imexxi l-ħidma tal-Unjoni Ewropea iffaċċjata bi sfidi politiċi, ekonomiċi, soċjali u diplomatiċi. Kuntrarjament għal dak li għaddej fl-Ewropa, it-tmexxija ekonomika f’Malta ħolqot impjiegi u negozji ġodda b’riżultat tal-ħidma tal-Gvern Malti fl-aħħar tliet snin. Importanti li insegwu dak li għaddej fl-Ewropa għax dan se jaffettwana fil-futur.

“Irridu nifhmu xinhu fl-interess tagħna biex nagħmlu l-għażliet meħtieġa. L-ekonomija fl-Ewropa bdiet tirpilja, iżda baqa’ l-biżgħa li mil-lum għall-għada l-affarijiet jistgħu jmorru għall-agħar. Il-mexxejja Ewropej mhumiex ċari għandhomx risposta għall-isfidi. L-istaġnar għadu jinħass fin-negozju u fin-nuqqas ta’ investiment. Anzjani jibżgħu li jitilfu l-pensjoni, żgħażagħ u ħaddiema bla prospetti ta’ impjiegi bil-perspettivi jingħalqu u bi dwejjaq dejjem jikber. Fejn se jwassal dan l-istaġnar? Id-dwejjaq fl-Ewropa qed jinfirex. Min m’għandu xejn x’jitlef qed jitbiegħed mill-partiti tradizzjonali u jersaq lejn dawk il-partiti li sa ftit ilu konna nsejħulhom faxxisti. L-Ewropa qed taqa’ lura ekonomikament u soċjalment u mhux tilqa’ għall-aspettattivi tan-nies. Għalija din hi l-aktar problema kruċjali.” saħaq Alfred Sant.

Dr Sant semma l-kriżijiet li laqtu l-Ewropa fl-aħħar sentejn u nofs fosthom is-sanzjonijiet mar-Russja li waqqfu proġetti kbar bħall-enerġija mir-Russja lejn l-Ewropa; l-isfiduċja f’pajjiżi kbar bħall-Ġermanja minħabba l-kriżi tal-immigrazzjoni; il-pajjiżi tal-Lvant tal-Ewropa li ma jridux jaqsmu l-piż tal-immigranti meta pajjiżi bħall-Italja u Malta kienu ilhom jerfgħu waħedhom l-istess piż; in-nuqqas ta’ rieda tajba bejn l-UE u t-Turkija, li jekk tkun aċċettata membru fl-UE, issir l-akbar pajjiż fl-UE; il-kriżi tat-terroriżmu li fl-aħħar xhur anke laqat lil Franza u lill-Belġju; l-effett tal-BREXIT fuq l-Ewropa fejn is-27 pajjiż iridu jiddefendu l-interessi tagħhom fin-negozjati li se jsiru mar-Renju Unit.