Former Prim Minister Alfred Sant said that reindustrialization in Europe needs a policy designed for all seasons, not when major companies are about to collapse. It needs consistent and effective application. The European tradition is one which associates public policy with industrial endeavour. “Saying so is not a rejection of globalisation. Rather it reflects the need for a European commitment to the planned development of globalisation which avoids social dumping through free trade. There is no other way by which to promote reindustrialization and to make it applicable equally to big and small companies.’’ said the Maltese MEP.
Dr Sant was explaining his vote in favour of a Resolution on the “Need for a European reindustrialisation policy in light of the recent Caterpillar and Alstom cases” at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. The Resolution reflects a call for a policy to “reindustrialise” the EU, in the wake of closure and redundancy plans announced by giant companies such as Caterpillar and Alstom. These closures are being seen as a symptom of Europe’s industrial malaise.
Dr Sant said that during the past years reindustrialization was supposed to have been a major plank of EU policy. As an issue, it was only promoted sporadically, when major problems arose for major industrial players in major EU member states. “Meanwhile,” said Dr Sant, “most other member states experienced continuing shocks to their industrial systems. They suffered big losses in employment and industrial knowhow. Deindustrialization affected big and small companies alike.”
While highlighting important factors about reindustrialization, Dr Sant said that the worries of big and small companies and the need to promote a really effective reindustrialization strategy were buried under the preoccupation with a competition policy that screens out all state aid; a strong commitment to free trade under the aegis of globalisation; and a belief that services by themselves would keep Europe’s economies in competitive shape.

Maltese Version – L-INDUSTRIJALIZZAZZJONI FL-EWROPA TRID TIEĦU ĦSIEB L-ASPETTI SOĊJALI

L-Ewropa dejjem teħtieġ politika ta’ ri-industrijalizzazzjoni li tkun applikata b’mod konsistenti u effettiv u mhux meta xi kumpaniji kbar ikunu se jikkollassaw. Alfred Sant fil-Parlament Ewropew fi Strasburgu qal li t-tradizzjoni Ewropea hija waħda li tassoċja l-politika pubblika mal-għanijiet industrijali. Dan ma jfissirx rifjut tal-globalizzazzjoni. Jirrifletti l-ħtieġa għall-impenn Ewropew fl-ippjanar tal-iżvilupp tal-globalizzazzjoni li jrid jieħu ħsieb l-aspetti soċjali permezz tal-kummerċ ħieles.
“Ma hemmx mod ieħor kif nippromwovu r-ri-industrijalizzazzjoni u kif napplikawh b’mod ugwali f’kumpaniji kbar u żgħar,” qal Dr Sant fi spjega tal-vot tiegħu favur mozzjoni għal riżoluzzjoni fuq il-“Ħtieġa għal politika Ewropea ta’ ri-industrijalizzazzjoni fid-dawl tal-każijiet tal-Kumpaniji Caterpillar u Alstom.” Ir-riżoluzzjoni hija sinjal favur politika biex l-Ewropa terġa’ tiġi ri-industrijalizzata, wara l-għeluq u s-sensji mħabbra mill-kumpaniji kbar Caterpillar u Alstrom li qed jiġu interpretati bħala sinjal li ‘l-industrija tal-Ewropa hija marida’.
“Fl-aħħar snin ir-ri-industrijalizzazzjoni kellha tkun sinsla fil-politika tal-UE. Smajna dwarha meta qamu problemi f’kumpaniji kbar fl-akbar stati membri. Intant ħafna mill-istati membri l-oħra kellhom xokkijiet kontinwi fis-sistema tal-industrijalizzazzjoni tagħhom. Sofrew nuqqasijiet kbar fl-impjiegi u fit-taħriġ industrijali. It-tnaqqis industrijarju affettwa bl-istess mod kumpaniji kbar u żgħar.”
Dr Sant qal li t-tħassib ta’ kumpaniji kbar u żgħar u l-ħtieġa ta’ strateġiji favur ri-industrijalizzazzjoni effettiva ġew midfuna taħt l-inkwiet tal-politika tal-kompetizzjoni li ma tippermetti l-ebda forma ta’ għajnuna tal-istat; dedikazzjoni sħiħa lejn is-suq ħieles taħt il-patroċinju tal-globalizzazzjoni; u twemmin sħiħ li s-servizzi waħedhom se jżommu l-ekonomiji Ewropej f’qagħda kompetittiva.

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