In an explanation of vote before voting in favour of the report ‘Sustainable urban mobility’ at the European Parliament in Brussels, Maltese MEP Alfred Sant said that the emphasis on public transport systems across the EU should be on public, not private solutions. Dr. Sant said that over 80 percent of Europe’s populations live in urban centers. Europeans are plagued by traffic congestion, long commuting times, environmental pollution and inefficient public transport. Worthy efforts continue to overcome the growing problems. Many fail. Given the present context, where privatization, public-private partnerships and market-based solutions are considered essential elements in a “holistic” solution, problems will surely multiply not decrease.
Dr. Sant said the emphasis should be on public, not private solutions. Still, state investment in urban public transport systems has not kept pace with needs. Moreover, modernising public transport has been confused with privatising, when the real need was to modernise the public management of transport systems.
The Maltese MEP said that generally, there is little impetus in favour of a long term plan. Through major public investments, it would create new infrastructures for mass urban transport. Its control and strategic direction would be retained by public authorities, operating not for profit but to serve a public purpose. As a general rule, public transport systems running as if they were private entities cannot solve satisfactorily the large scale problems of urban mobility. At national level, free market ideological dogma obscures this reality. ‘Perhaps it can be countered at a European level, but I doubt it.’ remarked Dr. Sant.
Maltese Version – IS-SISTEMI TAT-TRASPORT FL-UE GĦANDHOM JITMEXXEW MINN AWTORITAJIET PUBBLIĊI
Il-Kap tad-delegazzjoni Maltija Laburista Alfred Sant qal li l-pjagi u l-problemi li għandna bħalissa mal-Ewropa kollha dwar it-trasport fiċ-ċentri urbani ġej mill-fatt li matul is-snin il-gvernijiet abbandunaw l-investiment pubbliku biex joħolqu u jtejbu t-trasport komuni u bdew imexxu billi jdaħħlu soluzzjonijiet ibbażati fuq is-suq ħieles. Il-kontroll u d-direzzjoni strateġika li jieħu l-qasam tat-trasport, għandu jinżamm f’idejn awtoritajiet pubbliċi li filwaqt li ma joperawx għall-profitt, joperaw biex fuq kollox jaqdu għanijiet pubbliċi. Bħala regola ġenerali, is-sistemi tat-trasport pubbliku li joperaw daqs li kieku kienu entitajiet privati, fuq skala kbira ma jsolvux il-problema ta’ mobilita` f’żoni urbani, qal Dr. Sant
Dr. Sant qal dan waqt li fil-Parlament Ewropew fi Brussell ivvota favur ir-rapport ‘Mobilita` Sostenibbli f’Żoni Urbani’. ‘Fl-Unjoni Ewropea aktar minn 80 fil-mija tal-popolazzjoni Ewropea tgħix f’ċentri urbani, maqbudin fil-konġestjoni tat-traffiku, dewmien fit-toroq, tniġġis fl-arja u sistemi tat-trasport pubbliku ineffiċjenti. Ħafna jippruvaw jegħlbu l-problemi li dejjem qed jikbru, u ħafna ma jirnexxilhomx. Il-privatizzazzjoni, is-sħubija pubblika mal-privat, u s-soluzzjonijiet ibbażati fuq is-suq, fil-preżent huma meqjusa bħala soluzzjonijiet ħolistiċi li permezz tagħhom il-problemi żgur se jimmultiplikaw u mhux jonqsu.
Dr Sant qal li fl-UE l-enfażi trid tkun fuq soluzzjonijiet pubbliċi u mhux privati. ‘L-investiment tal-istat f’sistemi ta’ trasport f’żoni urbani tal-UE ma żammx il-pass ma’ dak li hu meħtieġ. Agħar minn hekk, l-immodernizzar tat-trasport pubbliku ġie konfuż mal-privatizzazzjoni li ħafna drabi, ħalla ftit effett favur pjan fit-tul. Il-ħtieġa vera kienet li tkun modernizzata t-tmexxija tas-sistemi tat-trasport pubbliku.’
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