Civil society in Gozo should be the protagonist in decisions involving the well being of students, workers and farmers in an autonomous Gozo regional Council, while the contribution of non government organisations in Gozo should be formalised on a regional level and eventually the Ministry for Gozo would be the executive arm to execute these decisions, said Maltese MEP and former Prime Minister Alfred Sant during a discussion with the theme ‘What Gozitans expect from Europe’ at Marsalforn, Gozo.
Dr Sant said the aspirations for European social values among Gozitans are similar to other citizens living on islands on the periphery of the EU and that it was paramount for Gozitan civil society to be involved in new solutions for the development of Gozo.
“Gozitan society aspires for European social and economic conditions which meet the needs of youth, workers and the agricultural sector”.
Dr Sant said the economy in Malta was performing well, more than 1600 new jobs have been created in the last four years in Gozo, but notwithstading this Gozitan youth are seeking jobs in Malta and elsewhere in Europe.
‘We must ensure that the market and conditions of employment in Gozo are at par with conditions in Malta so that young people and workers can find jobs in accordance with their qualifications and skills.”
Dr Sant said that in the European Parliament he joined forces with other MEPs from Croatia, Sardenia and Sicility to present one common front on the challenges facing small EU islands.
“Together with a Croat MEP we worked with the EC on a project that provides clean air to EU islands. The Director of the Commission responsible for this project informed us that the EC will fork €10 million to enforce the project after already approving €2 million for the same project. At times I thought this project would not materialise but now it seems like we can move forward on its implementation,” remarked the Maltese MEP.
The Conference was also addressed by Mr Frank Psaila, an expert on the development of Gozo.

Maltese Version – IS-SOĊJETA` ĊIVILI GĦANDHA TKUN PROTAGONISTA F’KUNSILL REĠJONALI GĦAL GĦAWDEX

Is-soċjeta` ċivili f’Għawdex għandha tkun il-protagonista fid-deċiżjonijiet li jolqtu l-interessi tal-istudenti, il-ħaddiema u l-bdiewa Għawdxin. Is-sehem tal-għaqdiet non governattivi Għawdxin għandu jkun formalizzat fuq livell reġjonali u eventwalment il-Ministeru għal Għawdex ikun id-driegħ eżekuttiv ta’ Kunsill Reġjonali għal Għawdex. Dan qalu Alfred Sant f’Konferenza f’Marsalforn bl-isem ‘X’jistennew l-Għawdxin mill-Ewropa” f’Marsalforn Għawdex.
Dr Sant qal li l-valuri soċjali Ewropej jistgħu jiġu attwati waqt li l-Għawdxin jimxu skond l-aspirazzjonijiet reġjonali tagħhom bħala gżira bi sfidi simili għal gżejjer oħra fil-perifierija tal-UE.
“Hemm bżonn soluzzjonijiet ġodda bis-sehem tas-soċjeta` ċivili li tħoss il-polz tal-Għawdxin. Għandhom jinħolqu kundizzjonijiet soċjali u ekonomiċi biex jilħqu l-aspirazzjonijiet taż-żgħażagħ, il-ħaddiema u l-bdiewa Għawdxin.”
Dr Sant qal li l-ekonomija kibret sew f’Malta u f’Ghawdex. Fl-aħħar erba’ snin żdiedu 1600 impjieg ġdid f’Għawdex, iżda minkejja dan iż-żgħażagħ Għawdxin ikollhom jaħdmu f’Malta jew fl-Ewropa.
“Irridu niżguraw li s-suq u l-kundizzjonijiet tal-impjiegi f’Għawdex ikunu fl-istess livell ta’ Malta biex iż-żgħażagħ u l-ħaddiema Għawdxin isibu impjiegi li jirrispettaw il-kwalifiki u l-ħila tagħhom”.
Dr Sant qal li fil-Parlament Ewropew ingħaqad ma’ Ewroparlamentari minn gżejjer mill-Kroazja, Sardinja u Sqallija biex jippreżentaw front wieħed dwar l-isfidi ta’ gżejjer fil-periferija tal-UE.
“Flimkien ma’ deputat Ewropew mill-Kroazja qed naħdem fuq proġett maħsub biex il-gżejjer Ewropej, f’ħidma flimkien u b’investimenti u teknoloġiji ġodda, ikunu kapaċi jipprovdu enerġija “nadifa” għalihom infushom. Għall-bidu il-Kummissjoni Ewropea approvat €2 miljun mill-baġit tagħha. Issa d-direttur tal-proġett informana li ma’ dawn il-flus, il-Kummissjoni biħsiebha tpoġġi 10 miljun ewro ieħor biex tkompli tirrinforzah.
Għal xi żmien kont bdejt naqta’ qalbi li l-proġett qatt ma se jitlaq għax kien waqa’ lura sew. Imma issa naħseb li hemm ċans tajjeb li nistgħu nagħmlu progress.” qal Alfred Sant.
Il-Konferenza ġiet indirizzata wkoll minn Frank Psaila, espert fl-iżvilupp ta’ Għawdex.

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