The setting up of a Regional Authority in Gozo synchronised with the policies of the government of the day which operates in the interests of the Gozitan island would benefit Gozo socially and economically. Former Prime Minister Alfred Sant, addressing a Conference on Gozo’s development in Europe at the Grand Hotel, Mġarr Gozo said that he supports all measures which make up for the disadvantages in Gozo due to its double insularity. Gozitans cannot expect the European Union to solve their problems but they should take the lead to find solutions. Gozo lacks the strategic need to be governed as a region. “Government has already acknowledged this by stating it will be focusing on its regionality in this year’s Budget speech”, remarked Dr Sant.
The rules of the European Union will not be changed for Gozo and neither for the other islands in the Union.”EU rules do not fit Gozo and other islands on the periphery of Europe. The populations of Corsica and Sardegna face the same challenges and problems like the people of Gozo”.
The EU does not make a distinction between Malta and Gozo and does not recognize Gozo as a region. “I have been harping in the European Parliament for the past years that EU rules harm the development of Gozo. EU rules do not permit state aid to fast ferry service between Gozo, Malta and the rest of the Mediterranean. This service is vital for Gozo for social and commercial reasons. But we must understand that EU competition rules will not be changed and therefore the Gozitans must find their own solutions to these challenges.” emphasised Dr Sant.
The big countries in the EU defend their national interests. France vetoes each proposal for the closing down of the European Parliament in Strasbourg which is a waste of money and resources. France takes this stand because Strasbourg is part of its terrritory. Malta should keep defending its national interestes in the EU. It should follow suit on other instances and it should keep objecting to the proposal of tax harmonisation among all EU member states which is not in the interests of Malta and Gozo.
The Conference was also addressed by Joe Cordina, Maria Dimech and Joe Grech who spoke on Gozo’s social, political and economic challenges.
Maltese Version – GĦAWDEX BŻONN AWTORITA’ REĠJONALI FL-INTERESS TAL-GĦAWDXIN ALFRED SANT F’GĦAWDEX
Għawdex għandu bżonn Awtorita’ Reġjonali li titmexxa fl-interess tal-Għawdxin waqt li tibqa’ tiġbed il-ħin kollu l-ħabel tal-gvern tal-ġurnata. Dan qalu Alfred Sant meta indirizza Konferenza dwar l-Iżvilupp ta’ Għawdex fl-Ewropa. Dr Sant qal li se jibqa’ jappoġġja kull miżura biex Għawdex jieħu dak li huwa tiegħu u jagħmel tajjeb għall-iżvantaġġi li għandu minħabba l-insularita’ doppja. L-Għawdxin ma jistgħux jistennew li l-Unjoni Ewropea se ssolvi l-problemi tiegħu. Iridu jkunu l-Għawdxin li jsolvu l-problemi tagħhom. Għawdex jonqsu ħtieġa strateġika li jitmexxa bħala reġjun. ‘Kienet f’waqtha ir-riferenza għal Għawdex fil-Budget li jiffoka fuq ir-reġjonalita’ tiegħu.’ saħaq Alfred Sant
Ir-regoli tal-Unjoni Ewropea mhux se jinbidlu la għal Għawdex u lanqas għal gżejjer oħra tal-Unjoni Ewropea. ‘Ir-regoli tal-UE jaħdmu kontra Għawdex u kontra gżejjer oħra fil-periferija tal-Ewropa. L-istess jiġri fi gżejjer oħra bħal Korsika u Sardegna fejn il-popolazzjoni ta’ dawn il-gżejjer għandhom l-istess sfidi li għandha l-gżira Għawdxija.’
L-Unjoni Ewropea ma tagħmilx distinzjoni bejn Malta u Għawdex u ma tagħrafx lil Għawdex bħala reġjun. ‘Fil-Parlament Ewropew nisħaq li r-regoli tal-UE dwar il-kompetizzjoni ma jagħmlux sens għal gżejjer bħal Għawdex. Dawn ir-regoli ma jippermettux li l-istat jagħti l-għajnuna għal servizzi ta’ ‘fast ferry’ bejn Għawdex u Malta u bejn il-bqija tal-Mediterran li huwa tant meħtieġ bħalissa għal raġunijiet soċjali u kummerċjali. ‘Irridu nifhmu li dawn ir-regoli mhumiex se jinbidlu u għalhekk iridu jkunu l-Għawdxin li jsibu s-soluzzjonijiet għall-isfidi li għandhom quddiemhom.’
Il-pajjiżi l-kbar tal-UE jiddefendu l-interessi ta’ pajjiżhom. Meta titla’ l-proposta li l-Parlament Ewropew ma jiltaqax aktar Strasburgu minħabba ħala ta’ flus u raġunijiet loġisitiċi oħra, Franza mill-ewwel toħroġ kontra dan minħabba li Strasburgu jinsab f’pajjiżha. Malta għandha tieħu l-istess pożizzjonijiet f’deċiżjonijiet li jaffettwaw ħażin l-attivita’ soċjali u ekonomika fil-gżejjer tagħna u qed tagħmel sew li qed toġġezzjona għall-proposta tal-armonizzazzjoni fis-sistema tat-tassazzjoni għax dan ma jaqbilx għalina.
Il-Konferenza ġiet indirizzata wkoll minn Joe Cordina, Maria Dimech u Joe Grech li tkellmu dwar l-isfidi Ewropej ta’ Għawdex fl-oqsma soċjali, politiċi u ekonomiċi.
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