Malta’s Financial Services, Tourism and iGaming boomed, irrespective of EU membership

Former Prime Minister Alfred Sant told France 24 that during the last ten years those sectors where the Maltese economy has really boomed, especially the financial services, tourism and igaming did this irrispective of most European Union policies. Dr. Sant, interviewed by the French TV Station at Marsaxlokk Bay, said that whether we are in or out of the UE these important sectors would probably have boomed. On the other hand, Dr. Sant said, European Union membership has been positive for Malta with regard to environmental protection. A number of changes in environmental laws were pushed through in line with European Union regulations. ‘Now one would argue that we could have done that ourselves but …’ Dr. Sant told France 24 who quizzed him on various subjects related to Malta’s role within the European Union.

When the interviewer reminded Dr. Sant that she remembers him sceptical about the EU and that now he is a Europarliamentarian, Dr. Sant said he always favoured the best relationship for Malta with the EU, keeping in mind that we have special characteristics as an island state. ‘I was never against the European Union…we always said that it was a very positive development to have a union of European nations though we said that the best relationship for Malta would be a special relationship which would take into consideration the fact that we are a small island (state) . We have been in the European Union now for about ten years or … a bit more. If you ask the majority of local experts now and journalists they would tell you that we have done very very well. I am a bit sceptic about that…the growth rates of the last ten years… have been less than the economic growth rates we used to have before that.’

Asked for his opinion on immigration, Dr. Sant said that not all EU members agree on solutions to overcome this crisis. ‘We have problems because countries tackle it from the national interest and they are divided. Europeans are now turning to Turkey which has 3 million refugees from Syria. So they have to discuss to see what can be done for Turkey to keep those refugees wait, until eventually the Syrian problem is resolved, and they would want to go back. But that’s not a plan and not a solution.’ emphasised the Maltese MEP.

Asked for his views for the EU’s contribution to education in Malta, Dr. Sant said that its positive effects were mainly focused on tertiary education. ‘It’s been contributing to programes at university and post university level, in part (at student) exchange level which is very good. But it didn’t have any impact at the secondary and primary levels which are mostly under national control. I think we need to invest more there.’

Dr. Sant also touched on the fishing industry in Malta which has been adversely hit by EU rules which apply alike to all EU member states, irrespective of their characteristics. ‘Marsaxlokk is the most traditional village in Malta. Some of the restaurants you see over there are owned by fishing families. Over the years their business has gone down as far as fishing is concerned. They had to accept Europe’s regulations regarding catches and they say that they are not earning as much as they used to do in the past’, Dr Sant told France 24.

Maltese Version – ‘IS-SETTUR TAS-SERVIZZI FINANZJARJI, IT-TURIŻMU U L-IGAMING KIBRU IRRISPETTIVAMENT MIS-SĦUBIJA TA’ MALTA FI-UE’

Il-Kap tad-delegazzjoni Laburista fil-Parlament Ewropew Alfred Sant qal lill-istazzjon televiżiv France 24 li matul l-aħħar għaxar snin dawk is-setturi li f’Malta marru tajjeb ħafna, speċjalment is-servizzi finanzjarji, it-turiżmu u l-igaming, ftit li xejn jaqgħu taħt il-kappa tal-politika tal-UE. Waqt intervista mill-istazzjon televiżiv Franciż fil-bajja ta’ Marsaxlokk, Dr Sant qal li dawn is-setturi li huma l-aktar importanti għal Malta, probabbilment kienu jikbru irrispettivament jekk Malta hux barra jew ġewwa l-UE. Min-naħa l-oħra, Dr Sant qal li l-Unjoni Ewropea ħalliet effett pożittiv fuq l-ambjent. Dan għaliex seħħew numru ta’ bidliet f’Malta li għandhom x’jaqsmu ma’ liġijiet Ewropej dwar l-ambjent u li seħħew għax jaqgħu taħt ir-regolamentazzjoni tal-UE. ‘Madanakollu ħadd ma jista’ jiċħad li stajna nagħmlu dawn il-liġijiet waħedna…’ Qal Dr Sant lil France 24 dwar is-sħubija ta’ Malta fl-Unjoni Ewropea.
L-Intervistatriċi qalet lil Dr Sant li tiftakru xettiku dwar l-Unjoni Ewropea waqt li issa huwa Ewroparlamentari. Dr Sant weġibha li dejjem kien favur li Malta jkollha l-aħjar relazzjoni possibbli mal-UE billi jkun hemm kunsiderazzjonijiet speċjali għal karatteristiċi li għandha gżira-stat ċkejkna bħal Malta. ‘Qatt ma kont kontra l-Unjoni Ewropea. Dejjem konna ngħidu li Unjoni ta’ nazzjonijiet Ewropej hija xi ħaġa pożittiva imma konna ngħidu wkoll li l-aħjar relazzjoni għal Malta kienet relazzjoni speċjali li tagħti piż lil fatt li Malta hija gżira żgħira. Ilna għaxar snin membri tal-Unjoni Ewropea, forsi ftit aktar. Jekk tistaqsi lil parti l-kbira tal-esperti lokali u tal-ġurnalisti jgħidulek li bħala pajjiż morna tajjeb ħafna. Jien xettiku dwar dan. Jekk tħares lejn ir-rati ta’ tkabbir ta’ dawn l-aħħar għaxar snin, dawn juru li r-rata ta’ tkabbir tal-ekonomija kienet aktar kajmna meta mqabbel mar-ritmu li kien ikollna qabel.’
Mistoqsi dwar l-immigrazzjoni, Dr Sant qal li mhux l-istati membri kollha tal-UE jaqblu dwar l-istess soluzzjonijiet biex tingħeleb il-kriżi. ‘Hemm il-problemi għax il-pajjiżi jridu jsolvuha mill-għajnejn tal-interessi nazzjonali tagħhom u allura m’hemmx għaqda bejniethom dwar dan. L-Ewropej issa qed iduru lejn it-Turkija li għandha madwar 3 miljun refuġjat mis-Sirja. Għalhekk iridu jiddiskutu x’jista’ jsir biex it-Turkija żżomm dawn ir-refuġjati sakemm eventwalment il-problemi tas-Sirja jissolvew u ħafna refuġjati jkunu jridu jerġgħu jmorru lura pajjiżhom. Imma dan kollu la hu pjan u lanqas soluzzjoni.’ emfasizza l-Ewroparlamentari Malti.

Mistoqsi dwar il-kontribuzzjoni tal-UE fis-settur edukattiv Malti, Dr Sant qal li l-effetti pożittivi inħassu fl-edukazzjoni terzjarja. ‘L-Unjoni Ewropea tikkontribwixxi permezz ta’ programmi f’livell univeristarju u post universitarju, anki permezz ta’ skambju ta’ studenti. Dan huwa tajjeb ħafna. Imma ma kellux effett fuq il-livell primarju u sekondarju li jaqgħu taħt il-kompetenzi nazzjonali. Naħseb li għandna ninvestu aktar f’dan il-qasam.’

Dr Sant tkellem dwar l-industrija tas-sajd f’Malta li ntlaqtet ħażin bir-regoli tal-UE li huma applikati b’mod ugwali fil-membri stati kollha tal-UE, irrispettivament mill-karatteristiċi uniċi tal-pajjiżi. ‘Marsaxlokk huwa l-aktar villaġġ tradizzjonali tas-sajd’ qal Dr. Sant lil France 24. ‘Ħafna restoranti f’dal-villaġġ huma propjeta` tal-familji tas-sajjieda. Matul is-snin in-negozju tagħhom naqas f’dak li għandu x’jaqsam ma’ sajd. Kellhom jaċċettaw ir-regoli tal-Ewropa dwar il-qbid tas-sajd. Qed jgħidu li mhux jaqilgħu flus daqs kemm kienu jaqilgħu fil-passat.’ Qal Dr. Sant.