Malta’s new challenges deserve new financial aid to make up for any loss from the EU’s cohesion fund

Malta deserves new financial aid from the EU due to its geographical position in the periphery of Europe to make up for any loss from Cohesion Funds in the European Budget of 2020-2027 thus guaranteeing its fair share from the new EU Budget, Alfred Sant, Head of the Maltese S&D Delegation at the European Parliament told a large audience in Żejtun.
Dr Sant said that the UK’s contribution to the EU Budget from the EU comes at a time when Europe is facing new priorities notably immigration and the security policy. Brexit means Malta is losing an ally in the EU because the UK agreed and backed Malta’s position on financial services.
“Immigration problems in the east and central Europe will increase financial pressure on Europe to defend its frontiers. This is apart from the fact that the EU must determine how to defend its sea frontiers between North Africa and Europe. The EU needs to invest more in African countries. Since Trump assumed power, the EU has realised that it cannot depend solely on the US for its security. Trump himself said that Europe must increase its share without relying solely on NATO for its security.”
Malta benefitted most from the Cohesion Funds on infrastructure, transport, energy, education and industrial projects. Malta’s contribtion to the EU Budget has increased considerably due to its unprecedent economical expansion since Independence.
Dr Sant said the EU is considering new taxes on a corporate level.
“A new tax on plastic, new taxes on financial services and corporate taxes on all EU member states are all being considered.”
France and Italy are opposing the proposed Budget cuts on agriculture, the East European countries protested against Cohesion Funds cuts, Holland maintains it will contribute more than it takes from the European Budget. The German Government is facing internal problems because the Bavarian Coalition is challenging Merkel’s decisions.

Maltese Version – L-ISFIDI ĠODDA TA’ MALTA JEĦTIEĠU GĦAJNUNA FINANZJARJA ĠDIDA MILL-UE BIEX JAGĦMLU TAJJEB GĦAT-TELF MILL-FONDI TA’ KOEŻJONI

Malta jixirqilha għajnuna finanzjarja ġdida mill-UE minħabba l-pożizzjoni ġeografika tagħha fil-periferija tal-Ewropa biex tagħmel tajjeb għal telf ta’ fondi li jista’ jkun hemm mill-Fondi ta’ Koeżjoni fil-Budget il-ġdid tal-UE bejn 2020-2027. Dan qalu Alfred Sant, Kap tad-Delegazzjoni Laburista fil-Parlament f’laqgħa pubblika fiż-Żejtun dwar is-sehem ta’ Malta mill-Budget tal-UE bejn 2020-2027.

Dr Sant qal li l-ħruġ tar-Renju Unit mill-UE hija problema għall-UE għax se jonqos il-kontribut ta’ dan il-pajjiż għall-Budget Ewropew. Dan qed isir fl-istess żmien li nħolqu prijoritajiet oħra għall-Ewropa, l-aktar bl-immigrazzjoni u bil-politika ta’ sigurta` tal-UE. Malta se titlef alleat mir-Renju Unit li kellha l-istess pożizzjoni tagħna fuq is-servizzi finanzjarji.

“Il-problemi tal-immigrazzjoni mil-Lvant u mill-Afrika ta’ Fuq se jżidu l-piż biex l-UE tħares il-fruntieri tagħha. Dan apparti l-fatt li l-UE trid tiddetermina kif tiddefendi l-fruntieri tal-baħar bejn l-Afrika u l-kontinent. L-UE trid toħloq investimenti ġodda fil-pajjiżi Afrikani. L-UE trid iżżid l-infieq fuq id-difiża u s-sigurta` għax l-Ewropa fehmet li ma tistax tistrieħ aktar fuq l-Istati Uniti. Il-ħatra ta’ Trump żiedet l-inċertezza tal-UE fuq l-Istati Uniti li qed jagħmilha ċara li l-Ewropa għandha toħroġ sehemha għad-difiża u ma tistrieħx biss fuq in-NATO.”

Malta tibbenefika l-aktar mill-Fondi tal-Koeżjoni fi proġetti ta’ toroq, enerġija, edukazzjoni, industrija. Dawn il-fondi jitqassmu skont il-bżonnijiet tal-pajjiżi. L-ekonomija ta’ Malta kibret bin-nofs fl-aħħar snin, espansjoni bla preċedent mill-Indipendenza ’l hawn. Il-kontribuzzjoni ta’ Malta lejn l-UE kienet akbar fl-aħħar snin minħabba l-espansjoni ekonomika bla preċedent li kellu pajjiżna.

Dr Sant qal li l-UE qed tikkonsidra taxxi ġodda fuq bażi Ewropea.

“Issa qed tissemma t-taxxa fuq il-plastik, taxxi fuq is-servizzi finanzjarji, taxxi komuni fuq l-ekonomiji tal-istati membri kollha tal-UE.”

Franza u l-Italja mhumiex jaqblu mat-tnaqqis tal-budget fuq l-agrikoltura, il-pajjiżi tal-Lvant tal-Ewropa ma jaqblux mat-tnaqqis mill-fondi tal-Koeżjoni, l-Olanda se toħroġ aktar milli ddaħħal. Il-Gvern Ġermaniż huwa mhedded mill-koalizzjoni fil-Bavarja li qed tisfida direttament d-deċiżjonijiet ta’ Angela Merkel.