Maltese MEP and former Prime Minister Alfred Sant told the European Parliament that by prioritizing the deepening of regional relations, starting with the Balkans, the Bulgarian Presidency of the EU could further raise awareness about the state of peripheral countries, whose full inclusion in policymaking is key to ensuring economic and social cohesion in Europe. Dr Sant said the Bulgarian Presidency has presented a strong program when he intervened at the European Parliament during the debate on the programme of activities of the Bulgarian Presidency during the first half of 2018.
The Bulgarian Presidency of the European Union is well placed to highlight the crucial issue of tax-related concerns among EU member states. Strong emphasis should remain on tax transparency and on the necessary tax flexibility for countries at the margin of Europe, Dr Sant said when he recalled that the European Parliament had recently questioned the unanimity principle on taxation decisions among EU member states.
The first months of 2018 may crucially affect next year’s elections to the European Parliament. The tone could be set by the outcome of the Italian and Hungarian elections in coming weeks. Moreover, while entering the second year of negotiations, Brexit talks still remain a huge source of uncertainty.
“I also especially welcome the emphasis on the digital agenda. This issue is crucial, especially regarding SMEs. We should ensure that the development of the Digital Single Market includes the needs of real users, who must adapt as they realize the possibilities afforded by technology.”
Since 1st January, Bulgaria has taken the presidency of the Council and therefore presented a quite extensive and strong programme for the next six months with four priority areas on economic and social cohesion; stability and security in Europe; supporting EU accession-related reforms in the Western Balkan states; completing the EU digital single market and development of digital economy and skills.

Maltese Version – IL-PRESIDENZA BULGARA TISTA’ TQAJJEM AKTAR GĦARFIEN DWAR IL-QAGĦDA TAL-ISTATI U R-REĠJUNI FIL-PERIFERIJA TAL-EWROPA

Il-Presidenza Bulgara tal-UE tat prijorita` lit-tisħiħ tar-relazzjonijiet reġjonali tal-Balkani, iżda tista’ tagħti aktar għarfien lill-istati tal-periferija tal-Ewropa. L-inklużjoni tagħhom fit-tfassil tal-politika Ewropea hija ċ-ċavetta biex l-Ewropa tiżgura għaqda ekonomika u soċjali. Dan qalu Alfred Sant fil-Parlament Ewropew waqt il-preżentazzjoni tal-programm ta’ attivitajiet tal-Presidenza tal- Bulgarija fl-ewwel nofs tas-sena 2018.
Dr Sant qal li l-Presidenza Bulgara ppreżentat programm b’saħħtu għall-ewwel sitt xhur tas-sena.
“Il-Presidenza tal-Bulgarija tal-Kunsill tal-UE qiegħda f’pożizzjoni tajba biex tagħti prominenza lill-kwistjonijiet kruċjali marbuta mat-taxxi u li qed iqajmu tant tħassib fost l-istati membri. L-enfażi għandha tibqa’ fuq it-trasparenza fit-taxxa u fuq il-flessibilita` fit-taxxa li hi meħtieġa għal pajjiżi li jinsabu fil-periferija tal-Ewropa.”
Dr Sant qal li riċentement il-Parlament Ewropew tkellem dwar il-prinċipju tal-unanimita` fid-deċiżjonijiet dwar it-tassazzjoni bejn l-istati membri.
Ix-xhur bikrin tal-2018 jistgħu jaffettwaw b’mod kruċjali l-elezzjonijiet tas-sena d-dieħla tal-Parlament Ewropew. L-andament tagħhom jista’ jkun influwenzat mir-riżultat tal-elezzjonijiet fl-Italja u fl-Ungerija Taljani fil-ġimgħat li ġejjin. Aktar minn hekk, issa li deħlin fit-tieni sena ta’ negozjati, it-taħditiet tal-Brexit għadhom sors ta’ inċertezza kbira.
“B’mod partikolari nilqa’ l-enfażi dwar l-aġenda diġitali tal-Presidenza Bulgara. Din il-kwistjoni hija kruċjali, speċjalment għall-SMEs. Għandna niżguraw li l-iżvilupp tas-Suq Diġitali Komuni jinkludi l-ħtiġijiet reali ta’ dawk li jużawh, li jeħtieġ jadattaw ruħhom waqt li jirrealizzaw il-possibilitajiet li jinħolqu bit-teknoloġija.”
Dr Sant qal li f’dan il-kuntest ta’ bidla, li normalment iwassal għal tnaqqis fir-ritmu minħabba l-leġiżlazzjoni, il-Presidenza tal-Bulgarija ppreżentat programm b’saħħtu. Tat prijorita` lit-tisħiħ tar-relazzjonijiet reġjonali tal-Balkani, iżda l-Presidenza tista’ tkompli billi tqajjem aktar għarfien dwar l-istati u r-reġjuni tal-periferija tal-Ewropa. L-inklużjoni tagħhom fit-tfassil tal-politika Ewropea hija ċ-ċavetta biex l-Ewropa tiżgura għaqda ekonomika u soċjali.
Mill-1 ta’ Jannar il-Bulgarija ħadet f’idha l-Presidenza tal-Kunsill u għalhekk ippreżentat programm b’saħħtu u estensiv għas-sitt xhur li ġejjin. Il-programm għandu erba’ prijoritajiet – koeżjoni ekonomika u soċjali, stabilita` u sigurta` fl-Ewropa, appoġġ relatat mas-sħubija tal-istati Balkani tal-Punent, it-tkomplija tas-suq diġitali komuni u l-iżvilupp tal-ekonomija diġitali.

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