The EP should first identify problems created by Brexit negotiations and then discuss solutions

Former Prime Minister and Maltese MEP Alfred Sant said the European Parliament should first identify the problems created by Brexit affecting citizens across the EU, including Malta and then discuss solutions to the problems identified, when explaining why he abstained on the resolution on the state of play of negotiations between the EU and the United Kingdom at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
“I abstained on the final vote on this resolution because I doubt how worthwhile it is for this Parliament to express an opinion now about the ongoing Brexit negotiations. Political groups are being informed by their assigned representatives about what is going on. At least this is being done very well within the S&D group. Proclamations now by the European Parliament seem premature, indeed superfluous.
What the European Parliament should concentrate upon at this stage is identifying – item by item – sectors where the upcoming divorce with the UK will have concrete and swift impact on our constituents. We should then strive to define on a forward basis, the best solution to the problems thus identified. For instance, I was alerted to the fact that with Brexit, life and other pension agreements contracted with British insurance companies by EU citizens could become legally inoperative (the same holds for “vice versa” arrangements). This could have a big impact on say, citizens of Malta, where personal agreements on private pensions would most likely be held through British companies. As a priority, we need to know along the line, about all such scenarios, to make sure none of our citizens lose out.” remarked the Maltese MEP.
The resolution passed with 557 votes in favour to 92 votes against, with 29 abstentions.

Maltese Version – “L-EWWEL NIDENTIFIKAW IL-PROBLEMI MAĦLUQA BIN-NEGOZJATI TAL-BREXIT IMBAGĦAD NIDDISKUTU S-SOLUZZJONIJIET”

Il-Parlament Ewropew għandu l-ewwel jidentifika l-problemi li jinħolqu bil-Brexit u li jaffettwaw liċ-ċittadini tul l-UE, inkluż f’Malta, u mbagħad jiddiskuti s-soluzzjonijiet għall-problemi identifikati. Dan qalu Alfred Sant meta illum spjega lill-Parlament Ewropew fi Strasburgu għala astjena fir-riżoluzzjoni dwar l-istat tan-negozjati bejn l-UE u r-Renju Unit.
“Jien astjenejt fuq il-vot finali fuq din ir-riżoluzzjoni għax niddubita kemm dan il-Parlament huwa utli biex jagħti opinjoni issa dwar in-negozjati tal-Brexit. Il-gruppi politiċi qed ikunu informati mir-rappreżentanti tagħhom dwar dak li qed iseħħ. Dan l-eżerċizzju qed isir tajjeb ħafna fi ħdan il-grupp tal-S&D. Dikjarazzjoni issa mill-Parlament Ewropew hija prematura, u anki superfluwa.
Il-Parlament Ewropew f’dan l-istadju għandu jidentifika – biċċa biċċa – setturi fejn id-divorzju mar-Renju Unit se jħalli impatt imminenti fuq il-kostitwenti tagħna. Imbagħad għandna nikkonċentraw fuq it-tiftix tal-aħjar soluzzjonijiet għall-problemi identifikati. Pereżempju, ġibduli l-attenzjoni li bil-Brexit, kuntratti u ftehim dwar pensjonijiet ma’ kumpaniji tal-assigurazzjoni Britanniċi ma’ ċittadini tal-UE jistgħu jispiċċaw legalment inoperattivi (l-istess jgħodd b’arranġamenti li huma bil-kontra).
Dan jaf iħalli impatt kbir, biex ngħidu hekk, fuq iċ-ċittadini ta’ Malta, fejn ftehimiet personali fuq pensjonijiet privati x’aktarx se jkunu saru permezz ta’ kumpaniji Britanniċi. Bħala prijorita`, fil-mixja tagħna f’din it-triq, għandna nkunu nafu dwar dawn ix-xenarji kollha, biex niżguraw irwieħna li ħadd miċ-ċittadini tagħna ma jispiċċa tellief.” irrimarka Dr Sant.
Ir-riżoluzzjoni għaddiet b’557 vot favur, 92 kontra u 29 astensjoni.