Former Prime Minister Alfred Sant abstained on the report ‘European Defence Union’ and voted against the report ‘Implementation of the Common Security and Defence Policy’ at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Dr Sant said he abstained on roll call votes on the European Defence Union report, and voted against the overall report for this reason: Malta is a neutral country. Its constitution prohibits participation in military alliances and in international cooperative efforts promoting warfare capabilities and exercises, unless backed by the UN.

Dr Sant said the report is based on premises for EU action that contradict this commitment. ‘Moreover, I disagree that at this time especially, the EU should reinforce a military dimension to its character. This move might appear suitable to counter the supposedly disintegrating effects of Brexit. It could have the opposite effect. There is no popular constituency for a European Union that morphs into a military coalition, funded from EU budgetary resources. Again, we see the old “business as usual” methods by which “small” steps “forward” are cumulated and then presented as requiring further integration, failing which disaster would ensue. This is not an acceptable way by which to forge unity in Europe. I abstained on all subsidiary roll call votes because it would not have been coherent to vote one way or the other on different aspects of the issues at hand, while voting against the overall concept.’ said the Maltese MEP.

The report ‘European Defence Union’ (Rapporteur Urmas Paet) backs the idea of progressing in the direction of a European Defence Union and such a structure to represent an “umbrella” for military capabilities at the disposal of the European Union. It proposes the activation of the Permanent Structured Cooperation, it proposes to set-up an EU Operational Headquarter, it encourages fostering the EU defence industries.

The report ‘Implementation of the Common Security and Defence Policy’ (Rapporteur Ioan Mircea Paşcu) makes an assessment of the implementation of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and of the developments in this field in the last year. The report asks for an EU White Book on Security and Defence, a stronger defence industry and welcomes the European Defence Action Plan. It also promotes the reform of the ATHENA mechanism for financing the missions and operations of the EU. It advocates for cooperation with NATO.

Maltese Version – IL-KOSTITUZZJONI TA’ MALTA TIPPROJBIXXI PARTEĊIPAZZJONI F’ALLEANZI MILITARI

Alfred Sant qal lill-Parlament Ewropew fi Strasburgu li l-Kostituzzjoni ta’ Malta tipprojbixxi parteċipazzjoni f’alleanzi militari u li hu żball li l-Unjoni Ewropea tipprova tafferma l-għaqda tagħha billi tinfirex lejn ħidmiet militari. Dr. Sant ta r-raġunijiet tiegħu għala astjena u vvota kontra żewġ mozzjonijiet dwar tisħiħ tal-għodod militari għad-dispożizzjoni tal-Unjoni Ewropea li tressqu quddiem il-Plenarja. Dr Sant astjena fuq ir-rapport ‘Unjoni ta’ Difiża Ewropea’ u vvota kontra r-rapport ‘Implimentazzjoni tal-Politika ta’ Sigurta` u Difiża Komuni’. ‘Il-kostituzzjoni tagħna tipprojbixxi l-parteċipazzjoni f’alleanzi militari u f’għaqdiet internazzjonali involuti fil-gwerer, sakemm dawn ma jkollhomx il-permess tal-Ġnus Magħquda,’ insista l-Ewroparlamentari Malti.

Dr Sant qal li r-rapport jibbaża fuq il-premessa għal azzjoni Ewropea li tikkontradixxi dan l-impenn. ‘Aktar minn hekk, ma naqbilx li f’dan iż-żmien partikolari, l-Unjoni Ewropea m’għandhiex issaħħaħ id-dimensjoni militari lill-karattru tagħha. Dil-mossa tista’ tidher addattata għall-effetti ta’ disintegrazzjoni tal-BREXIT. Iżda jista’ jkollha l-effett oppost.

Ma hemmx kostitwenza popolari biex l-UE tinbidel f’koalizzjoni militari ffinanzjata mir-riżorsi tal-baġit Ewropew. Għal darb’oħra qed naraw il-metodu l-antik ta’ “business as usual” li bih passi “żgħar ’il quddiem” jakkumulaw, imbagħad jiġu preżentati li jeħtieġu aktar integrazzjoni, li jekk ma ssirx, jiġri xi diżastru. Dan mhux mod aċċettabbli li bih għandna nifformaw l-unita` fl-Ewropa. Jien astjenejt fuq ir-roll call votes sussidjarji kollha għaliex ma kienx ikun koerenti vot f’naħa jew f’oħra fuq aspetti differenti tal-kwistjoni li għandna quddiemna. U ivvotajt kontra l-kunċett sħiħ.” qal l-Ewroparlementari Malti.

Ir-rapport ‘Unjoni ta’ Difiża Ewropea’ (Rapporteur Urmas Paet) huwa favur l-idea li l-Unjoni timxi lejn Unjoni ta’ Difiża Ewropea li tkun struttura li jkollha l-kapaċitajiet militari għall-użu tal-Unjoni Ewropea. Tipproponi l-attivazzjoni ta’ Struttura Permanenti ta’ Koperazzjoni. Tipproponi wkoll twaqqif ta’ Kwartieri Ġenerali Operazzjonali fl-UE u tinkoraġġixxi l-industriji ta’ difiża fl-Ewropa.

Ir-rapport ‘Implimentazzjoni tal-‘Politika Komuni għas-Sigurta’ u d-Difiża’ (Rapporteur Ioan Mircea Paşcu) jeżamina l-implimentazzjoni ta’ Politika Komuni għas-Sigurta` u Difiża (CSDP) u tal-iżviluppi li saru s-sena l-oħra f’dan il-qasam. Ir-rapport jilqa’ l-azzjoni ta’ Difiża Ewropea u huwa favur kooperazzjoni man-NATO.

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