Former Prime Minister Alfred Sant told the European Parlament that a new, huge political effort of consolidation must first be undertaken by the EU to correct the existing regional and national imbalances within the EU. Only then would the EU be able to regain the momentum of its first thirty years. Dr Sant made this statement during a plenary debate on the Rome Declaration to be adopted this week by EU leaders in Rome.

Dr Sant said that in the first thirty years of its existence, the EU achieved most of its aims, especially that of securing peace in Western Europe through economic integration. In its second thirty years, the EU went for enlargement and deepening. This has led to stagnation and semi-paralysis. The new structures of unity and control that were created have proven unable to cope with political, economic and demographic turmoil.

“The Rome declaration should recognize this reality, not simply recast the rhetoric that made sense in the first half of the Union’s existence to Europe’s present and future challenges. Internally, the European project has become a transfer union that follows the pulls and pushes of neoliberal guidelines.

Now, millions of people in the EU feel completely disconnected with – or hostile to – the European project. Their expectations of ever increasing security and wellbeing were undermined by austerity and by policies that fail to respond to their life priorities. Meanwhile, economic and social divergences within the Union have grown.” remarked the Maltese MEP.

The expected Rome Declaration, will conclude a period of reflection which started in Bratislava, in September 2016, right after the UK referendum. At this Bratislava European Council meeting, the Heads of State and Government decided to begin a political reflection on the future of the EU with 27 member states. EU leaders are expected to conclude this reflection process in Rome on 25 March 2017, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Rome Treaties, where the Rome Declaration will be adopted.

Maltese Version – L-UE TRID TAGĦMEL SFORZ KBIR BIEX TNAQQAS L-IŻBILANĊI NAZZJONALI U REĠJONALI FI ĦDANHA

Il-Kap tad-delegazzjoni Maltija Laburista fil-Parlament Ewropew Alfred Sant qal li l-Unjoni Ewropea trid tagħmel sforz politiku kbir ta’ konsolidament u telimina l-iżbilanċi reġjonali u nazzjonali fl-Unjoni Ewropea. B’dan il-mod biss l-Unjoni tista’ tikseb lura l-enerġija tal-ewwel tletin sena mit-twelid tagħha, qal Dr Sant waqt dibattitu fil-Parlament Ewropew dwar id-Dikjarazzjoni ta’ Ruma li se tkun addottata din il-ġimgħa mill-mexxejja Ewropej.

Dr Sant qal li fl-ewwel tletin sena, l-UE kisbet ħafna mill-għanijiet tagħha, l-aktar dak li tiżgura l-paċi fl-Ewropa tal-Punent permezz ta’ integrazzjoni ekonomika. Fit-tletin sena li ġew wara, l-UE kompliet tikber u trabbi għeruq fil-fond. Dan wassal għal staġnar u paraliżi parzjali. L-istrutturi l-ġodda ta’ għaqda u kontroll li nħolqu wrew li ma setgħux ilaħħqu mal-inkwiet politiku, ekonomiku u demografiku.

“Id-dikjarazzjoni ta’ Ruma għandha tagħraf din ir-realta`. L-UE ma tistax tirrepeti r-rettorika li kienet tagħmel sens fl-ewwel tletin sena tat-twaqqif tagħha. Dik ir-rettorika llum ma tagħmilx sens għall-isfidi preżenti u futuri.

Internament, il-proġett Ewropew sar jitmexxa minn prinċipji neoliberali. Miljuni ta’ ċittadini fl-UE jħossuhom maqtugħin mill-proġett Ewropew jew iħossuhom ostili lejh. L-aspettattivi tagħhom ta’ aktar sigurta` u livell ta’ għixien aħjar komplew iddgħajfu bl-awsterita` u bil-politika li ma indirizzatx il-prijoritajiet ta’ ħajjithom. Intant, komplew jikbru id-diverġenzi ekonomiċi u soċjali bejn l-istati membri tal-UE.” saħaq Dr Sant.

Id-dikjarazzjoni ta’ Ruma se tagħlaq perjodu ta’ riflessjoni li beda fi Bratislava, f’Settembru tal-2016, eżatt wara r-referendum tar-Renju Unit. Fis-summit tal-Kunsill ta’ Bratislava, il-mexxejja tal-Istati kienu qablu li jniedu riflessjoni politika fuq il-futur tal-UE bejn is-27 stat membru. Il-mexxejja tal-Istati membri mistennija jikkonkludu dan il-proċess ta’ riflessjoni f’Ruma fil-25 ta’ Marzu 2017, fl-okkażjoni tas-sittin anniversarju mit-twaqqif tat-trattat ta’ Ruma.

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