TTIP: Positive for all EU member states, except Malta

A Study carried out by the ‘World Trade Institute’ and a number of Universities commissioned by the ‘American Chamber of Commerce’ in the EU, concluded that the impact of the proposed trade agreement between the European Union and the United States will be positive for all EU member states, except for Malta. This was revealed today by former Prime Minister and MEP Alfred Sant while addressing the general meeting of the Labour Party’s Valletta section. Dr. Sant referred to the agreement known as Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) being negotiated for a free trade zone covering investments between the EU and the USA. The study, which was published this week, assessed in depth the economic impact that TTIP would have on the member states of the EU.
‘In Malta’s case, the authors of the study predict that there will be a decrease of 0.3 per cent of the Maltese economy as a result of TTIP, if it is concluded. Also, they predict that there will be a decline of 0.7 per cent in Malta’s investment. This is a matter that deserves full debate and study in Malta. People need to be aware of what the stakes are and what a reasonable position on the matter could be, that will enhance Malta’s interests in the framework of EU free trade and investment agreements.’ said Dr. Sant.
TTIP has generated huge controversy in the US and the EU. Among the reasons for this, there has been the fact that negotiations have been carried out in secret and because many believe that the agreement will override national laws. Meanwhile, a huge public relations effort has been unleashed to sell TTIP to EU and US citizens. The same has happened in Malta, said Dr. Sant, where we have been assured that TTIP will bring great benefits.
Dr. Sant remarked that decisions being taken at a European level were increasingly having an impact on Maltese society. Very often, this was getting noticed when it had already happened. An essential part of the MEPs’ job therefore was to create a greater awareness among the Maltese public regarding important European developments.

Maltese Version – TTIP : POŻITTIV GĦALL-ISTATI MEMBRI KOLLHA TAL-UE, ĦLIEF GĦAL MALTA

Studju mill-‘World Trade Institute’ u għadd ta’ Universitajiet ikkummissjonati mill- ‘American Chamber of Commerce’ fl-Unjoni Ewropea ikkonkluda li l-impatt tal-ftehim propost għall-kummerċ ħieles bejn l-UE u l-Istati Uniti se jkun pożittiv għall-membri stati kollha tal-Unjoni Ewropea, ħlief għal Malta. Dan żvelah Alfred Sant, il-Kap tad-Delegazzjoni Laburista fil-Parlament Ewropew dalgħodu meta indirizza l-Laqgħa Ġenerali taċ-Ċentru Laburista tal-Belt Valletta. Dr. Sant tkellem dwar it-Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) li qed jiġi negozjat bejn l-UE u l-Istati Uniti għal żona ta’ kummerċ ħieles bejn iż-żewġ naħat. L-istudju, li ġie ppubblikat dil-ġimgħa, għamel analiżi dettaljata tal-impatt ekonomiku li se jħalli l-ftehim fuq l-istati membri tal-UE.
‘Fil-każ ta’ Malta, l-istudju jbassar tnaqqis ta’ 0.3% tal-ekonomija Maltija jekk ikun konkluż it-TTIP. L-istudju jbassar ukoll tnaqqis ta’ 0.7% fl-investimenti f’Malta. Dan it-tbassir jitlob dibattitu sħiħ u studju f’Malta. Hemm bżonn li n-nies ikunu konxji minn dak li qed isir u dwar x’pożizzjoni raġjonevoli għandha tittieħed fl-interess ta’ Malta fil-qafas ta’ ftehim tal-UE dwar il-kummerċ ħieles u dwar l-investimenti.’ qal Dr. Sant.
Dan il-ftehim ta’ kummerċ ħoloq kontroversja fl-UE u fl-Istati Uniti. Dan għaliex ħafna min-negozjati saru bil-magħluq u ħafna huma tal-fehma li l-ftehim se jipprevali fuq il-liġijiet nazzjonali tal-pajjiżi membri tal-UE . Dan waqt li saret kampanja favur it-TTIP fost iċ-ċittadini Ewropej u Amerikani, l-istess ġara f’Malta, qal Dr. Sant, fejn ġejna żgurati li dal-ftehim kellu jkun ta’ benefiċċju għalina.
Dr. Sant qal li d-deċiżjonijiet fuq livell Ewropew qegħdin dejjem iħallu impatt fuq is-soċjeta` Maltija. Ħafna drabi, dan qed jiġi innotat wara li jkunu ttieħdu id-deċiżjonijiet. Huwa essenzjali, sostna Dr. Sant, li l-ewroparlamentari Maltin ikomplu jżommu lill-pubbliku Malti u Għawdxi aġġornati bl-iżviluppi li qed iseħħu fl-Ewropa.