Labour MEP Edward Scicluna today demanded that a new EU financial stability mechanism paid for by all Eurozone countries “must come to their rescue in a time of economic crisis”.
Prof Scicluna was speaking following the publication of his report on the proposed treaty change that will establish a permanent financial stability mechanism to protect the eurozone.
He added:
“It is incomprehensible that any Member State would be excluded from receiving financial assistance from a mechanism to which it has contributed. Yet under the proposal treaty change agreed in December by all EU leaders, including Malta’s, this precise scenario could happen.”
Prof Scicluna and Jean-Paul Gauzès are Parliament’s co-Rapporteur’s for the Economic committee’s report on the implications of the proposed treaty change, and today released their report which amends the proposed Council text.
In particular, they have agreed to include a reference to “Member States whose currency is the euro” in order to ensure that small countries like Malta would not be excluded from receiving financial assistance from the mechanism.
Commenting Prof Scicluna said:
“That the Finance Minister does not even want to consider this safeguard for Malta, on the pretext that such a situation is unthinkable, is both highly unwise and short-sighted”.
“If the European Union is changing its own treaty in order to create a safeguard for the eurozone as a whole, why should Malta’s own government ignore the need to safeguard Malta’s interests”.
For more information or an interview with Prof Scicluna please contact 99476776
Il-Mekkanizmu ta’ Stabbilita Finanzjarja Permanenti ghaz-Zona Ewro
Prof Scicluna jinsisti ghal salvagward ghal Malta
L-Ewroparlamentari Laburista l-Professur Edward Scicluna talab li l-Mekkanizmu ta’ Stabbilita Finanzjarja Permanenti ghaz-Zona Ewro li qed tipproponi l-Unjoni Ewropea u li se jaghmlu tajjeb ghalih finanzjarjament il-pajjizi kollha taz-Zona Ewro “ghandu jkun ta’ ghajnuna ghalihom kollha bla distinzjoni fi zmien ta’ krizi ekonomika.”
Prof Scicluna qal dan wara li gie sottomess r-Rapport li tieghu hu co-Rapporteur fuq it-tibdil propost ghat-Trattat Ewropew li permezz tieghu jkun jista’ jitwaqqaf il-Mekkanizmu ta’ Stabbilita Finanzjarja Permanenti ghaz-Zona Ewro.
Prof Scicluna nghata l-inkarigu ghat-thejjija ta’ dan ir-Rapport min-naha tal-Kumitat ghall-Affarijiet Ekonomici u Monetarji tal-Parlament Ewropew (ECON), li co-Rapporteur mieghu hemm Jean-Paul Gauzes, il-ko-ordinatur tal-EPP.
Huwa zied jghid li “lanqas ghandu jghaddilek minn mohhok li xi pajjiz membru li jkun ikkontribwixxa ghal dan il-mekkanizmu ma jibbenefikax minnu. Madankollu bil-kundizzjoni kif maghmula fil-proposta tal-Kunsill u bi qbil mal-Mexxejja kollha taz-Zona Ewro, inkluz Malta, din il-possibilta tista’ ssehh.”
Ir-Rapport imhejji jahseb biex ikun assigurat li pajjiz zghir bhal Malta jkun jista’ jibbenefika mill-mekkanizmu propost. Kif propost mill-Kunsill tal-Ministri l-pajjiz partikolari f’diffikultajiet ekonomici u finanzjarji jkun jista’ jinghata l-ghajnuna jekk il-krizi li jkun fiha tkun tipperikola biss liz-Zona Ewro shiha. Krizi ta’ pajjiz zghir bhal Malta, kbira kemm tkun kbira ghalih il-krizi, tista’ ma tipperikolax liz-Zona Ewro shiha u allura ma jibbenefikax.
“Huwa nuqqas ta’ ghaqal u nuqqas ta’ tharis fil-boghod li l-Ministru tal-Finanzi lanqas biss irid jikkonsidra dan is-salvagward ghal Malta fuq il-premessa li sitwazzjoni bhal din m’ghandekx tahseb fuqha. Jekk l-Unjoni Ewropea stess trid tibdel it-Trattat taghha biex tohloq salvagward ghaz-Zona Ewro, ghaliex ghandu l-Gvern Malti jinjora l-bzonn li jissalvagwarda l-interessi ta’ Malta?” temm jghid Prof Scicluna.