A social pact for workers' day - Michael Briguglio

In my fortnightly op-ed in the Malta Independent I discuss various challenges related to employment, poverty and social inclusion and I propose the setting up of a social pact for workers' day.

You can read the article here:
https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2020-04-30/blogs-opinions/A-social-pact-for-Worker-s-Day-Michael-Briguglio-6736222621

#Ħsibijiet (32) #MaltaNotForSale - Pajjiżna għandu jieħu l-isptarijiet lura

Kieku mhux għall-ħidma ta' l-Oppożizzjoni Nazzjonalista fil-Parlament u fil-Qrati, il-Gvern Laburista kien jibqa' għaddej bħal gaffa fil-kwistjoni tal-bejgħ ta' sptarijiet pubbliċi lil Vitals u Steward, u l-poplu kien jibqa' mingħajr informazzjoni essenzjali. Kieku ma kienitx il-media li ukoll investigat din il-kwistjoni, il-kwistjoni kienet tisparixxi mill-aħbarijiet. 

Hawnhekk qed nitkellmu fuq assi pubbliċi fis-settur tas-saħħa, fuq wirt tal-Gvern immexxi minn Joseph Muscat, Konrad Mizzi u Keith Schembri. Qed nitkellmu fuq bejgħ, li minn fuq, qed inħallsu għalih mit-taxxi tagħna. Il-poplu s'issa diġa ħallas €260 miljun għal servizz li ma onorax l-obbligi tiegħu.

Il-Gvern immexxi minn Robert Abela issa għandu opportunita' li jħares l-interess nazzjonali u soċjali u jappoġġja l-mozzjoni parlamentari ta' l-Oppożizzjoni sabiex it-taxpayers ma jħallsux €100 miljun lil min qiegħed japproffita mill-poplu Malti korteżija ta' kuntratt li jobbliga lit-taxpayers ikopru d-djun ta' Steward.  

Il-Gvern għandu l-opportunita' li jħassar il-kuntratt ta' privatizazzjonijiet tat-tlett sptarijiet u li jippubblika l-informazzjoni kollha li ġiet moħbija mill-Gvern ta' Muscat, Mizzi u Schembri.

Sa dan it-tant, qegħdin fis-sitwazzjoni surreali li waqt il-Coronavirus pajjiżna jkollu jibni prefabricated hospital minflok ma juża u jtejjeb l-assi eżistenti tiegħu.  

Quddiem skandlu bħal dan, jeħtieġ li l-ġid komuni jiġi qabel interessi settarji. 

Malta is not for sale.

#Ħsibijiet (31) #Coronavirus - Ħidma flimkien issarraf

Id-Deputat Prim Ministru u Ministru tas-Saħħa Chris Fearne u s-Supretendent tas-Saħħa Pubblika Charmaine Gauci ħabbru li fl-aħħar 24 siegħa ma kien hemm l-ebda kas ġdid ta' Coronavirus f'Malta. Fl-istess ħin ir-rata ta' infezzjoni minn persuna għall-oħra kompliet nieżla għal 0.5.

Dawn huma aħbarijiet inkuraġġanti, u għandna ngħidu prosit lill-Awtoritajiet tas-Saħħa li qed jimxu ma' l-evidenza u l-pariri xjentifiċi, lill-ħaddiema f'oqsma bħas-saħħa u s-sigurta', u lill-poplu Malti li qed juri sens kbir ta' komunita' u responsabilita' billi jimxi mal-pariri ta' l-Awtoritajiet tas-Saħħa.

Iżda kif qalu l-istess Dr Fearne u Prof Gauci, importanti li nibqgħu noqogħdu attenti u li nkunu kawti u responsabbli fil-gwerra kontra l-Coronavirus. L-Oppożizzjoni, bl-iktar mod responsabbli, ukoll qed tirrakomanda li nsegwu l-awtoritajiet tas-saħħa u qed tkun kostruttiva fir-rwol tagħha. 

Mela ejja lkoll nibqgħu insegwu l-parir ta' l-Awtoritajiet sabiex nevitaw problemi bħal mewġa oħra tal-Coronavirus. 

Bl-istess mod kif il-Gvern miexi b'mod għaqli u infurmat dwar il-politika ta' saħħa, nappella li jagħmel l-istess fil-politika ekonomika u soċjali. Huwa veru li l-Gvern daħħal numru ta' miżuri tajbin, iżda huwa veru ukoll li ta' kuljum qed toħroġ evidenza soċjali u ekonomika li juru li hemm bżonn ta' iktar miżuri f'dawn l-oqsma.  Fost oħrajn hemm każijiet ta' tbatija, faqar, esklużżjoni soċjali, u ta' ħaddiema, self-employed, imprendituri u kumpaniji li qed jesperjenzaw problemi finanzjarji iżda ġew esklużi mill-pakketti tal-gvern.

Nerġa nappella biex ikun hemm ħidma iktar wiesgħa għal patt soċjali bejn il-Gvern, l-Oppożizzjoni, is-sħab soċjali, is-soċjeta' ċivili fis-sens wiesgħa tagħha u l-esperti.  B'hekk pajjiżna jkollu politika ekonomika u soċjali kemm jista' jkun inklussiva u sostenibbli. 

#Ħsibijiet (30) Pompi tal-Petrol, Sptarijiet u ġid komuni

L-Awtorità tal-Ippjanar ippubblikat il-policy riveduta dwar il-pompi tal-fjuwil b’għaxar bidliet ewlenin fosthom limitu fuq l-ammont u d-daqs tal-pompi. Din il-policy hija ferm aħjar minn dik li kienet approvata preċedentament mill-Gvern Laburista, liema policy kienet ġabet kritika wiesgħa fis-soċjeta' Maltija. Il-pressjoni saret b'modi varji: Fost oħrajn permezz ta' proposti minn bosta ilħna ambjentali bħall-NGOs u l-Kummissjoni Interdjoċesana Ambjent, protesti tal-Moviment Graffitti, pressjoni fuq il-media, u ħidma parlamentari. F'dan ir-rigward, l-Oppożizzjoni Nazzjonalista tkellmet favur il-protezzjoni ta' art ODZ u art agrikola, u kontra l-ispekulazzjoni ta' l-art. 

Dan jikkonferma l-importanza li jkun hemm ilħna varji, kemm politiċi kif ukoll mis-soċjeta' ċivili, li jagħmlu pressjoni fuq kwistjonijiet nazzjonali.

Fost kwistjonijiet nazzjonali oħrajn li għandu quddiemu l-pajjiż, hemm dik tat-tlett sptarijiet pubbliċi li ingħataw lill-Vitals imbagħad lil Steward. L-Oppożizzjoni qed iġġib din il-kwistjoni quddiem il-Parlament b’mozzjoni biex il-ftehim jiġi kkanċċellat u biex il-membri kollha tal-Parlament jiddikjaraw jekk humiex favur jew kontra dan id-deal skandaluż. S'issa l-Vitals u Steward ħadu iktar minn 250 miljun Ewro, u l-Gvern iffirma ftehim li jagħti €100 miljun oħra u ħlas tad-djun lil Steward mit-taxxi tal-poplu jekk il-kuntratt jiġi kkanċellat. Sa dan it-tant il-poplu qed jinsteraq ma kull ġurnata li tgħaddi.

Quddiem skandlu bħal dan, jeħtieġ li l-ġid komuni jiġi qabel interessi settarji.

#Ħsibijiet (29) Istitut nazzjonali biex jirriċerka l-faqar

L-Anti Poverty Forum, li tinkorpora tlettax-il għaqda mis-soċjeta ċivili, ġibdet l-attenzjoni dwar diversi forom ta' faqar li qed jiġu esposti f'Malta waqt il-kriżi tal-Coronavirus. 

Il-Forum qed jirrakomanda li jitwaqqaf Istitut ta’ Riċerka kompetenti biex jimmonitorja kwistjonijiet relatati mal-faqar u jagħti rakkomandazzjonijiet bikrija biex jinbidlu l-policies sabiex l-impatt tal-pandemija fuq il-vulnerabbli ikun imnaqqas kemm jista’ jkun malajr. Tista taqra iktar hawnhekk: https://netnews.com.mt/2020/04/20/ghandu-jitwaqqaf-istitut-ta-ricerka-anti-poverty-forum/

Pajjiżna tabilħaqq għandu bżonn dawn it-tip ta' strutturi biex jipprovdu evidenza soċjo-xjentifika u rakomandazzjonijiet għal politika inklussiva. 

Bl-istess mod, nemmen li għandu jkun hemm patt soċjali li jikkonsisti minn proċess kontinwu fejn il-Gvern, l-Oppożizzoni, is-sħab soċjali, is-soċjeta' ċivili fis-sens wiesgħa tagħha u l-esperti jaħdmu flimkien fil-gwerra konta l-Coronavirus.

31-storey highrise proposed on top of historical building in Sliema, obliterating almost all of barracks

You can read about the development proposal through this link: 

https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/environment/townscapes/101354/40storey_fort_cambridge_tower_hotel_shaved_down_to_31?fbclid=IwAR2hPSY1-mpdMfLuqtSk3i5IH2IY-4GXC6C795Z8vFrEdGOJzsfA9OI4FeI#.Xp1B0a7is2w

Details from Planning Authority website: https://www.pa.org.mt/en/pacasedetails?CaseType=PA/02906/16

Deadline to send objections: 8 May 2020

Sliema Local Council, Flimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar, Futur Ambjent Wieħed, Moviment Graffitti objections accessible from this link: 
https://mikes-beat.blogspot.com/2020/05/sibijiet-37-31-sular-minflok-bini.html

I have sent objection below to the Planning Authority. Feel free to use.

To:  

representations@pa.org.mt

Attn Planning Authority 

Representations filed in Regard of PA 2906/16

Further to my objection below, I am also hereby querying whether the Planning Authority  has considered the years' old request to schedule the building by the Sliema Local council. The building’s historical importance was recognised in studies included in the Environment Impact Assessment which recommended Grade 2 scheduling for the buildings, a status which normally precludes substantial changes.  

--

I am filing this objection to this application on the following grounds

- Need for a proper Social Impact Assessment

A social impact assessment reviews the social effects of development and social change, both intended and not.

The International Association for Impact Assessment defines an SIA as the process of analysing, monitoring and managing the intended and unintended social consequences, both positive and negative, of planned interventions and any social change processes invoked by those interventions.

Such changes may range from natural disasters to population growth and from policy interventions to singular development projects. Consequently, SIAs investigate the effects on people’s everyday lives in terms of culture, politics, community, health, well-being, aspirations, needs, rights and responsibilities, to name a few.  They provide data for policymaking, which is based on evidence.

Social impacts under assessment should include all those things relevant to people’s everyday life. This may include one’s culture, community, political context, environment, health, well-being, personal and property rights as well as fears and aspirations.

Social impact assessments can help verify the consequences and impacts of development proposals in relation to the communities involved. Hence, a basic starting point for such assessments should be the compilation of a community profile. A social impact assessment that does not understand the society in question is practically worthless.

This can help bring about genuine processes of engagement between communities, developers and authorities as well as identify and implement mitigation measures and compensation mechanisms. As things stand in Malta, various developers do quite the opposite, often causing huge inconvenience to residents and leaving a mess behind in surrounding infrastructure.

Various methods, both quantitative and qualitative could be used within social impact assessments. The former refers to generalisable data especially through numbers, while the latter produce in-depth data on matters.

Research methods in SIAs may therefore include surveys of concerned populations who are asked questions on their perceptions of the change in question. Ethnographic methods may involve a deeper look into everyday practices of people, while elite interviews may verify the advice, concerns and interpretations of persons who are experts or who have experience in the respective field under analysis.

Methods may also involve the analysis of discourse on the subject in question, for example by looking at what is being pronounced in the public sphere, whether by the public, civil society, political actors, the media and the like.

SIAs should involve the participation of different stakeholders, ideally through mixed research methods.

Some other factors which should be included in social impact assessments include the consideration of reasonable alternatives to development proposals as well as comparative analysis of similar development proposals and related good or bad practices.

Analytic indicators should be provided and the entire process should be subject to peer review by independent experts in the field.

Social impact assessments should not be one-off exercises which are rubber-stamped by authorities without any sense of critical engagement. To the contrary, they should be ongoing processes which engage with various stakeholders and which report back so as to ensure effective policy processes. They should also use complementary research methods so as to ensure reliable and valid data.

Recommendations and mitigation measures could therefore be in place, and these would be based on social-scientific evidence.

It is also important that SIAs are peer-reviewed. This means that if a study is being carried out by a team of social scientists, this should be scrutinised by other independent social scientists. This could help identify shortcomings, conflicts and possible improvements to the same SIA.

SIAs should not be one-off studies which disregard cumulative impacts of large and small development projects. SIAs should also take account of changes in the social context in question, such as cumulative impacts of other developments. For example, a social impact assessment that focuses on one development but ignores another development in the region is not realistic.

- Negative visual impact and aesthetic impact - breach of the  Hotels Height Adjustment Limitation Policy

The highrise building is incongruous, it overshadows the barracks, has a negative visual effect from the Valletta side. It is large and out of context. Exaggerated size does not make it iconic - simply another bulky building.

This is in breach of the Hotels Height Adjustment Limitation Policy which states that, "Proposals should be sited where visual impact within their context and on sensitive historic environments and their settings such as World Heritage Sites, conservation areas and scheduled buildings is minimised, and should retain and enhance key strategic, long distant views and important vistas at a national and at the local level. An acceptance of a particular height of one hotel does not imply that all other hotels in the locality or elsewhere should be at least as high as the one granted consent."

- Breach of Local Plan

The tower will dwarf the surrounding buildings. The building adversely affects views from all points, particularly from Valletta, breaking and intruding into the skyline. This contravenes North Harbour Local Pan Policy NHSJ15 – 

sections ii, iii and v 

a. The proposed development is not likely to create significant adverse impacts on the local amenity.

 b. The scale of the proposed development is consistent with the building height limitation and the character of the area 

c. The proposal will not compromise existing and future proposals for traffic management in the area as established in Policies NHSJ01 and NHSJ05 4. 

- Breach of  SPED policies namely: a. 3.4.2.6 In addition to this, the second Urban Objective of the SPED submits a commitment “To improve the townscape and environment in historic cores and their setting with a presumption against demolition of property worthy of conservation…” Third subsequent third Urban Objective then refers to the 1 protection and enhancement of the character and amenity of distinct urban areas . c. Reference is also made to the excerpt from GN133/2001 which refers to the designation of the fortifications of the Grand and Marsamxett harbours, an Area of High Landscape Value (AHLV)

- The Transport Impact Assessment carried out is obsolete and there aren't sufficent mitigation measures for the traffic generated by the scheme and the loss of onsite parking.

- The proposed development is in breach of Legal Notice 227 of 2016 insofar as the road height to width ratio is not being observed and there is no justification for this.

- Excessive shadowing - Microclimate

  Impact of Overshadowing; The extracts of the over-shading analysis show that Triq Tigne' will have ZERO direct sunlight as a result of this development. A case study on this street should be included to confirm what has been noted due to its grave implications. Furthermore, the case studies provided show a loss of sunlight as a result of the project as a value in itself, for example 40mins for case study B. What is not mentioned is how much the 40mins is of, that is whether it is 40mins of 2hrs of 40mins of 45mins. The over-shadowing caused by the development should be assessed as a fraction of how much sunlight the site over which a shadow is being cast actually gets. Without this information the values provided cannot be interpreted to fully assess the extent of impact the development will have on the surrounding properties' accessibility to adequate natural light.   

If the height has been reduced from the date of compilation of the shadowing studies, an updated report has to be made available

- Negative Heritage Impacts

The proposal envisages the near total demolition of the barracks with a facade being retained. There is no study or assessment of the internal features. This is an example of facadism which completely disregards the site and context. The Superintendent of Cultural Heritage has stated that this is a major adverse impact. This also disregards the requests for Scheduling of the barracks.

- Disregard of the Fort Cambridge Development Brief

The proposed development is in breach of the Fort Cambridge Development Brief regarding Building Heights  and residential amenity.

Proposal is in breach of SPED Thematic Objective 7

The proposal envisages the excavation of 28,000 cubic metres of material. This is a wasteful process, especially at the present time when landfills are reaching capacity. It is also in breach of SPED Thematic Objective 7.9 which states the following:

Thematic Objective 7: To promote the efficient use of resources including local
stone, water and soil, and manage waste in a manner that safeguards natural
processes, and minimises impacts on cultural heritage, landscape and human
health by
9. Controlling demolition of buildings and structures and excavation of sites

In view of the above, I ask that this development is refused.

I reserve the right to make further submissions and to be informed of all meetings and to be present thereat.

Dr Michael Briguglio

Sociologist

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#Ħsibijiet (28) Ma nużawx il-Coronavirus għal skopijiet irħas

Fil-konferenza stampa tal-lejla, il-Kap ta' l-Oppożizzjoni Adrian Delia kien ċar, ġust u meqjus. 

Fuq kollox wera li mhux lest juża l-kriżi tal-Coronavirus għal skopijiet irħas. Il-lejla kkonfermajna li l-Partit Nazzjonalista jpoġġi lill-persuna u s-saltna tad-dritt qabel il-konvenjenza. 

Pajjiżna qed jiffaċja sfidi kbar, u l-inqas li għandu bżonn f'dan il-mument hi pika partiġġjana.

Sa dan it-tant, fil-kwistjoni ta' l-immigrazzjoni, il-Kummissjoni Ewropea saħqet li l-Gvern għadu ma talabx formalment għal għajnuna operazzjonali jew finanzjarja mill-UE. Aqra iktar hawnhekk: https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/malta-has-not-asked-for-additional-migration-support-eu.786305

Tista' tara l-konferenza stampa ta' Adrian Delia minn dan il-link: https://www.facebook.com/adriandeliapn/videos/2579890308994881

#Ħsibijiet (27): Meta ser jinfetaħ l-aċċess pubbliku f'Tigne'?

L-Awtorita' ta' l-Ippjanar approvat żvilupp ta' torri ta' 17-il sular f'Tigne', f'dak li l-kumpanija MIDI qed issejjaħ bħala l-aħħar żvilupp tagħha f'dan il-post. 

Parti sħiħa mill-kosta f'Tigne', viċin ta' dan l-iżvilupp, ilha magħluqa għall-pubbliku għal ħafna snin. Din twassal minn naħa għall-oħra tal-ponta ta' Tigne'.

Meta ser tingħata lura lil tas-Sliema l-kosta? 

Towards Economic Recovery? Michael Briguglio

In my fortnightly op-ed in the Malta Independent I discuss some challenges in relation to economic recovery in the EU and Malta.

You can read the article here:
https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2020-04-16/blogs-opinions/Towards-economic-recovery-6736222088

#Ħsibijiet (26): #Coronavirus: Il-Pakkett Finanzjarju Ewropew

Il-Gvernijiet ta' l-Unjoni Ewropea qablu fuq pakkett finanzjarju ta' nofs triljun Ewro  għall-ħaddiema, kumpaniji u sistemi ta' saħħa li qed jiġu impattati b'mod negattiv mill-kriżi tal-Coronavirus.

Hekk kif appellajt f'artiklu ftit tal-ġranet ilu , nemmen li permezz ta' din id-deċiżżjoni rebħet id-deliberazzjoni demokratika, fejn l-interessi varji fl-UE ċedew ftit għall-ġid komuni. Tajjeb inżommu f'moħħna li l-Kumitat Ekonomiku u Soċjali ta' l-Unjoni Ewropej (EESC), li hu l-forum uffiċjali tas-soċjeta' ċivili fl-Unjoni Ewropea, sejjaħ għal pjan ekonomiku urġenti u  komprensiv sabiex jiġġieled il-kriżi tal-Coronavirus.

Apparti l-pakkett finanzjarju Ewropew, hemm ukoll il-pakketti individwali ta' kull pajjiż imsieħeb. F'dan ir-rigward nappella lill-Gvern biex fil-pakkett tiegħu ikopri ukoll lil dawk il-ħaddiema, self-employed u kumpaniji li ġew esklużi mill-pakkett preżenti u li qed jiġu impattati b'mod negattiv mill-kriżi tal-Coronavirus. Dan l-appell qegħdin jagħmluh il-Opożizzjoni Nazzjonalista u l-Kamra tal-Kummerċ fost oħrajn. 

Ikun tajjeb li l-Gvern jinvesti f'iktar deliberazzjoni fil-politika ekonomika u soċjali relatata mal-gwerra kontra l-Coronavirus. Jeħtieġ li f'pajjiżna ikun hemm l-ikbar kunsens possibbli u 'sense of ownership' permezz ta' patt soċjali li jagħmel l-almu tiegħu biex ħadd ma jibqa' lura.

#Ħsibijiet (25) #Coronavirus: Kondoljanzi

Kondoljanzi lill-qraba u dawk kollha viċin is-sinjura ta' 92 sena li sfat l-ewwel vittma tal-Coronavirus f'pajjiżna.

F'dan il-mument ta' dieqa, l-appell tiegħi hu sabiex kollha kemm aħna insegwu l-istruzzjonijiet ta' l-Awtoritajiet tas-Saħħa.

Ilkoll kemm aħna għandna rwol importanti biex niġġieldu l-Coronavirus u biex nipproteġu lill-iktar persuni vunnerabbli.

#Ħsibijiet (24) Surplus dipendenti fuq il-bejgħ tal-passaporti

Ftit tal-ġranet ilu l-Uffiċju Nazzjonali ta' l-Istatistika ippubblika n-nefqa u d-dħul totali tal-Gvern bejn Jannar u Diċembru ta' l-2019. Fil-fond konsolidat ('il-kaxxa ta' Malta'), irriżulta surplus ta' 9.4 miljun Ewro. Fl-istess perjodu tal-2018 irriżulta defiċit ta' 70.2 miljun Ewro u fl-2017 kien hemm surplus ta' 182.7 miljun Ewro.  Il-figuri jistgħu jinqraw hawnhekk:
https://nso.gov.mt/en/News_Releases/Documents/2020/03/News2020_052.pdf

Dan ifisser li minkejja li l-finanzi tal-Gvern irriżultaw f'surplus is-sena l-oħra, dan hu ferm inqas minn dak tal-2017. 

Jekk tqis il-bejgħ tal-passaporti, tikkonkludi li pajjiżna hu wisq dipendenti fuq din l-inizjattiva kontroversjali. 70% fil-mija tad-dħul ta' dawn imur f'fond separat mill-fond konsolidat, u 30% imorru fil-fond konsolidat, taħt 'Fees of Office' (11118 - Uffiċju tal-Prim Ministru, line item 0348 (1630)). Fl-2018 il-Gvern daħħal ftit iktar minn 44 Miljun Ewro mill-bejgħ tal-passaporti u l-istima għall-2019 kienet ta' 36 miljun Ewro. Skont l-aħħar rapport uffiċjali dwar il-bejgħ tal-passaporti, Malta daħlet 271.6 miljun Ewro, jiġifieri 2.11 tal-Prodott Gross Domestiku tal-pajjiż.  Iżda dawn il-figuri huma għat-12 il-xahar bejn Lulju 2018 u Ġunju 2019, u kif spjegajt hawn fuq, 70% marru f'fond separat u 30% marru fil-Fond Konsolidat. 

Għal din is-sena il-Gvern għamel stima ta' 50 miljun Ewro mill-bejgħ tal-Passaporti fil-fond Konsolidat (it-30%), jiġifieri dipendenza ikbar fuq din l-inizjattiva kontroversjali. Il-figuri jistgħu jinqraw hawnhekk:
https://mfin.gov.mt/en/The-Budget/Pages/The-Budget-2020-GD-9691.aspx

Huwa ċar li mingħajr il-bejgħ tal-Passaporti, Malta ma kienetx tagħmel surplus ta' 9.4 miljun Ewro is-sena l-oħra. Huwa għaqli li pajjiżna hu daqshekk dipendenti fuq din l-iskema kontroversjali?

Fl-isfond tal-kriżi tal-Coronavirus, huwa importanti li pajjiżna jinvesti f'proċess ta' deliberazzjoni favur miżuri ekonomiċi sostenibbli.

#Ħsibijiet (23) - #Coronavirus - Appell għal pjan ekonomiku Ewropew

Il-Kumitat Ekonomiku u Soċjali ta' l-Unjoni Ewropej (EESC), li hu l-forum uffiċjali tas-soċjeta' ċivili fl-Unjoni Ewropea, sejjaħ għal pjan ekonomiku urġenti u  komprensiv sabiex jiġġieled il-kriżi tal-Coronavirus.

L-EESC qalet li din il-kriżi tirrapreżenta emerġenza ta' saħħa, theddida severa ekonomika u soċjali, u sfida potenzjali għall-istituzzjonijiet demokratiċi. Għalhekk hemm bżonn ta' solidarjeta' bla preċedent mill-pajjiżi msieħba fl-UE.

L-EESC appellat biex l-UE tkun iggwidata mill-prinċipju ta' komunita' b'destin komuni. Ippreżentat pakkett ta' proposti u qalet li l-valuri Ewropej dwar rispett tad-dinjita' umana, drittijet tal-bniedem, demokrazija, ugwaljanza u s-saltna tad-dritt bl-ebda mod m'għandhom jiġu kompromessi.

Hekk kif fl-UE qed jiġu approvati miżuri u għadejjin diskussjonijiet dwar miżuri oħra, nemmen li r-rappreżentanti Maltin fl-istituzzjonijiet Ewropej għandhom jitkellmu favur pjan ekonomiku u patt soċjali Ewropew, fejn vuċijiet varji jiddeliberaw u jagħmlu l-almu tagħhom għal kunsens li jħares l-interessi varji fi ħdan l-UE.

Tista' taqra l-istqarrija tal-EESC minn dan il-link:
https://www.eesc.europa.eu/en/news-media/presentations/eus-response-covid-19-outbreak-and-need-unprecedented-solidarity-amongst-member-states

#Coronavirus, economy and polity - Michael Briguglio

In my fortnightly op-ed column in the Malta Independent I discuss economic and political aspects of the Coronavirus crisis in Malta and the EU. You can read the article from this link:

https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2020-04-02/blogs-opinions/Coronavirus-economy-and-polity-6736221555