Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1488480
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 18 DECEMBER 2022 8 INTERVIEW Raphael Vassallo rvassallo@mediatoday.com.mt Making Europe work for us again For a party that takes such pride in its 'European creden- tials', the PN now seems at odds with some of the EU's basic values and ideals. The European Parliament argues that 'abortion is a fundamen- tal human right' (and also, a basic element of any country's healthcare service); the PN op- poses an amendment that will permit abortion, in cases where mother's health is at risk. First of all, are you comfortable with the PN's abortion stand? And do you feel that an ideological gulf is opening up, between the PN and its self-styled 'European vision'? Personally, I think that the PN's European vocation is still very much intact. And I also think that the way you're pro- jecting the EU – as if there was some kind of commitment to be 'pro-abortion', as part of the European Union's 'basic values and ideals' – is incorrect… It's not just me saying it, though. Human rights Com- missioner Dunja Mijatović also welcomed the amendment, as a 'positive step towards full de- criminalization [of abortion]'… I don't deny that a lot of EU member states do have regimes which permit abortion – and even euthanasia - and that some of those countries allow, for ex- ample, 'abortions beyond the first few weeks'. And yes: this could create the perception, out there, that the EU is somehow 'pro-abortion'. However, I have a tendency to look at things more on the basis of what is actually written; what is agreed to by the member states, and signed on the dotted line. And when you look at the EU's 'founding principles' – the initial treaties, upon which the Union was created – 'abortion', and other ethical issues, are either not mentioned at all; or else, they are mentioned to ex- plicitly state that the EU should NOT include them, in any 'har- monisation' of its principles. Then, when you look at the case-history of the European Court of Human Rights: again, there are a number of sentences which confirm that abortion is – and should remain – a ques- tion of 'national competence'… But this is precisely what the Eu- ropean Parliament wants to see changed. The Simone Veil Pact, for instance – which Roberta Metsola said she would sign, before becoming EP President – explicitly proposes including abortion as one of the EU's 'fun- damental human rights': which would also, de facto, make it very much within the EP's com- petence, to legislate… Bear in mind that the Europe- an Parliament has at least two different functions. On one lev- el, it is a legislative body which has the power to draw up laws; and this is where I do everything I can, in my political work, to ensure that Malta's interests are included and defended, in the strongest way possible, at EU level… … but then, the European Parliament also has the right – like anyone else – to discuss any other issue or topic that it chooses. Just like Commission- er Helena Dalli was perfect- ly free, to propose guidelines against using the word 'Christ- mas', or Christian names like 'John and Mary': that was her opinion, and she had every right to express it; though she faced a strong backlash, as a result. It doesn't mean, however, that we – as Maltese – are 'obliged' to change the way we think about such issues, ourselves. Like any other nationality, we have the right to our own self-determination. So when the EP, or any other European insti- tution, talks about abortion; it is talking about something which is not technically within its own competence, to decide. Now: with regard to abortion, I do agree, without a doubt, that we need to have a much wider, more in-depth debate on the subject. But not because 'the EP said so'; or because '150 MEPs signed Cyrus Engerer's peti- tion'. No, we need to have this discussion because it is a very important issue; and because, if there's any decision to be tak- en… that decision will have to be taken by us, as the people of Malta and Gozo. So it matters little, at the end of the day, what the European Parliament says about abortion. On the contrary: the less it says on the subject, the better… be- cause abortion does not fall within its competence. If any- thing, the EP should be talking – and does talk, often – about issues such as transport; and how [EU legislation] negative- ly impacts Malta. It should be talking the environment… and how Malta is pumping a lot of sewage into the sea; about food security, and how three-quar- ters of our farmers, and live- stock breeders, are facing bank- ruptcy... Do you feel, however, that there is a 'contradiction', between how the PN projects itself here in Malta – which is basically 'more pro-life, than the Catho- lic church' – and how it projects itself in on the European stage? Both Roberta Metsola and To- nio Borg, for instance, changed their tone, about abortion, when addressing a European audience. Doesn't this cause a bit a credibility problem, for the PN? I don't really agree that there is any contradiction. As you know, I have worked within the European Parliament for sev- eral years, and I have rubbed shoulders with many people; es- pecially within the EPP, where I have represented the PN in many of its working groups. I have never felt in any way un- comfortable, in that environ- ment, because of my pro-life views. Actually, there are many parties within the EPP that have similar positions to ours… in the sense that, they agree that issues such as abortion, should remain a matter of national competence. Now: all EPP parties – includ- ing the PN – also agree that we should everything in our power, to safeguard women's health. But we disagree that the Euro- pean parliament should go any further than that, by imposing its own views upon member states. As someone who repre- sents Malta, in a European set- The European Union has changed drastically since 2004; and according to Nationalist MEP candidate PETER AGIUS, unless we adapt to the ongoing changes, we may end up in a situation where EU membership itself is no longer advantageous for the country PHOTO: JRAY ATTARD / MALTATODAY