Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1515076
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 28 JANUARY 2024 7 INTERVIEW The following are excerpts from the interview. The full interview can be found on maltatoday.com.mt as well as our Facebook and Spotify pages. Something did happen: Russia invaded Ukraine. If the Ukrainians did not resist and were not provided military help, Russia would have gone all the way and occupied Kyiv and the whole of Ukraine. So, something did happen that changed the scenario. Let me be clear; I am not in favour of Russia's invasion. But with the same argument… and this is the hypocri- sy; when Azerbaijan swept through Nagorno-Karabakh last year did they impose sanctions on them? No. In the Gaza issue, were there any appeals for sanctions to be imposed [on Israel]… Are you saying the EU should not have imposed sanctions on Russia? The EU should have applied differ- ent sanctions that targeted certain individuals… almost two years after the war started, with all the military assistance [Ukraine was given], with all the people who died, the diplo- matic channel that should have been maintained was destroyed because the narrative was divisive. When they realised this was backfiring, the narrative started mellowing after the State of the Union speech in 2022. It is good that Ukraine resists Russia; it is good that Ukraine is provided with humanitarian assistance but we need to unblock this situation because if on the other side of the Atlantic the pen- dulum shifts [towards Donald Trump], Europe will be on its own and it will be unable to provide Ukraine with all the military and financial assistance go- ing its way today. After Russia's invasion of Ukraine, what value does Malta's neutrality have? It has a lot of value so much so that we are chairing the OSCE… we promote peace. Neutrality does not mean not taking a position when there are coun- tries in conflict; it means not taking a military stand, which is different. It is a fine line. For the EU to have a stronger global voice like you sug- gest, it requires greater uni- ty and integration. Are you in favour of a federal EU? I do not agree with a federal EU. But the European Commission has con- sistently tried to involve itself in tax matters, something which is a matter for Council to decide by unanimity. They went through the OSCE to impose a minimum corporate tax rate; they used the environmental argument to impose green taxes such as the emis- sions trading system. All these actions were intended so that the Commission can have a finger in the pie… You consider the European Commission as an 'enemy'; the entity we have to fight against. But isn't Malta part of the EU? The European Commission has no re- mit imposing certain things it dreams of in the morning and decides to push for. The Commission has to be kept under scrutiny all the time by governments and the European Par- liament… the European Commission grew more than it should have and when this happens we have to be vigilant to ensure this does not turn into autocratic rule and a centrally controlling system. Such a system is not the EU and this is what is bother- ing me. European elections have al- ways served as a barometer of how people feel about the country and the issues that concern them. Surveys are indicating more people will abstain, especially Labour voters. Where do you think the government is failing? There is no one answer because it is a multi-faceted issue. You get people with personal grievances such as those who feel an injustice was perpetrated in their regard in the past and has not yet been addressed despite the injus- tices boards that were set up. You get some who feel hurt because they are employed by contractors and earn less than their counterparts in the public service despite being engaged on the same line of work. There are these pockets that concern personal issues but in some areas the high cost of liv- ing has hurt people even though the government has gone headlong into tackling this issue. It has led to people losing interest… the problem is that the EU is tightening the noose and we are now feeling the pinch locally on certain regulations that are irking peo- ple… What do you mean the EU is tightening the noose? Emissions is one area where the EU kept tightening the noose... I'm not saying it is wrong but we need longer transition periods… I am not saying we do not transition [to a greener econo- my] but we need to adjust… it is how we transition that matters… People need breathing space in the midst of all that is going on in the world with conflict, logistical disruptions, infla- tion… Why should people choose you in June; what do you bring different to the table? I know how the European institutions work and I know how to negotiate and achieve compromise. If the EU is mov- ing towards strategic autonomy and attract manufacturing to Europe, I want to make sure that part of that manufac- turing comes to Malta. And I will resist the European Commis- sion. Are you a Eurosceptic? No, not at all. The problem I see is that the European Commission wants to put its finger in every pie. I also disagree with the Commission when it tells us not to continue subsidising water and electricity because that policy brought about economic stability. I will resist the European Commission as much as possible and ensure greater good governance in those areas where the Commission has competence, includ- ing how money earmarked for military aid is spent… PHOTOS: JAMES BIANCHI / MALTA TODAY