Daniel Attard fil-laqgħa konġunta bejn il-Parlament Ewropew u l-Parlament tal-Unjoni Afrikana qabel is-Summit bejn l-UA u l-UE
L-Ewroparlamentari Laburista Daniel Attard ħa sehem fil-laqgħa konġunta bejn il-Parlament Ewropew u l-Parlament tal-Unjoni Afrikana li saret f’Midrand, l-Afrika t’Isfel, bi tħejjija għas-Summit li ġej bejn l-Unjoni Afrikana u l-Unjoni Ewropea li se jimmarka l-ħamsa u għoxrin anniversarju ta’ din is-sħubija importanti.
Bħala Ewroparlamentari Malti, Attard fisser kif Malta tifhem sewwa illi ma jistax ikun hemm sigurtà dejjiema fl-Ewropa jekk ma jkunx hemm stabbiltà fl-Afrika, u li għalhekk il-futur taż-żewġ kontinenti huwa marbut b’mod profond.
F’intervent waqt is-sessjoni plenarja, Attard tenna li dan għandu jkun il-prinċipju li jmexxi s-sħubija bejn iż-żewġ kontinenti, speċjalment f’mument ta’ inċertezzi ġeopolitiċi.
Daniel Attard żied li s-sigurtà u l-istabbiltà huma intrinsikament marbuta mal-prosperità, u għalhekk jiddependu minn żvilupp inklussiv u opportunitajiet għall-popolazzjoni żagħżugħa tal-Afrika li tista’ tilħaq il-potenzjal tagħha biss permezz ta’ ekonomiji lokali reżiljenti.
Attard għalhekk appella għal aktar appoġġ Ewropew għall-industrijalizzazzjoni fl-Afrika u żieda fil-valur miżjud lokalment, aktar milli sfruttament. Dan mhuwiex biss ġust iżda wkoll meħtieġ biex iż-żgħażagħ ikunu jistgħu jibnu l-futur tagħhom f’pajjiżhom stess minflok jirriskjaw ħajjithom fi vjaġġ perikoluż fejn jispiċċaw vittmi ta’ abbuż u sfruttament taċ-ċrieki kriminali tat-traffikar tal-bnedmin.
Daniel Attard ikkonkluda billi l-ispirtu kostruttiv taż-żewġ parlamenti u tenna l-impenn tiegħu, bħala Membru tal-Parlament Ewropew, għal sħubija bbażata fuq l-ugwaljanza, il-fiduċja u l-benefiċċju reċiproku taż-żewġ kontinenti.
“There can be no lasting security in Europe without stability in Africa.”
Daniel Attard at joint EP–Pan African Parliament meeting ahead of the AU–EU Summit
Labour MEP Daniel Attard participated in the joint meeting between the European Parliament and the Pan African Parliament held in Midrand, South Africa, as part of the preparations for the upcoming African Union–European Union Summit marking the twenty fifth anniversary of this strategic partnership.
As a Maltese MEP, Attard underlined how Malta understands clearly that there can be no lasting security in Europe without stability in Africa, and that the future of both continents is therefore deeply interconnected.
Addressing the plenary session, Attard stressed that this principle must guide the renewed partnership between Africa and Europe, particularly at a time of growing geopolitical uncertainty.
He noted that peace, security and stability are intrinsically linked to prosperity, and depend on inclusive development and real opportunities for Africa’s young population, whose potential can only be realised through resilient and dynamic local economies.
Attard therefore called for greater European support for industrialisation in Africa and for more value to be added locally rather than extracted. He emphasised that this is not only fair, but essential to ensure that young people can build their future in their own countries instead of being pushed into dangerous journeys where they risk abuse and exploitation at the hands of criminal trafficking networks.
Attard concluded by welcoming the constructive spirit shown by both parliaments and reaffirmed his commitment, as a Member of the European Parliament, to a partnership grounded in equality, trust and mutual benefit for both continents.