Former Prime Minister Alfred Sant made an explanation of his vote in the European Parliament in which he said that Malta is a neutral country and is specifically barred by its Constitution from participating in the programmes of a military alliance.
Dr Sant expressed his views during a debate in the European Parliament on the Common Security and Defence Policy of the European Union. Dr Sant said that he was not voting in favour of clauses in the resolutions presented to the European Parliament which refer to common operations of the EU with NATO.
Dr Sant's position goes against what the government has agreed with European Union intervention in the Mediterranean in the wake of an increase in the number of boats carrying migrants leaving from Libya.
European Union nations approved plans Monday for a naval operation to go after the human trafficking networks that are sending thousands of migrants weekly across the Mediterranean toward Europe or to their deaths. NATO said it stood ready to help out if needed.
EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said she expects the operation to be fully launched next month after Britain, France, Italy and other nations pledge military equipment.
In a statement, Dr Sant said he abstained on the final vote on the report ‘Financing the Common Security and Defence Policy’. He noted that where in this text, security cooperation and joint action by the EU as a whole in collaboration or in tandem with NATO is contemplated and endorsed, he was not in agreement, so long as it is clear that such references do not include or cover neutral states that are members of the EU, unless these autonomously decide to be so associated; and this not least with particular reference to Malta, which as a neutral country, is specifically barred by its Constitution from participating in the programmes of a military alliance.
Dr Sant voted in favour of two other reports on the ‘Common Security and Defence Policy’ and ‘Security and defence capabilities in Europe’ but expressed the same reservations on the neutrality of Malta.