During yesterday’s Parliament debate on defence, Labour MP Katya De Giovanni asked the Prime Minister why Malta didn’t take a position similar to Hungary during the emergency EU Council Meeting on Defence. Hungary opted out of signing the final text that was concluded in the meeting effectively positioning itself against the ReArm Europe programme. Malta signed the text along with all other EU member states.
The ReArm Europe programme was rushed by activating Article 122 of treaty on the Functioning of the European Union: this means that the situation is an emergency. Individual member-states can not block decisions under these circumstances, unlike in regular Council meetings. A small minority of at least four member states could challenge emergency directives, and what the Labour MP is effectively proposing is for Malta to join Hungary in opposing an emergency measure in historic times.
These Labour MPs have no idea what they are talking about. If they were allowed to do whatever they wanted, they would steer Malta into the isolationist abyss along with Hungary just so that they could take rhetorical jabs at the Opposition. Totally reckless and stupid.
Note that the Prime Minister did not actually answer her question. He reiterated Malta’s position that Malta won’t interfere with Europe’s defence but won’t contribute or lend money for defence purposes (this is technically a lie because Malta is increasing its defence expenditure on the Armed Forces and government expenditure is mostly sourced via borrowing).
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