Watch: Abela – ‘I Won’t Block EU Arms Investment So Long As Malta’s Neutrality Is Respected’
Prime Minister Robert Abela confirmed that Malta has no intention of stopping other EU countries from investing in weapons, so long as they respect Malta’s decision not to participate.
Despite warning that the EU has got its priorities wrong and that investing in weapons won’t end the war in Ukraine, Abela ended up voting in favour of a €800 billion plan to “rearm Europe”.
However, the text states that the EU must respect the neutrality of some member states, including Malta, which don’t want to take out loans to invest in weaponry.
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Abela has now told Parliament that this is a fair compromise.
“Our position is that if the other 26 EU countries want to participate in this €800bn loan package, we won’t use our vote to stop their decision, so long as they guarantee that our constitutional neutrality is respected.”
“That compromise has been reached. However, if the EU ever leaves us without this choice or forces us to participate in a financial instrument to invest in weapons, I will vote against their conclusions for the first time.”
What do you make of Abela’s comments?
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