The Anti-Coercion Instrument is not an offensive but a defensive tool – Alfred Sant

Former Prime Minister Alfred Sant voted in favour of a European Parliament Report about economic coercion by third countries. Alfred Sant acknowledged that in the absence of an Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI), the European Union would remain vulnerable to economic coercion from third countries. However, he expressed reservation on whether this legislation would bring much value added to the European Union in its conduct of economic and other relations with third parties.

Economic coercion is a situation where a third country attempts to pressure the European Union or a member state into making a particular choice by applying or threatening to apply, measures affecting trade or investment against the Union or a member state. The ACI is a deterrent for third countries to de-escalate and induce the discontinuation of coercive measures in trade and investment through dialogue.

“Whether on a bilateral or multilateral basis, relations develop following negotiations during which all sides try to influence the policy-making of the other parties on a tit-fortat basis. Such influence may take form of measures in areas unrelated to the negotiations in course,” Sant noted.

Labour MEP Sant opined that the triggers for this instrument should be broadly defined, and country neutral, as so-called economic coercion can manifest itself in various forms. He emphasised that it should be made clear that the instrument is not an offensive but a defensive tool, meant to protect the Union’s legitimate policy space.

The report was adopted with 578 votes in favour, 24 votes against and 19 abstentions.