Speeches

The next item is the report by Ms Lalucq on: Reform of the EU policy on harmful tax practices (including the reform of the Code of Conduct Group) (2020/2258(INI)) (A9-0245/2021)

Mr President, the Pandora Papers, Mr Gentiloni, Mr Logar, prove once again that some journalists are doing their best in the fight against provocative tax evasion by the Commission and the Council. The citizens are angry and they are absolutely right, because the provocative tax evasion of the super-rich is paid for by the poor, the middle classes, the small and medium-sized enterprises and the social state. What you are doing, Mr Gentiloni, as a Commission is proving to be little and insufficient, because the technology of tax fraud is running faster than your measures. As for you, Mr Logar, the Council unfortunately with its inaction conceals and supports the perpetuation of provocative criminal tax evasion and citizens now demand action, not words – both at European and global level. Closing tax havens and legal windows requires political will, strict legislation, strong control mechanisms and draconian sanctions and fines. And this political will is unfortunately absent from the European elite.

Madam President, in order to achieve the objectives set out by Mrs von der Leyen in her speech, bold actions and changes are needed, not just fine words. I'm limited to five priorities. Serious changes to the Stability Pact on deficits and debts, so as to support sustainable economic growth and social cohesion and avoid a new debt crisis and a new savage austerity in the European south. Bolder measures and more money to reduce social inequalities, which are growing dangerously across Europe. Acts, not just words, to stop the provocative tax evasion of powerful and large corporations that do not pay taxes. More ambitious targets to tackle the climate crisis, as scientists call for, and a stronger EU budget with new own resources. They don't just need good reasons. We need bold actions.

The next item is the report by Andrius Kubilius, on behalf of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, on the direction of EU-Russia political relations (2021/2042(INI)) (A9-0259/2021)

The next item is the Commission statement on the steady increase in the prices of raw materials and construction materials in Europe (2021/2783(RSP)).

Before continuing with the debates, I will start today's first vote. We shall vote on the dossiers as they appear on the agenda. Voting will be open from 09.45 to 11.00. The same voting method as in previous votes will be used.

I would like to give the floor, in accordance with Rule 59(4), to Mr González Casares, on the referral back to committee for interinstitutional negotiations of his report on the European Medicines Agency. You have the floor for one minute. The request will be put to the vote after the vote on the Commission proposal.

We are now moving on to the discussions. I would again like to inform you that for all the debates of this part-session there will be no catch-the-eye procedure and that no blue card questions will be accepted. Also, as in previous part-sessions, remote interventions from Parliament’s Liaison Offices in the Member States are foreseen.

Mrs Arena, from what the services have informed me, your request has been received. The title of the report, as submitted and signed, has this condition. I will also pass on your request to both the services and the President of Parliament. Ms O’Sullivan took the floor for 1 minute.

Following these very interesting announcements and before moving on to the discussions, I would like to give the floor, pursuant to Rule 59(4), to Ms O’Sullivan, on the referral back to committee for interinstitutional negotiations of her report on a General Union Environment Action Programme to 2030. Ms O’Sullivan took the floor for 1 minute. This request will be put to the vote after the vote on the Commission proposal.

I have some announcements. Following the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on the Conduct of Members, I have decided to impose a penalty, dated 7 July 2021, against Mr Jan Zahradil for breach of the obligations relating to the declaration of financial interests referred to in Article 4(2)(g) of the Code of Conduct, in the light of Article 1(a) of the Code of Conduct, read in conjunction with Rule 35(4) of the Rules of Procedure. The penalty consists of a reprimand. That decision was notified to the interested party on 7 July. Under Rule 177 of the Rules of Procedure, Mr Zahradil may lodge an appeal with the Bureau within two weeks of notification of the penalty.

Madam President, Commissioner, thirty years later it is necessary to change the rules of the Stability Pact on deficits and debt, to change the Maastricht criteria. First, to facilitate the recovery of the economy by boosting investment. Secondly, to reduce the growing inequalities that threaten a crisis of cohesion in the European construction. And thirdly, to avoid a new round of one-sided austerity and debt crisis in the European South, which threatens not only the European South but the entire European Union and European cohesion. So as long as the Stability Pact is suspended, we need to find new, more realistic, simpler, more far-sighted and flexible rules for deficits and debts, and we need to add new social and climate indicators. The report by Mrs Marques, although weakened by amendments and pressure from the right, opens a debate. It is time for the Commission to take it forward and not postpone it until the results of the German elections have come out.

Mr President, the European Parliament, Mr Hoyer and Mr Dombrovskis, with the report that we will be voting for by a very large majority, is asking the European Investment Bank to do more. The positive steps taken so far are not enough. We need more investment and less inequality. Further strengthen small and medium-sized enterprises to contribute to their green and digital transformation, as many of them are excluded from bank lending. Focus more on investment in the social sector (health, education, housing) so that the social pillar becomes a reality. Address regional disparities, correct imbalances in EIB investment activity and more ambitiously serve our climate targets, without using the pandemic as a pretext for discounts. And two standing requests from the European Parliament: more transparency and democratic accountability, and improvement in the area of gender equality, in particular for serious allegations of harassment.