Debate contributions by Evelyn REGNER

Mr President, Commissioner, 13 billion – an almost unimaginable sum. And this 13 billion euros is now at stake, because the European Court of Justice has ruled that Apple must pay back this incredible sum to Ireland. This ruling is groundbreaking in the fight against tax avoidance, because it is clear: Tax tricks are not only morally reprehensible, but now also illegal. This is drying up Europe's tax swamps more and more. That's right, because we can use the 13 billion euros more than well in times of the climate crisis, the social crisis. Floods and droughts, i.e. the damage caused by climate change, amount to 5 to 7 billion euros per year in Austria alone. That's where the $13 billion comes in. I think Ireland can use it very well. So let's get the money we are entitled to as a society back from the corporations!

Mr President! The images of recent floods in Austria, Poland, Hungary, Romania and fires in Portugal speak for themselves: Our habitat is in danger. However, the Commission's new mantra seems to be: Competitiveness at all costs. But what good is it for us if we are competitive, but in the end have exploited our natural resources in such a way that we can no longer live on and off our earth? Then we can say that we have prevailed economically against China and against the USA, but half of Europe has either sunk or burned down. This can happen, but it doesn't have to. If we Green New Deal, who has given us so much hope, consistently pursue and implement, then we create the turn, the turn that saves all of our lives. For this reason, the Commission may Green Deal We cannot go into the background, because we can only operate on a planet that also lives.

Madam President, Innovation, investment, production – these are the three magic words in the Draghi report. I think we all agree here that we want to put these three magic words into action. The spirits are divided on the ‘how’. There is talk of cutting red tape, but if we consider that industrial policy is nothing more than state support for companies to promote certain economic activities, then the industry must also play by certain clear rules of the game. These rules of the game are often sold as bureaucracy. The key lies in the harmonisation of rules within the European Union and not in the national patchwork. Because only if we really act together can we be competitive. That is why I would like to add two other magic words that Mr Draghi did not address so clearly or not at all in his report, namely redistribution and social inclusion. Because we as a society, we as a community must ensure that everyone benefits from growth and not just those who are close to the lever.