Evelyn REGNER

Policy topics Evelyn REGNER is active on

What Evelyn REGNER has said (40)

• 2025-07-31 “P-003156/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Mînzatu on behalf of the European Commission 1. The central piece of EU occupational safety and health (OSH) legislation is the Framework Directive 1 , which applies to all sectors of activity, both public and private, and affords protection to all professions, including to railway sector workers. It addresses all risks, including those of third-party violence. In accordance with the Framework Directive, the employer must assess all risks to which workers are or can be exposed and establish the resulting preventive and protective measures. In addition, in both the EU Strategic Framework on Health and Safety at Work 2021-2027 2 and the Communication on a comprehensive approach to mental health 3 , the Commission highlighted the importance of improving the prevention against psychosocial risks, including violence, at the workplace. 2. EU OSH directives do not include explicit provisions for the railway sector. Therefore, the Commission does not have information on safety strategies that have been put in place by railway companies in the Member States. With specific regard to the International Labour Organisation Convention No 190, the Commission is not competent to monitor the application of international labour standards, which are subject to the International Labour Organization’s supervisory mechanism. 3. In the EU OSH area, directives adopted on the basis of Article 153 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union establish only minimum requirements which must be transposed by Member States into their national law. Member States are allowed to maintain or adopt more stringent provisions at national level, including measures of criminal law, such as criminal penalties, that would afford greater protection to railway sector workers against third-party violence. 1 Directive 89/391/EEC on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work, OJ L 183, 29.6.1989, p. 1. - https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/ALL/?uri=celex%3A31989L0391. 2 COM/2021/323 final https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52021DC0323&qid=1626089672913#PP1Contents. 3 COM/2023/298 final https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52023DC0298.”
  EU rules on hazardous working conditions
• “Thank you very much for the remarks and the questions. I mean, it was quite outspoken when I said, and I still say that we need digital, however you call it, and however it is right now, organized, we need it because time is running and therefore towards the first speaker from Greece. I mean, I'm very much aware of the political situation in member states and the political situation in the parliament. I mean When saying like, I always love to say that I love taxes because I don't see only that it's money taken, but it's also money distributed in a more equal way than I see always what can be done with that. And I'm aware of the political situation as it is right now with the system of unanimity on tax questions in the European Union. So I'm very much aware of how difficult it is. But on the other hand, I think it's so important in this situation when you see money is going away, is leaving, is, is is not staying in the European Union countries. And we need it so much in order to finance the society that we should speak out what the right thing is and the right thing is.”
  EU competences on taxation
• “Thank you very much, Madam President. Commissioner. In order for women to be truly free, they need to be financially free and financially independent. But this gender pay gap and the resulting gender pension gap means that is not the case. So we don't need any congratulations or well wishes on the 8th of March. What we need are binding measures to be pushed through and, uh, the pay transparency directive is extremely important. Some people say that this is a bureaucracy, that it leads to discontent in companies, because it will mean that women finally know that they're being paid less for the same work. But that's exactly the reason why we need these figures. It is not fair. There are structural inequalities behind this gender equality. The women who do so many of these jobs in care and education, and women are still doing a lot of the unpaid care work as well. And also the fact there are so many more women in part time work, 28%. We have 17% of women of pension age who are at risk of poverty. And this is a societal problem. So we need clear, clear steps. We need better structures in place, better division of care, better pay and the proper implementation of this pay transparency legislation. Thank you.”
  Gender pay transparency
• “We have those few who are really sucking and taking a lot of the profits. And then we have so many and Europe, the European Union, we are living on all those wonderful smaller, small and medium enterprises. I always give this example in Vienna, the Viennese cafés, the Viennese, and they are paying their taxes and they can't escape in a sense. And of course, we have excellent big companies in, in, in the European Union, and we love to cooperate in a globalized world with big ones. But we have to think on what's happening if all those taxes are slipping away to techpros. We need the money in order to finance our welfare states. And therefore, I'm pleading to find a European solution, not in order to replace it to global solutions. It's wonderful what's done in in the UN. And of course, we would like to push everything that is done in OECD level to do all that. But we need sort of a push in order also to get to life again, good global solutions.”
  Tax Havens
• “(16:31:00 – 16:35:07): Thank you very much, and a big thank you to the rapporteur, also to the preconsultation. Looking very much forward to working on this report. As the group of the Socialist Democrats in the European Parliament, our priority remains the fight against tax avoidance and aggressive tax planning. Fair taxation is not only a matter of justice, it's also essential for ensuring the member states have the revenues needed to invest in public services, social protection, sovereignty, green transition, and economic resilience. So the full program. At a time of growing fiscal pressures, we cannot afford to lose billions of euros through aggressive tax planning schemes internationally and within the European Union. Referring to your report, the structure of your report, and starting with competitiveness in international taxation, we support the report's call for the Commission to assess competitive distortions arising from differences between the OECD Pillar 2 framework and the US tax system, especially with the new side-by-side agreement for the United States. European companies should not face disadvantages due to uneven international implementation, and we therefore support efforts to restore a level playing field. However, we are still very much in favor of the OECD PEP's agreements and call for further integration because this is the right path. The next part of your report, while we recognize the fragmentation of the international tax landscape, our response should be greater harmonization rather than simplification. Many of the rules identified for review such as ATAD, the parent-subsidiary directive, public country-by-country reporting, and DAC are key instruments in the fight against tax avoidance and evasion. We are therefore concerned that simplification could weaken important safeguards and reduce our capacity to tackle harmful tax practices. We also regret the withdrawal from the Commission of important initiatives such as the Anne Sheldon proposal concerning BFID and EU tax legislation. We have in this committee here quite a track as Parliament's report on BFID. I believe the Council should make progress on this file. BFID can play an important role in advancing tax harmonization within the Union. We also believe that smaller tax administrations need more support and resources rather than weaker rules that could be exploited by large multinational corporations. We welcome the progress achieved through pillar 2 in reducing profit shifting opportunities and limiting the use of very low tax jurisdictions. However, losses from base erosion and profit shifting remain substantial. Recovering this foregone tax revenue is crucial if member states are to meet today's investment needs and respond to the challenges facing our societies. Finally, the future of international tax cooperation is also an important issue you are referring to. Despite current uncertainties in international tax cooperation, particularly following recent developments in the United States, the European Union must continue to lead. We should continue advancing discussions on a digital services tax and actively engage in the UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation to ensure a fair and sustainable global tax system and the fight against international tax havens. I think also this is the work of our committee. I'm very grateful that the chair was so generous. Normally, I'm not talking so long, but this is really such a passionate issue. I'm looking very much forward to going on with this report and to achieve substantive results.”
  Priorities of taxation policy in the EU
• “President. Commissioner. Just imagine, every month you might experience such serious pain that it determines the course of your life, but nobody takes it seriously. That's the fate of millions of women who suffer from endometriosis. 10% of all women in the reproductive age are affected by this. But so many people in society just don't even know what the word means. It takes on average six years to get an endometriosis diagnosis. That's a series of wrong diagnoses on the way not being taken seriously. Menstrual pain is all too often considered just normal, but pain is never normal. Endometriosis can affect people's desire to have children. It can make dreams burst like bubbles. Women and their concerns are all too often not taken seriously by the health system. What is the gender health gap? It's time to close it now with awareness campaigns and genuine equality in the health service.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “Thank you. Thank you very much. President. Commissioner, thank you to the rapporteur for this report, Mr. Haji Patel, taxation is our common contribution to a just and shared society. Of course, people are always looking for new loopholes. But if SMEs are falling at the hinder of tax forms, then something's going wrong. We need a fair taxation for people, for somebody who's working as a care worker in a care home, for manual worker, for somebody who's started a green start up. Because innovation will be find found where equal opportunities there rather than loopholes. We need enough investment in what counts in education, training, good work in the protection of our planet and digital equality. So let us not allow that tax policy becomes a tool for a lack of justice. Let's turn it into something for justice and let's make our tax system fair.”
  Priorities of taxation policy in the EU
• “I mean, of course, the perfect solution would like the one that we're all having the same goal that we say, okay, let's all over the world find a global solution in order to tax in a sense that there were the profits are made there where the value is generated, taxes are paid. So somehow that would be the wonderful plan. A, I think everybody in the room is dreaming of, but somehow it doesn't reflect reality. And therefore I say when we see right now that it's so bumpy, the whole road is so bumpy. We have to think also of a plan B and plan B for us as Europeans could be. When you see that bridges are cracking, when bridges are breaking, that we as Europeans learn to swim, even if it's against the stream, even if it's very tough. And even when enterprises I'm very much aware of that companies are sort of swallowing. I think we have to do that. We need something like a DSA sorry, digital Services Act for taxes. However you call that. But we really have to focus on that because we have to look at the whole picture of companies we do have.”
  EU competences on taxation
• “Thank you very much. President. Vice president. Poverty is creates loneliness. It creates shame as well. Totally unjustified. Poverty is not just and frequently work doesn't protect you from poverty. There are many working poor many women among those which are functioning within this particular internal market. It is it is a kind of. It's it's what it means actually, is that it knows stability, no security, no real social net. And this particular situation is organized in security, and it is exploitation. And the future poverty strategy of the European Union has to focus on this. We need minimum standards. We need minimum safety systems in place, insurance, protection, pensions. Because otherwise, if we don't do all of that, we'll be seeing the same thing over and over again. Thank you.”
  Minimum income harmonisation at EU level
• “Thank you very much, chair. So, one personal remark in the beginning. So I'm one of those who also negotiated Deborah. And what I learned during those negotiations. I mean, we are light years away from a tax justice and a and a fair system. We made it finally, with a compromise of a compromise of a compromise in the European Parliament. Well, and you know the story. Here we are. My questions towards you. So thank you very much for your presentations are the following. Is the deductibility of interest payments still justified in an economy that aims and I use those words we use all the time today that promotes resilience and long term investment. Does the current tax treatment of debt contradict broader European Union objectives on financial stability and sustainable growth. I'm just on purpose using those big words because that's the goals that drive us in the European Parliament. And taxes are part of the game. So who ultimately bears the fiscal cost of this debt equity bias? Is it workers, consumers smaller domestic firms? I think everybody of you has an answer. And finally, does the equity debt bias disproportionately benefit large multinationals with sophisticated tax planning structures while disadvantage SMEs? I'm just asking that because when we're working on Deborah, we just also tried to do a little bit in order to be more favourable to SMEs. But okay, the world is as it is and I'm interested in your answers.”
  Priorities of taxation policy in the EU
• “(16:16:46 – 16:19:24): you very much, chair. So Bruno, Gonzales, the S and D shareholder operator can't be here today. But notwithstanding, he insists on sharing a few ideas on this report and the amendments, and I have right now the pleasure and honor to present them. The most important thing first, a big thanks to the rapporteur and the very constructive shadow rapporteurs who engaged positively in this negotiation. Our group can support the compromises as proposed, and we hope for a smooth voting session. S and d tabled amendments that went further on harmonization most notably because we note that 1 Europe, 1 market agenda will be an empty slogan if we don't solve tax and VAT barriers, which SMEs themselves point as the main problem. But naturally, there are different interpretations of what the 20 eighth tax module could or should be. The most important is how the negotiation team and the rapporteur, in particular, found a fair and ambitious compromise that balances those differing views. S and D is pleased not to interfere with labor matters as our group's main concern regarding the 20 eighth regime is a circumvention of national standards. That was, is, and will always be our priority, and we welcome the work in finding a compromise that accommodates it. We also cherish positive references to social conditionality regarding the design of fair tax incentives and the prevention of shell or letterbox companies, which would undermine the spirit of boosting real economic activity and entrepreneurial innovation. And it's equally important to see a clarification that the 20 eighth tax module does not replace any legislative efforts to reduce market fragmentation. For S and D, the discussion on tax based consolidation and formulary apportionment must remain alive. That harmonization is the real simplification the single market needs to fully fulfill its potential. We know how important it is, and we know how difficult it is, but this is a report that should put the finger in the wound and offer solutions. So this was in brief, the overview of Bruno's remarks and his inputs. And, again, thanks to the rapporteur and the shadows.”
  EU Single Market harmonisation
• “Thank you very much indeed, Madam Chair. 2025 was a very successful year for the European banks. They were very successful indeed. 2026 The focus seems to be on increasing their profit and paying out dividends to shareholders. And it's against that backdrop that I have the following question. How does the ECB assess the sustainability of European banks, given the high financing costs for households and SMEs? And is there any risk that you identify in the fact that there is this strong focus on margins and dividends being paid out to shareholders? Do you think it might endanger price stability in the long term?”
  EU policy on banks profits
• “Thank you very much, Madam Chair. To some already been having been members in the last legislative period. Maybe this topic is not so new, but this term we have relaunched it. This crucial piece of work business in Europe, as you introduced already, framework for income taxation should be fit. Let me be clear. It's more than just a tax file. It's a fundamental step towards a more integrated and a more fair European Union. It proposes a common system for calculating the corporate tax base of large cross-border business groups operating within the European Union. It introduces a way to allocate the tax base across member states in a transparent, in a predictable way, and in a fair manner. And at its core, it is about creating clarity, clarity for companies, for tax authorities, and of course, for our citizens. This initiative comes at a critical time in a world shaped by geopolitical tensions, global tax competition and increasing economic fragmentation. Harmonised tax framework within the European is therefore not just a matter of administrative simplification, it is a strategic necessity. Fragmented national tax systems continue to distort competition, to deter investment and to drive up compliance costs, and are repeated to drive up compliance costs. There are obstacles to the capital markets union we are trying to build, and if we want to deepen cross-border financial integration, we need consistent rules.”
  EU competences on taxation
• “An excellent good morning to everybody going through the question very quickly, but I just would like to thank very much, Mr. Corman, for the inspiration to all uppers in the room. There is a fantastic perspective to become a secretary general of the OECD. So let's work on a strong OECD and inspire all those who would like to forward to the question. We need a digi tax. We simply need it. Otherwise, we're living in a tax stone age economy changed and we have to give an answer to the world as it exists right now. We need a European system structure change and how we tax. I mean, we are looking at taxing in a, in a, in a way that reminds us of the end of the 19th and the 20th century. And we have to give answers that reflect the situation. And therefore, whether we call it a zombie or we call it whatever. We need these this tax. And therefore I rather would, I like to say, let's say it right now in a freezer, but it's the right instrument. It's the good instrument. It's the instrument. To answer these questions, what would we like to do with the tax?”
  EU competences on taxation
• “Thank you very much, president. Miss Virkkunen. Taxation sounds technical, but it's something really simple. It's actually fairness. Big companies should contribute, and the small and medium sized businesses should not be disadvantaged. And we shouldn't have tax tricks at the moment the taxation system is complicated and split. Companies that have branches in a number of countries have to figure out 27 sets of rules, and that leads to distortion of competition. And it's very expensive, particularly for those businesses that are trying to be honest with Buffett. We wanted to change the situation before. It is our proposal for a common tax base. Modern tax base for the biggest companies of the European Union. The idea is to have less loopholes, less tax evasion. It should be an easier and more easily applicable system for everybody. The rule is a significant financial presence. It means that profits are taxed where they accrue, even if businesses are not physically present, if there's no employees, if there's no business. But it's always online. And that means that companies can't just go and work in low tax countries. We want to make sure that after the transitional the transition period, small and medium size companies would also fall under Bfit because fairness should not just apply to the biggest companies, but it should also apply the biggest companies. And we want to include rules to combat aggressive tax planning.”
  EU competences on taxation
• “Thank you very much, Madam President. Commissioner. In order for women to be truly free, they need to be financially free and financially independent. But this gender pay gap and the resulting gender pension gap means that is not the case. So we don't need any congratulations or well wishes on the 8th of March. What we need are binding measures to be pushed through and, uh, the pay transparency directive is extremely important. Some people say that this is a bureaucracy, that it leads to discontent in companies, because it will mean that women finally know that they're being paid less for the same work. But that's exactly the reason why we need these figures. It is not fair. There are structural inequalities behind this gender equality. The women who do so many of these jobs in care and education, and women are still doing a lot of the unpaid care work as well. And also the fact there are so many more women in part time work, 28%. We have 17% of women of pension age who are at risk of poverty. And this is a societal problem. So we need clear, clear steps. We need better structures in place, better division of care, better pay and the proper implementation of this pay transparency legislation. Thank you.”
  Gender pay transparency
• “Thank you very much indeed, Madam Chair. 2025 was a very successful year for the European banks. They were very successful indeed. 2026 The focus seems to be on increasing their profit and paying out dividends to shareholders. And it's against that backdrop that I have the following question. How does the ECB assess the sustainability of European banks, given the high financing costs for households and SMEs? And is there any risk that you identify in the fact that there is this strong focus on margins and dividends being paid out to shareholders? Do you think it might endanger price stability in the long term?”
  EU policy on banks profits
• “So we really have to go beyond what we did in the transparency directive, which was excellent. But we have to go to this enforcement of the of the work of equal value principle. We see that the society's already a little bit further. Sometimes we think, okay, we have to do something the society would accept. But in the society, sometimes the situation is already like this, that the concerns let's have men also in the parental leave, uh, are taken on board and therefore very shortly. I know we don't have more time. It's important to emphasize the role of the employers to make full time employment compatible with care responsibilities for parents, and to emphasize the role of employers to favor a work climate, to promote, uh, paternity leave and, of course, the employment rate of women. That's something that has to be pushed in order to achieve our goals. And of course, I know time is over, but I think we really have an issue where we can put a lot in, and therefore I'm looking very much forward to work with the rapporteurs and the shadow, other shadows. Thanks.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “Thank you. Thank you very much. President. Commissioner. Price stability is important, but it's not a means in itself. It has to serve people, secure jobs, stable wages, social cohesion. The inflation crisis has shown us how vulnerable our society and economy are when energy prices and shocks from outside spiral, which is why we need a monetary policy that anchors this with social responsibility. The digital euro is an opportunity for Europe. Um, it improves our independence in a new world order. The key thing here is that the digital euro should serve citizens with data protection. That's robust and it shouldn't replace cash. An independent ECB is important and leads us into a digital era. It's even more important. And it's so great to have you here in this, in this House and to have this exchange of views with us regularly.”
  Digital euro
• “And there's also a mechanism to stop, um, a way of controlling the profits. We don't want people to be able to shift their profits to tax havens. At the same time, there's incentives for investments which would help all of us in the future. The social security of the companies and the climate as well, these profits, these investments should be written off more rapidly because they're investments in the future rather than tax evasion. And then we found a tax base in the transition period. We're going to have a situation where we mirror the real work so that the holdings and the work, we want to make sure that the tax goes to the country where the value added is. Now, with this agreement, the European Parliament has shown that a common and fair tax policy is possible. We in the European Parliament have shown that when it comes to tax policy, we've got to work at a European level. There's no other way of ensuring a real single market, and no other way of being a player on the world market. With our report, we're calling for structures for a system which can grow for years and that can grow together. We see that clearly in the Parliament. We see that there's a need to for change. Now the ball is in the council's court. It's now the time of the member states to act. We need a future proof tax system. That's what Bfit is. We can have fairness and profits go hand in hand. I'd like to thank the rapporteurs and shadows for constructive cooperation on this dossier. Thank you. **Nicolae ȘTEFĂNUȚĂ @Chair: Thank you for keeping to time in such a disciplined way. We have four speakers in the catch the eye. Mr. Andrew Kitis first.”
  EU competences on taxation
• “Thank you very much, Madam President. Colleagues, in times of great uncertainty, Intensity. Europe showed courage with the Energy and Resilience Facility. It reacted to the pandemic and the energy crisis. It wasn't just a reaction, it was an investment in cohesion and the future were part of this contemporary instrument. Europe acted. People who lost jobs were helped by the RF. The RF invested in schools, hospitals and wind turbines and much more. It secured jobs and created a future social justice, economic stability, ecological renewal in an investment instrument, a success which should not be allowed to expire. It should be continued. Of course, it needs to be improved and controlled because of what happens in times of crisis can strengthen us. It us. It can be an example for a real investment union. That's what we're talking about for a social resistance, resilient Europe investing more in the future. And thank you very much to the two rapporteurs. Thank you very much.”
  Size of EU budget
• “Uh, I mean, I tried to figure out the question out of that, but, uh, as I get it, we need is real equal treatment of everybody in a medicine. And our situation is like this, that we're living in patriarchy, and therefore women's health is not taken seriously enough. That is what we have to work in. And of course, this has to be applied with everyone. Every single person in the society.”
  Gender roles, equality and inclusion
• “I mean, in general taxes should look at where the value is created, whether profit profits are made, and then we just don't have to talk only if it's digital or if it's still very conservative. So simply to have a focus on that and therefore. So somehow my ideal world would like that we have a CTB or like now as we decided in the European Parliament. So that could be a basis. So I invite the Council to take it and implement public cbcr and on that to build a digital tax. So somehow a system that doesn't divide the companies because more or less, as you already explained, every company is working in a digital way today. So let's focus on where the profits are made and let's make that transparent. And then profits can be taken. And then also the story of of this sharing is it now in Ireland or is it in, in, in another country, in the European Union where it's a bit more difficult to look where this is coming from could be done. And of course, to do that in a, in a global way, that's my dream.”
  EU competences on taxation
• “Thank you very much indeed, Madam Chair. 2025 was a very successful year for the European banks. They were very successful indeed. 2026 The focus seems to be on increasing their profit and paying out dividends to shareholders. And it's against that backdrop that I have the following question. How does the ECB assess the sustainability of European banks, given the high financing costs for households and SMEs? And is there any risk that you identify in the fact that there is this strong focus on margins and dividends being paid out to shareholders? Do you think it might endanger price stability in the long term?”
  EU policy on banks profits
• “I have a very specific question for Mr. Puri. You gave us very clear examples, but the rates went up from 21 to 6%. Um, has that had an effect yet? Because it doesn't sound like it's enough. It's irrelevant to those who generate short term rental income. And you gave us very specific examples, and it's good to hear good examples. Um, the home bonus that was introduced again. Do you have any positive effects from that? I myself come from Vienna, and more than 100 year ago in Vienna, we introduced a tax so that the municipality could finance a building. And. There was a lot of poverty at the time. There was a great need for housing, but with specific progressive tax on property that is rented, you can generate a financing. And what would be of interest to me, after having heard from the two speakers, is whether there are more good examples. Because of course, we want to be able to finance affordable housing. And. Having heard all of the presentations now, I think it becomes clear that taxation covers every municipality, every country. And we know that companies that are rich, people that are rich will find out where it is cheaper for them to obtain money. So my question to you is. When it comes to affordable housing and using tax policy for that, shouldn't we look at what other incentives are out there so that it doesn't it isn't concentrated in the real estate market only, but so that it is also going towards creative investments, sustainability and so on. And then just one last question, which is just occurred to me and we haven't heard from now, there seems to be a discrepancy between the financing of homes in cities and areas that are not as populated. And you also want to promote people returning to more rural areas. And, uh, how about incentives there? Maybe you have some good examples from Italy on that. Thank you.”
  EU housing policy
• “Thank you very much. Thanks for the report. We are talking about a principle that is so strong that we really have to work commission both and we in the European Parliament really to close the gap. We are talking important points have been raised, but we have to to broaden the picture as we have to create a joint level playing field, because the problem is far more complex than just getting women into Stem professions. Additionally, we know that the pay gap is even higher than in male dominated industries. Let it give me this example. A huge number of women from Eastern European countries going to Silicon Valley, working there, doing an excellent job being from the tech professions, as we always said, and then being confronted that the gap there is even higher than you have in other areas, problems with childcare and of course working hours. So somehow it's not only let's have more women in Stem professions, of course we would like to do that, but it's always creating the level playing field we need. So it's more than talking about, let me say an extra goodie given by employers or a marketing gag. It's about a right. So our main problem is essential jobs for our society are not adequately remunerated financially. I think especially about the care sector in the context and therefore the enforcement of the equal pay for equal for work of equal principle is essential.”
  Gender pay transparency
• “(11:26:28 – 11:27:45): You very much, madam president. Time and time again, we hear people or markets, quality jobs or competitiveness, 1 or the other. But that is not the way Europe needs to go. We need 1 single, nondivided, single market for people. Quality jobs actually make it possible for us to have a quality economy. They are the basis for competitiveness as well, and that's why people have to be center stage in our European economies, not the lowest salaries, not the biggest profits, but people people at the heart of all this. Innovative companies can create good jobs, good conditions, and they can create value, added value, and they can also be creative and use people creatively. Bring all of that into the equation. And that is a real help for competitiveness. So it's a it's a it's not a genuine choice to say we need 1 or the other, you know, performance or social. No. We don't need a downward spiral. We don't need a race to the bottom. We need innovation, better qualifications, and social security. Thank you. Speaker is Vladimir Privilege.”
  EU social policy (political compass)
• “Madam president, Commissioner, I work as an employer. You know, it was just talking about people. We're talking about people. And it's really the workers that make the difference, their daily work. That is what is driving our economies forward. And the European works councils are the way that people can raise their voice. With this directive, the IWC, we should make sure that they are correctly implemented and also that there are financial penalties if this these directives are not complied with. We need to look at the diversity. We need to look at equality as well. So I'm also very pleased to see that there is a quota for female participation, uh, in here. And I'd like to thank Gabby Bischoff, who's been very committed to that, and also to the shadow rapporteurs and also to Dennis Radka for the efforts that have gone into this. Thank you for your commitment on that.”
  EU regulation on worker representation in company decisions
• “Thank you very much. Um, should the European Union introduce digital tax as a part of the single market tax coordination to stop tax dumping and ensure digital giants? So somehow this aspect. Next one. I love taxes as far as they contribute to make our societies more equal and just and therefore uh, to uh, you um madam how to simplify, as you say, uh, decluttering, uh, the tax system without opening the anti-tax avoidance rules. And in order to get and reach all the goals, the goals we have in our article two and three in the treaty of the European Union. So somehow, uh, it doesn't help us if there is nothing anymore and there is a devastation of the whole society. The third question to Mr. Angel, do you have some? I mean, I think that's the most important, most important, but also the most difficult task. Some some nice proposals to ensure the trust among member states, as we all have to work on trust when we're talking about taxes.”
  EU competences on taxation
• “Thank you very much, Madam President. Commissioner. In order for women to be truly free, they need to be financially free and financially independent. But this gender pay gap and the resulting gender pension gap means that is not the case. So we don't need any congratulations or well wishes on the 8th of March. What we need are binding measures to be pushed through and, uh, the pay transparency directive is extremely important. Some people say that this is a bureaucracy, that it leads to discontent in companies, because it will mean that women finally know that they're being paid less for the same work. But that's exactly the reason why we need these figures. It is not fair. There are structural inequalities behind this gender equality. The women who do so many of these jobs in care and education, and women are still doing a lot of the unpaid care work as well. And also the fact there are so many more women in part time work, 28%. We have 17% of women of pension age who are at risk of poverty. And this is a societal problem. So we need clear, clear steps. We need better structures in place, better division of care, better pay and the proper implementation of this pay transparency legislation. Thank you.”
  Gender pay transparency
• “Uh, thank you very much for everything. So you really covered a lot. You've said already something, but I'd really like to to ask you if you could go even a little bit more in depth on reporting. So somehow it seems in these days of, uh, is it called oversimplification? Whatever. Uh, we shouldn't talk too much anymore on reporting, but you were referring to, uh, sort of intelligent cross-border reporting when dealing with the cryptos. And I'm really interested in, uh, if you could go a little bit more in depth, how I could look like in order to have, uh, nice arguments.”
  Regulation of crypto
• “Thank you very much, chair. Um, great to have you here. So welcome. Um. My questions. Vice presidents are the following. So given the 0.5 trillion decline in the Eurosystem's balance sheet, partly driven by the end of the Tltro three program, which was designed to provide long term loans to banks to support lending the real economy. How does the ECB plan to ensure that the transition away from these extraordinary measures does not undermine continued investment in key social sector sectors, such as healthcare, housing, education, particularly for the most vulnerable communities who were most affected during the pandemic. So how will the ECB ensure to support them? To support the European Union's effort to finance investment, especially the real economy? And if you allow I don't know how the rhythm is right now to already, uh, add another question, a different one concerning the principle of market neutrality. So we had huge debates on that. The principle of market neutrality has been critically discussed during our negotiations, with differing opinions on its application, particularly from us social Democrats who, uh, rather oppose it. So while we appreciate that the ECB doesn't strictly adhere to market neutrality, could you explain why it is important for the ECB to sometimes depart from the principle in its asset purchase programs, especially in terms of risk management. The use of the euro system capital key for sovereign bond purchases, or integrating climate change considerations in the Corporate Sector Purchase programme. So thanks.”
  ECB monetary policy
• “Thank you very much, Madam President. Time and time again we hear people or markets, quality jobs or competitiveness. One or the other. But that is not the way Europe needs to go. We need one single non-divided single market for people. Quality jobs actually make it possible for us to have a quality economy. They are the basis for competitiveness as well. And that's why people have to be centre stage in our European economies. Not the lowest salaries, not the biggest profits, but people. People at the heart of all this, innovative companies can create good jobs, good conditions, and they can create value added value. And they can also be creative and use people creatively. Bring all of that into the equation. And that is a real help for competitiveness. So it's a, it's a, it's not a genuine choice to say we need one or the other. You know, Performance or social. No, we don't need a downward spiral. We don't need a race to the bottom. We need innovation, better qualifications and social security. Thank you.”
  EU social policy (political compass)
• “Into my mother tongue into German tank an die das ist dieses thema auf und an den kommissar micallef und ein Ausdrücklich dankeschön, dass in dieser Welt in der Gesellschaft immer segregate ist in der ein Oder auch Schwerer damit zu einer super individualization selbst optimieren Gesellschaft eine strategie von der kommission vorgelegt wird wie wir auch gemeinsam Grosse probleme insbesondere und die dieses liebenden kommissar das problem der Gesundheit aufgerufen wird und das Grosse probleme der Einsamkeit entsteht. When Gruppen eben quasi sich selbst überlassen werden sie hat dieses thema aufgenommen und ist damit offiziell in der europaischen politik angekommen Einsamkeit ist ein grosses problem. Für das ist noch immer viel zu wenig. Politische Massnahmen gibt die getroffen werden den Einzelnen. Aber die Ursachen sind systemisch und diese strategie verknüpft. Nun territoriale Lücken bei der Mobilitat und der Versorgung der Einsamkeit und der Mini Fragen. An die commission die strategy ist nicht binden, welche konkreten massnahmen wird die kommission und vorschlagen und das werden. Sie bitte den empfehlungen tun. Die das new project von Vorliegt sie haben insbesondere auch auf den index aufmerksam gemacht wird der Einsamkeit ebenfalls Mitte aufgenommen werden und insbesondere auch das Thema und die Auswirkungen ibn auf diese intergenerational lag, wie sie auch auf Einsamkeit, aber auch Gesundheit. Würde ich mich interessieren wie die kommission dies ebenfalls in dieser strategie aufnehmen wird.”
  EU policy on mental health
• “Thank you very much, chair. So, one personal remark in the beginning. So I'm one of those who also negotiated Deborah. And what I learned during those negotiations. I mean, we are light years away from a tax justice and a and a fair system. We made it finally, with a compromise of a compromise of a compromise in the European Parliament. Well, and you know the story. Here we are. My questions towards you. So thank you very much for your presentations are the following. Is the deductibility of interest payments still justified in an economy that aims and I use those words we use all the time today that promotes resilience and long term investment. Does the current tax treatment of debt contradict broader European Union objectives on financial stability and sustainable growth. I'm just on purpose using those big words because that's the goals that drive us in the European Parliament. And taxes are part of the game. So who ultimately bears the fiscal cost of this debt equity bias? Is it workers, consumers smaller domestic firms? I think everybody of you has an answer. And finally, does the equity debt bias disproportionately benefit large multinationals with sophisticated tax planning structures while disadvantage SMEs? I'm just asking that because when we're working on Deborah, we just also tried to do a little bit in order to be more favourable to SMEs. But okay, the world is as it is and I'm interested in your answers.”
  Priorities of taxation policy in the EU
• “We talk a lot about competitiveness today, but we need to talk about fair competition. We should prevent protect our SMEs and our companies from subsub sub subcontracting because work is being systematically outsourced and then nobody is liable for unpaid workers or accidents. This is no coincidence. This is an unfair business model that is being implemented deliberately and it circumvents workers protection. We must put an end to this. We need to have proper liability. Sub contracting chains should be limited. We need to have binding standards for this to protect workers, and we need to promote direct employment more instead of outsourcing. So to the Commission we say good work needs clear rules and it needs clear liability as well. Thank you.”
  EU policy on employment subcontracting
• “Thank thank you, Madam President. And commissioner. The supply chain law brought in a paradigm shift. It made it clear that companies are responsible if damage occurs, as with private individuals, they have to make sure that labor and environmental law be respected as fundamental human rights as well. The omnibus package of the Commission constitutes a synonym of a just ignoring responsibility. Big companies, above all, where they can actually put pressure on the laws and open them up and cut out the bits that they don't like, like civil liability conditions. So if you have a subsidiary where there are problems that have been identified, you can avoid paying compensatory payments or penalty payments. The advantage that we have in terms of competitiveness in the EU is that we stand for quality, that industry that consumers and states around the world understand that we keep high standards in our production, and that is something we must not give up.”
  Due diligence in supply chains (environmental and human rights)
• “Thank you very much for all those interesting contributions. I appreciate them all. I mean, of course, the situation as it stands is not satisfying at all. So we are just really at the starting point where we can say it shouldn't go further as it is. I mean, tax evasion, all those loopholes, everything that has been enumerated by you also from the Budget Committee, budgetary constraints, and of course, altogether we just see also for the enterprises, for the companies. It's not satisfying at all. So somehow we need just something joint that is easier. And of course, we tried already for so many decades on, on on the CTB and, and uh, the situation is as it stands. So I'm not happy with that. And I think, uh, at the time being, we should look what can we do in order to improve the situation that it is simply better. That should be really our goal. And of course, I'm also very much aware, as you, I'm quite sure, are all in the room. Uh, our position is Parliament's towards the council. So somehow, in which procedure are we in this regard? So somehow the council has a say. We have to take into consideration what they are doing and to present something with substance. So I hope very much that all my shadow rapporteurs agree on that, that whatever we propose right now should be of substance so that there is something new, there is something applicable, there is something practical which has also been, which also has a chance to be taken on board by the council itself.”
  EU competences on taxation
• “And if we want to make it easier for companies to invest and expand across Europe, we must progress progress towards tax harmonisation barriers. So it is exactly the right tool to do all that at the same time. We must not forget the broader objective and this is ensuring tax fair taxation. It will be a powerful instrument against aggressive tax planning and profit shifting artificial tax avoidance schemes. It aligns with international standards like the OECD, G20, Global Minimum tax and reinforces our fight for tax justice within and beyond our borders. As rapporteur, I therefore strongly support the Commission's proposal. But I can and but I believe we can and we should go further to maximise its effectiveness. And that's why I propose the following improvements of the Commission's proposal. First, to lower the revenue threshold after the transitional period, so that more large companies fall within the scope of Bfit to €40 million. Second, to strengthen the interest limitation and CFC rules to make it harder for profits to be shifted artificially across jurisdictions. Third, to refine the depreciation rules to prevent significant tax base losses. Fourth, to prioritize input based tax incentives, particularly Particular for research and development while limiting limiting loopholes. And crucially, very important after 2035 to replace the transitional apportionment method with a material factor based formula.”
  EU competences on taxation
• “Thank you very much, Madam President. Commissioner, let me congratulate the rapporteur on this balanced report on the capital market Union. It was certainly not easy to do. Now, the report shows clearly that if Europe wants to remain strong and we want that, then we need investment. Investment that will benefit everybody. We need a real capital markets union. Private savings should be invested productively in start ups. Innovative businesses need. A simpler access to capital. So we need clear rules. We need firm supervisory supervision. And sound investment products. But we have to invest together to create that impetus. We need strategic investment.”
  Financial regulation