Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2010-06-23-Speech-3-023"
| Predicate | Value (sorted: default) |
|---|---|
| rdf:type | |
| dcterms:Date | |
| dcterms:Is Part Of | |
| dcterms:Language | |
| lpv:document identification number |
"en.20100623.9.3-023"2
|
| lpv:hasSubsequent | |
| lpv:speaker | |
| lpv:spokenAs | |
| lpv:translated text |
"Mr President, the results of the meeting of the European Council on Thursday of last week must be measured against the global and European challenges that we are facing. Will it be possible to eliminate the causes of the unprecedented crisis in European financial markets at the beginning of May or at least to start taking steps in the right direction? What proposals are being made to the citizens of Europe and the financial markets to rectify the malfunctions in the system?
The Council has proudly stated that the banks, which are responsible for causing the crisis, must pay part of the costs and their activities must be more strictly regulated. I welcome this, but in the meantime, I have stopped believing that it will actually happen. You have decided first of all on an international bank levy which does not have unanimous support even within the EU and which has been completely rejected by some G20 countries. It seems unrealistic to think that this decision could ever be implemented.
Secondly, in the case of the introduction of a general financial transaction tax, there is only a requirement to investigate whether it is feasible. I doubt that this will really boost the confidence of the players on the global financial market or prevent speculation from taking place or cause the G20 to adopt a resolution on this subject.
Thirdly, the stricter measures taken against deficit offenders in a financial and economic crisis are more likely to put the recovery at risk, reduce consumer spending and, in particular, cause socially deprived people to tighten their belts even further. As a result, a greater reduction in the state’s revenue base is inevitable. This will lead to additional austerity measures, which will call into question the financial viability of the Europe 2020 strategy that we have just adopted.
Fourthly, no one is taking the opportunity to reinforce the Member States’ revenue base by introducing an EU-wide tax on financial transactions, Eurobonds and green taxes, by raising taxation on high incomes and assets and by ensuring the socially just distribution of taxes. I find this very strange.
My fifth point is that the crisis is undermining the democratic foundations of our society. The regulations imposed by the EU on the countries in crisis are also contributing to this. Cuts in social security spending, in wages and pensions and in public services, together with the raising of the pension age, are all causing the poverty gap to widen and the number of people living in poverty to increase even further. I am very much opposed to this."@en1
|
| lpv:videoURI |
Named graphs describing this resource:
The resource appears as object in 2 triples