Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2014-12-16-Speech-2-705-000"
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"en.20141216.34.2-705-000"2
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"Mr President, I would like to start by thanking Mr Juncker for coming to present his work programme to this Parliament – although it would have been nice, to be honest, if it had been presented here first rather than having been leaked to the press. After listening intently to your proposals, I do have a couple of observations.
My first observation is on the issue of tax havens. I welcome the fact that you recognise the problems we face in your work programme, though I have got to be truthful, the cynic in me does wonder if this would have been included if it were not for the recent LuxLeaks scandals.
Mr Juncker, this Parliament made it clear last year that we wanted immediate action to tackle tax evasion, outlining priority areas such as country-by-country reporting and blacklisting for tax avoiders. That was last year, and so far we have seen little action. In that time, citizens across the EU have continued to see their wages cut, health services cut, public services cut. Day by day, week by week, people from all over Europe, who continue to pay their taxes, have seen their living standards squeezed. Yet in this time we have continued to allow large corporations to avoid paying their dues, avoid paying what they owe and avoid living up to their responsibilities. We need legislation now. No longer can we turn a blind eye to tax injustice.
My second observation is in regard to the scrapping of the air quality package. Mr Juncker, I warn you now. Kicking this legislation on air quality into the long grass will have serious implications for public health across the EU. Air pollution kills 400 000 people every year. To scrap legislation that could save so many lives is not just appalling, it is actually totally irresponsible. This will send a message to everyone that the EU is no longer interested in promoting progressive environmental health policy. I urge you, Mr Juncker, to reconsider this issue now."@en1
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