unimelb-nlp/MultiEup-v2 huggingface dataset:
Debate: Need to adopt the “Unshell” Directive on rules to prevent the misuse of shell entities for tax purposes
Date: WEDNESDAY, 12 JULY 2023
Speaker: Claude Gruffat
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: Hungary
Language: FR

Les riches particuliers et les grandes entreprises continuent d’utiliser des sociétés-écrans pour échapper à leurs devoirs. La directive contre les entités-écrans a été proposée en décembre 2021. Nous sommes maintenant deux ans et demi plus tard et aucun accord n’a encore été trouvé au Conseil. Même une version très édulcorée du texte ne parvient pas à atteindre l’unanimité. Et nous, au Parlement, avons adopté la directive à une majorité de 99,7 %, ce qui est inédit dans le domaine, souvent controversé, de la législation fiscale. L’absence de réglementation des sociétés-écrans coûte chaque année 60 milliards d’euros aux contribuables européens. Nous demandons à la présidence espagnole du Conseil de faire de la directive contre les entités-écrans une priorité et de la mettre à l’ordre du jour des prochaines réunions des ministres des finances. Il est temps de procéder à un échange de vues politiques publiques et les pays qui s’y opposent doivent être démasqués et évidemment en rendre compte. Les citoyens européens ont le droit d’entendre les explications de leurs gouvernements un par un, sur les raisons pour lesquelles ils bloquent cette directive et refusent ce combat contre l’évasion fiscale. Trop, c’est trop. L’évasion fiscale persiste depuis bien trop longtemps. Le Parlement européen veut y mettre fin. Les citoyens veulent y mettre fin. Il ne manque plus que vous pour le faire.
Debate: Need to adopt the “Unshell” Directive on rules to prevent the misuse of shell entities for tax purposes
Date: WEDNESDAY, 12 JULY 2023
Speaker: José Gusmão
Political group: The Left
Country: Finland
Language: PT

As empresas de fachada servem para promover a evasão fiscal, quando não servem para coisas piores. E, portanto, o que deveríamos estar a discutir aqui seria uma proposta bem mais enérgica para acabar com mais este instrumento de promoção da fraude e da evasão fiscais.  Infelizmente, temos na União Europeia grupos políticos e governos que se opõem a todas as medidas de combate à evasão fiscal, muitas vezes por estarem eles próprios, os governos, interessados na promoção deste fenómeno.  E é por isso que temos uma proposta de diretiva fraca saída deste Parlamento, uma proposta ainda mais fraca saída da Comissão e um Conselho, ou melhor, alguns Estados que não querem proposta nenhuma.  Nós apoiaremos a proposta do Parlamento, como apoiámos no passado, porque ela é melhor do que nada, mas com a plena consciência de que precisamos todos de muito mais.
Debate: Need to adopt the “Unshell” Directive on rules to prevent the misuse of shell entities for tax purposes
Date: WEDNESDAY, 12 JULY 2023
Speaker: Jiří Pospíšil
Political group: PPE
Country: Netherlands
Language: CS

Pane předsedající, děkuji za možnost k tomuto velmi důležitému bodu také vystoupit. Já jsem pozorně poslouchal celou rozpravu a jsem velmi potěšen, že téma boje proti daňovým únikům je důležité téma pro španělské předsednictví a také pro Komisi a že tedy se počítá s tím, že na nové úpravě směrnice bude intenzivně pracováno.  Všichni v debatě zde podporují nutnost bojovat proti daňovým únikům, nicméně důležité bude, jak bude vypadat konečná podoba návrhu směrnice, která bude projednávána v legislativním znění, protože u takovéto právní úpravy dvojnásob platí, že právě ďábel je zakopán v detailu, tedy bude třeba najít takovou úpravu, aby nedošlo k šikanování slušných podnikatelů, aby úprava byla efektivní a postihovala opravdu ty, kteří chtějí obcházet právní předpisy a nechtějí platit daně.  Je také důležité dbát na to, aby nová právní úprava nepřinesla nadměrné administrativní zatížení podniků, zvláště středních a malých podniků, pro které bývá administrativa velkým problémem a blokuje je v jejich činnosti. Z toho, co o tom vím, jak jsem si studoval podklady, tak vidím, že návrh jde správným směrem. Ale jsou tam ještě věci, které je třeba vydiskutovat. Já se tedy těším, že předsednictví Španělska posune celou věc dále, a my příště budeme diskutovat už o konkrétních detailech.
Debate: Need to adopt the “Unshell” Directive on rules to prevent the misuse of shell entities for tax purposes
Date: WEDNESDAY, 12 JULY 2023
Speaker: Jonás Fernández
Political group: S-D
Country: Ireland
Language: ES

Señor presidente, señor comisario, señor presidente en ejercicio del Consejo, la verdad es que esta ha sido una legislatura en la que ha habido avances notables en materia tributaria, tanto en el ámbito europeo como en el ámbito internacional. Y podría decirse que a la fuerza ahorcan y los incrementos de deuda pública, que nos vimos obligados a realizar para cubrir los riesgos de la crisis de la COVID y, después, en la guerra, de alguna manera han puesto encima de la mesa el debate sobre la necesidad de recaudar más y mejor. En cualquier caso, hemos hecho buenos avances en imposición a sociedades, pero es verdad que, en imposición a grandes patrimonios, « Y decía que podemos ver el vaso medio vacío o medio lleno. Ha habido avances relevantes, como decía, pero no podemos asumir más retrasos en el Consejo para adoptar una directiva en la que los argumentos de las trabas administrativas no pueden ser el elemento que bloquee una rápida decisión.
Debate: Need to adopt the “Unshell” Directive on rules to prevent the misuse of shell entities for tax purposes
Date: WEDNESDAY, 12 JULY 2023
Speaker: Martin Hlaváček
Political group: Renew
Country: Bulgaria
Language: CS

Pane předsedající, pane komisaři, zajištění spravedlivého a účinného zdanění na vnitřním trhu a boj proti daňovým únikům jsou pro nás všechny samozřejmě prioritou, ale je třeba podporovat taková opatření, která jsou smysluplná. Vy máte v Komisi takový špatný zlozvyk, že když něco nefunguje, tak navrhnete něco dalšího. Místo toho, abychom se zabývali tím, proč to nefunguje, a navrhli úpravu. Dochází tak často k tomu, že nám narůstají nová opatření a pravidla a nemáme výsledky, nemáme ten efekt.  A já proto pochybuji, zda máme přidávat tuhle další iniciativu, která zase zvýší administrativní náročnost pro ty slušné, pro ty, kteří ta pravidla plní a řádně plní svoje daňové povinnosti. Zastávám názor, že bychom se měli spíše zaměřit na efektivní využívání těch nástrojů, které dneska máme, než zavádět nové a myslet si, že budou samospásné a že jako mávnutím čarovného proutku zastaví daňové úniky. Prosím, zamyslete se nad tím.
Debate: Need to adopt the “Unshell” Directive on rules to prevent the misuse of shell entities for tax purposes
Date: WEDNESDAY, 12 JULY 2023
Speaker: Aurore Lalucq
Political group: S-D
Country: France
Language: FR

Monsieur le Président, Monsieur le Commissaire, Monsieur le Secrétaire d’État, en janvier dernier, le Parlement a adopté, à une majorité écrasante de plus de 99 %, la directive «Unshell» visant à lutter contre les sociétés-écrans. Cela a été rappelé, ce fut une avancée majeure contre l’évasion fiscale, car ces structures permettent de dissimuler des transactions financières à des fins de fraude et de blanchiment d’argent. Rappelons qu’au-delà des 60 milliards d’euros qu’elles coûtent annuellement aux contribuables, ces sociétés-écrans sont l’un des principaux rouages de pratiques illégales, comme le trafic d’êtres humains, d’armes ou de drogue. Il est donc tout à fait dommageable que cette directive majeure ait été bloquée purement et simplement par le Conseil, au point de ne même plus figurer à l’agenda des négociations. Je me tourne vers vous, Monsieur le Secrétaire d’État. On a besoin que le Conseil débloque cette directive. On compte sur votre engagement et on vous fait parfaitement confiance. Et je me tourne aussi vers le commissaire Gentiloni. Cette situation pointe aussi le problème de l’unanimité pour ce genre de directive. On attend là aussi une action massive de la Commission européenne.
Debate: Need to adopt the “Unshell” Directive on rules to prevent the misuse of shell entities for tax purposes
Date: WEDNESDAY, 12 JULY 2023
Speaker: Niels Fuglsang
Political group: S-D
Country: Italy
Language: DA

Hr. formand! Alle, jeg har hørt tale ved denne talerstol i dag, siger: Hør! Vi vil bekæmpe skuffeselskaber. Vi kan ikke finde os i, at enkelte rige mennesker gemmer deres formuer i skuffeselskaber. Vi må have en lov, der gør op med dette system. Vi har set i Panama Papers, i Paradise Papers og senest i Pandora Papers, de her kæmpe skattely læk, som har eksisteret de seneste år, og hvordan enkelte rige mennesker gemmer uhyrlige summer i skuffeselskaber offshore. Det er faktisk en førende forsker, der siger, at der gemmes op mod 7,6 tusinde milliarder dollars i disse slags typer konstruktioner. Derfor skal vi have en lov, der gør op med skuffeselskaber. Det har Europa-Kommissionen foreslået. Vi støtter dem med et overvældende flertal her i huset. Der er enkelte medlemsstater, der sidder og blokerer for, at det kan blive til noget. Det må stoppe. Derfor, kære medlemsstater, vedtag loven om at bekæmpe skuffeselskaber.
Debate: Need to adopt the “Unshell” Directive on rules to prevent the misuse of shell entities for tax purposes
Date: WEDNESDAY, 12 JULY 2023
Speaker: Clare Daly
Political group: The Left
Country: France
Language: EN

Mr President, I think it is great to see this directive being discussed. Tax evasion and avoidance is a blight across Europe and, coming from Ireland as I do, that is absolutely the case where Ireland has been correctly labelled as a tax haven. But of course we are not on our own in that regard. I would like to highlight and recall the terrible plight of Michael Power from Waterford, the former Chief Financial Officer of Tcell, the mobile phone operator in Tajikistan, 60% owned by Telia, largely owned by the Swedish State. This company was previously involved in tax corruption in Uzbekistan and when Power exposed to them serious tax fraud and bribery in their organisation, as he was legally obliged to do, he was victimised, threatened and dismissed. Protected disclosure legislation is supposed to out wrongdoing in the public interest. But for Michael Power, the legal process is being used to subvert his protected disclosure. He is locked in procedural legal matters. If we want to deal with tax evasion, we have to protect people and protected disclosures.
Debate: Need to adopt the “Unshell” Directive on rules to prevent the misuse of shell entities for tax purposes
Date: WEDNESDAY, 12 JULY 2023
Speaker: Mick Wallace
Political group: The Left
Country: Germany
Language: EN

Mr President, it’s well established that shell companies are used by corporations to shift and hide billions in wealth and profits every year within the EU, costing EU taxpayers over EUR 60 billion every year.  Parliament has already voted overwhelmingly in favour of implementing the Unshell Directive, and despite the Swedish Presidency watering down the text to near non—recognition, it is still blocked at Council level.  So what’s the holdup? Who was actually holding it up? We have a text that’s supposed to bring transparency to financial secrecy. Where’s the transparency from the Council? As Paul Tang said, we have a fair idea of which countries are supporting the directive, but which ones are not? We need this text adopted as a matter of urgency. Will the Spanish Presidency put Unshell on the agenda of the next meeting of the finance ministers? Is there any chance to have it live—streamed, or will the Council continue to operate like a secret society?
Debate: Need to adopt the “Unshell” Directive on rules to prevent the misuse of shell entities for tax purposes
Date: WEDNESDAY, 12 JULY 2023
Speaker: Pascual  Navarro Ríos
Language: ES

Los Estados miembros en el Consejo vamos a seguir trabajando para lograr un resultado aceptable para todos y la Presidencia hará todo lo posible para contribuir a este objetivo durante este semestre, conforme al programa de trabajo que les he expuesto en mi intervención inicial. Una vez más, muchas gracias por su atención.
Debate: Delivering on the Green Deal: risk of compromising the EU path to the green transition and its international commitments
Date: WEDNESDAY, 12 JULY 2023
Speaker: Othmar Karas
Country: Germany
Language: DE

Als nächster Punkt der Tagesordnung folgt die Aussprache über die Erklärung der Kommission zur Verwirklichung des Grünen Deals: das Risiko, dass die EU auf dem Weg zum grünen Wandel auf Hindernisse stößt und ihre internationalen Verpflichtungen nicht einhält (
Debate: Delivering on the Green Deal: risk of compromising the EU path to the green transition and its international commitments
Date: WEDNESDAY, 12 JULY 2023
Speaker: François-Xavier Bellamy
Political group: PPE
Country: France
Language: FR

Le vote de la loi dite «restauration de la nature» est une nouvelle très inquiétante, pas seulement pour tous ceux qui travaillent, produisent et vivent dans nos pays, mais pour la nature elle-même que cette loi promet de restaurer. L’équation est assez simple. En leur imposant encore plus de contraintes, de normes, de complexité administrative, cette loi va contribuer à faire baisser en Europe la production de ce dont nous avons besoin. Contrairement aux fausses informations diffusées par beaucoup de ceux qui l’ont défendu, ce texte exige bien – et oui, c’est un fait – que 10 % des surfaces cultivées en Europe soient mises en friche, par exemple. Il conduira donc à interdire une partie de la production agricole. Il conduira aussi à interdire des espaces maritimes à nos pêcheurs et fera ainsi mécaniquement baisser la production alimentaire dans nos pays. Et l’étude d’impact de la Commission européenne elle-même le confirme, Monsieur le Commissaire. Est-ce que ce Parlement n’a rien appris des derniers événements? Nous avons vécu la pénurie de masques pendant la crise de la COVID-19, la pénurie d’énergie pendant la guerre en Ukraine. Est-ce qu’il faut que les citoyens de nos pays ne puissent plus s’alimenter pour que nos institutions réalisent que la décroissance alimentaire est une faute lourde? Les tensions sur la production agricole comptent déjà pour beaucoup dans l’inflation des prix alimentaires, qui pèse lourd sur tant de foyers. Mais le plus aberrant derrière cela, le plus aberrant, c’est qu’en réalité, lorsque nous aurons cessé de produire en Europe, nous n’aurons pas rendu service à l’environnement. Nous avons les producteurs qui respectent les règles les plus exigeantes en la matière du point de vue environnemental et tout ce que nous ferons pour faire baisser la production dans nos pays, nous le ferons pour offrir des avantages compétitifs à une production extra-européenne qui, elle, dévaste l’environnement. Faut-il que nous fassions mieux? Oui. Faut-il que nous fassions moins? Non. Et faire moins aujourd’hui, c’est mettre en danger exactement la nature que nous prétendons servir. Ce défi est global. Nous ne le résoudrons pas seulement en sabordant notre économie.
Debate: Delivering on the Green Deal: risk of compromising the EU path to the green transition and its international commitments
Date: WEDNESDAY, 12 JULY 2023
Speaker: Mohammed Chahim
Political group: S-D
Country: Denmark
Language: EN

I envision an industry that’s decarbonised, most efficient worldwide, leading production worldwide, and not an industry that needs heavy subsidies to survive. I see that globally we’re not leading in every sector; other sectors outside the EU produce with a smaller footprint. For that, we have the Critical Raw Materials Act, for that we have the Net—zero Industry Act. The train of decarbonisation is running, and the question is, are we going to catch it, or are we going to wait and hope that it comes back so we can step on it again? Let’s stick to the facts. Let’s cooperate. Let’s work on good compromises to strengthen our industry, to give a better future perspective for our farmers. Let’s sit at the table, work together in honouring Europe and helping Europe also for the green transition.
Debate: Delivering on the Green Deal: risk of compromising the EU path to the green transition and its international commitments
Date: WEDNESDAY, 12 JULY 2023
Speaker: Claudia Gamon
Political group: Renew
Country: Germany
Language: EN

To quote one great political mind, Cersei Lannister: ‘When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle ground.’ And today they lost. The political play, I believe, was very cynical, and a completely irresponsible way of handling the power given to them by European voters.  Some initiatives do need intense deliberation in order to make them better, but what I could not understand was the EPP leaving the negotiating table, refusing to do the job they were elected to do. To stand against the Green Deal is to stand against a liveable future on our European continent. To stand against the Green Deal is to stand against the sustainable industrial future of the European Union, because that is the way that we are going. At least today reason prevailed and the institutions can finally do their job, which is to finish working on nature restoration and to continue working on the European Green Deal for the future of Europeans.
Debate: Delivering on the Green Deal: risk of compromising the EU path to the green transition and its international commitments
Date: WEDNESDAY, 12 JULY 2023
Speaker: Bas Eickhout
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: France
Language: EN

But then let’s be honest with each other: these are fundamental goals. This means a total shift of our economy in 25 years. Anyone that can do and can claim to say ‘we subscribe to those 2050 targets, but then for the rest it will be all fine and sweet and no problem’ is lying. And let’s at least agree here that we should not be lying to our voters. This is a challenge. This is a challenge for all of us. But we need to do it. We want to do it, but then we need to see how we are doing it, and I think sometimes we have a totally different narrative, and we saw it very much in CO2 in cars, where some are saying ‘you are putting a policy in place that is promoting Chinese cars’. But I would say no, by not doing any policy, by pretending that our car industry can stick to what they used to do, they will lose internationally and then in the future it will be us importing Chinese cars. So for our competitiveness, we need the policy instead of saying because of the competitiveness we don’t want the policy. That is the debate that we need to have. But for that we need a dialogue. For that, we need to talk to each other. We need to listen to each other. And this is really a plea to the EPP: you had your campaign on the Nature Restoration Law. Can we now conclude that is over? And can we now please sit back and come back to the table and discuss these things on our narratives, on our visions, on the contents, and not on Santa Claus to each anymore? Thank you, that would be very welcome.
Debate: Delivering on the Green Deal: risk of compromising the EU path to the green transition and its international commitments
Date: WEDNESDAY, 12 JULY 2023
Speaker: Alexandr Vondra
Political group: ECR
Country: Ireland
Language: EN

The text which went through the Council and Parliament is more realistic than what was proposed the Commission. I still remember, in the past, the Commission as a guardian of fairness. Today it is trying to lead us, but sometimes it’s taking an almost extreme position. This historic decarbonisation just makes the lives of our people in Europe more expensive. It provides an advantage to China, and globally it does not generate any effect.  The EU is travelling around the summits in the global arena, lecturing others, but the others are either smiling into our eyes or doing this in a more capitalistic way, like the United States. We still can change it, but must do something for nature now and locally, here, that we older people would see some result from during our lifetime. Because if you ask people to sacrifice something, they must be offered also some redemption.
Debate: Delivering on the Green Deal: risk of compromising the EU path to the green transition and its international commitments
Date: WEDNESDAY, 12 JULY 2023
Speaker: Paola Ghidoni
Political group: ID
Language: IT

È una posizione già sentita qualche giorno fa, quando abbiamo letto i risultati dello studio aggiuntivo sull'impatto del regolamento per i fitosanitari in viticoltura: sì, ci viene detto, tale impatto sarà devastante; sì, distruggerà l'intero comparto vitivinicolo europeo, ma è un prezzo che i popoli d'Europa devono essere disposti a pagare perché l'agenda 2030 non può subire contrattempi, né correttivi. L'idea che il fine giustifichi sempre i mezzi, che non esista mai un prezzo troppo alto, è l'esatta definizione del fanatismo. Ogni pagina violenta e drammatica nella storia del nostro continente ha avuto origine da questo atteggiamento. Perciò diremo sempre sì all'ambientalismo, ma non potremmo mai e poi mai dire sì al fanatismo. Un altro modo di difendere il pianeta è possibile!
Debate: Delivering on the Green Deal: risk of compromising the EU path to the green transition and its international commitments
Date: WEDNESDAY, 12 JULY 2023
Speaker: Silvia Modig
Political group: The Left
Country: Romania
Language: EN

We have been able to put this ship that is the EU on a completely new course, and that is significant. This message we must give to Europeans, who are feeling anxiety about climate change, they are feeling that progress is not fast enough. We must also show that progress happens all the time, sometimes with baby steps, but we are going forward. I am quite sure that the next Parliament will have to revise our targets, but they also get to collect on the positive side: they can take the circular economy forward, create new jobs, create sustainable economic growth. But essential for the next Parliament and the next Commission, I believe, is that we have to put the social aspect in the centre of it all because we need the EPP along, but more we need the people to trust in us and what we are doing. So social fairness, Frans, leave that as a testimony for the new Commission.
Debate: Delivering on the Green Deal: risk of compromising the EU path to the green transition and its international commitments
Date: WEDNESDAY, 12 JULY 2023
Speaker: Angelika Winzig
Political group: PPE
Country: Greece
Language: DE

Herr Präsident! Der Grüne Deal ist das größte Legislativpaket, das das Europäische Parlament jemals verhandelt hat, und daher ist es logisch, dass die EU auf dem Weg zum grünen Wandel auf Hindernisse stoßen wird. Das große Problem wird sein, dass wir uns Ziele gesteckt haben, bei denen wir oftmals noch nicht einmal die notwendigen Technologien entwickelt haben, um diese Ziele zu erfüllen. Ich denke nur an die Substitution von F-Gasen in den Wärmepumpen. Ja, und darüber hinaus fehlt beim Grünen Deal, Herr Timmermans, noch immer der versprochene Deal für die Wirtschaft, sodass wir nicht wissen, ob und wie wir als Unternehmer diesen Transformationsprozess erfolgreich schaffen können. Und,  Daher ist es höchst an der Zeit, dass wir uns der europäischen Standortpolitik widmen. Unternehmen durch Anreize zu motivieren und zu unterstützen, anstatt sie mit Auflagen und Strafen zu behindern, wäre der richtige Weg. Wir haben die richtigen Konzepte mit der KMU-Strategie, der Industriestrategie, aber die Umsetzung lässt auf sich warten. Aber nur auf diese Weise können unsere Unternehmerinnen und Unternehmer auch in Zukunft die nötigen Innovationen liefern und Investitionen tätigen, die uns dabei helfen, die Hindernisse auf dem Weg zum grünen Wandel zu überwinden.  Ich darf ganz herzlich eine Gruppe von Ein-Personen-Unternehmen aus ganz Europa hier begrüßen.