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PLENARY SESSION PRIORITIES – GUE/NGL GROUP IN THE 20 -23 MAY 2013

EUROPEAN COUNCIL EU/US TRADE AGREEMENT THIS WEEK GABI ZIMMER HELMUT SCHOLZ GERMANY Tax evasion and tax The Commission GUE/NGL PRESS BRIEFING fraud harm democratic demands a mandate TUESDAY 14:30 societies in economic from the EU Council for meeting (May and social terms. We free trade and invest- support measures to ment negotiations with 2013) - Tax fraud & tax havens Thomas Händel combat tax evasion and the United States - with- tax havens so that the beneficiaries of out any red lines. Will MEPs comply with this? Enhanced Cooperation between the crisis will contribute to its costs. The Plenary will vote on a resolution that ignores all internal energy market strategy can the legitimate and existing concerns by EU citi- the and the be of benefit to large energy compa- zens. My group is putting forward demands for European Organisation for the nies and consumers will be faced with transparency for an open and inclusive debate in Safety of Air additional charges. With increasing energy society on what this Treaty will mean for GMOs Navigation poverty, against which there is no adequate and hormone use in agriculture, for data pro- Jaromír Kohlíček protection, this path is not sustainable. Energy tection and internet freedom, for maintaining must remain affordable. public services and defending cultural diversity EU Trade & Investment in Europe and for social, wage and environmen- Agreement Negotiations with Debate: Tuesday tal standards on both sides of the Atlantic and the US beyond. Helmut Scholz Debate: Wednesday; vote Thursday Press Conference Room LOW N-1/201 ------TAX FRAUD & TAX HAVENS BANKING SUPERVISION WOMEN'S RIGHTS - BALKANS THOMAS HÄNDEL JÜRGEN KLUTE INÊS ZUBER GERMANY GERMANY PORTUGAL Even if this report Over the years, Parlia- I believe that it is not remains an opinion by ment has been pushing enough just to have the European Parliament, for a common oversight legislation on gender it is a strong signal and a of financial institutions equality. I understand real step forward. Ahead in the EU. While gov- that economic develop- of the upcoming Coun- ernments have tried to ment and a fair redistri- cil on May 22nd, the Parliament drafted strong avoid and minimize any effective supervision bution of wealth are fundamental so that gender measures to tackle tax fraud and fight tax havens at European level, they changed their minds equality becomes a reality in the Balkan worldwide. One trillion of lost money for member in 2012, due to the pressure of the crisis. The accession countries. states and the EU cannot be considered as a results of the negotiations to be voted this week Debate: Monday; vote Tuesday peccadillo anymore. In times of crisis and austerity, leaves several questions open: a number of non- quick, coordinated and effective reaction from the eurozone countries will not participate, so su- UPCOMING INITIATIVES Council and Commission is necessary. pervision will not cover the whole single market. Questions regarding parliamentary control over Debate: Tuesday; vote Tuesday supervision that will mainly be exercised by the ECB also remain open.

Debate: Tuesday STOP AUSTERITY - DEFEND DEMOCRACY GUE/NGL delegation will take part in the ALTERSUMMIT in Athens on 7 and 8 June. More info: http://www.altersummit.eu This event will be organized with Greek social movements with the support of civil society organizations, trade unions, NGOs, and elected representatives from all around Europe. Follow our blog and keep up to date at www.guengl.eu EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTARY GROUP PRESS : Gay Kavanagh +32473842320 Emily Macintosh +32470850508 Gianfranco Battistini +32475646628 www.guengl.eu