On the initiative of the Socialists and Democrats, the leaders of the political groups in the European Parliament today have decided to set up a special committee on financial crimes, tax evasion and tax avoidance.

 

The new special committee will have 45 members and will be in place for 12 months.

 

 

The European Parliament today voted on two essential parts of the new European External Investment plan, which aims to increase up to 32,3 billion Euros of investments outside EU mainly in Africa and the EU’s neighbourhood. Today’s vote established a guarantee fund for external action and a guarantee for European Investment Bank investments outside the EU.

 

The European Parliament also voted on its annual report on the financial activities of the European Investment Bank.

 

Late in the evening on 5 February IG Metall concluded a ground-breaking agreement between their trade union and employers in the region of Baden-Württemberg.

 

The agreement includes:

 

At a debate on socio-economic inequalities, put on the European Parliament’s agenda by the Socialists and Democrats, acting S&D Group leader Udo Bullmann called on the EU Commission to take rapid and decisive action to combat rising levels of inequality in the EU. Among the concrete measures the S&Ds are calling for are: the introduction of an inequality reduction strategy within the European Semester; a poverty eradication roadmap; a directive on decent working conditions; and a living wage index.