&lt;p>MEPs debate on Wednesday and vote on Thursday on the Commission proposal implementing the international agreement on a global minimum corporate tax rate of 15%. The draft text calls for a review clause that would allow for the annual revenue threshold above which a multinational corporation would be subject to the minimum tax rate to be revised. Opening statements by Aurore LALUCQ (S&amp;D, FR), rapporteur.&lt;/p>

Brussels

debate

plenary session

fight against tax fraud and evasion (T)

LALUCQ, Aurore (S&D, FR)

Minimum level of taxation for multinational groups: opening statements by Aurore LALUCQ (S&D, FR), rapporteur

SOUNDBITE (French), Aurore LALUCQ (S&D, FR), rapporteur, Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen. First of all, I would like to give a vote of thanks to my co-rapporteurs, EPP colleqgue, Greens colleague, the Left and ECR groups colleagues. ID group members weren't at the negotiation so I can't thank them, unfortunately, as is often the case.

SOUNDBITE (French), Aurore LALUCQ (S&D, FR), rapporteur, I'd like to thank you for this very frank and open exchange of views. I think we agreed that we didn't quite agree, but we did have a mutual understanding of what we didn't agree on.

SOUNDBITE (French), Aurore LALUCQ (S&D, FR), rapporteur, In my report, I wanted to have two pillars supporting this. First of all, providing a strong voice to the European Parliament, because we're not the European Commission, we are not the Council. And to propose more flexibility in this agreement, looking at the rates, the ceilings and the exemptions.

SOUNDBITE (French), Aurore LALUCQ (S&D, FR), rapporteur, The other pillar was to deal with this as a serious approach because it is an historic agreement that we are looking at here and historic agreement that required very sensitive negotiations. We needed time and basically it was something we had to be extremely cautious about. So there seemed to be two visions that were pitted, one against the other, both being legitimate visions.

SOUNDBITE (French), Aurore LALUCQ (S&D, FR), rapporteur, On the one hand, there was a will to have more flexibility on the limits, the rates and exemptions, but also the impact of the developed on the developing countries of those who defended by the Greens, the Social Democrats and the left. On the other hand, we had two political groups who said unequivocally that for them this agreement was a fragile one and that was even going quite far for them. And the idea was to consolidate this.

SOUNDBITE (French), Aurore LALUCQ (S&D, FR), rapporteur, And I understood that to be a completely legitimate concern, above all, because we are working with ECOFIN at a time where one country is actually blocking the agreement, which may endanger the agreement and may have ramifications for our friends and partners, including the US.

SOUNDBITE (French), Aurore LALUCQ (S&D, FR), rapporteur, In that context, the idea was then not to touch the most important markers of this agreement the rates, the ceilings and the exemptions. But to have safeguards built in against any kind of abuse and trying to instrumentalize the agreement to reduce the number of exemptions by revision clause to be increased and also have an impact assessment for developing countries and to have delegated acts suggested whenever there is a change in the evolution of this agreement.

SOUNDBITE (French), Aurore LALUCQ (S&D, FR), rapporteur, But in exchange what we requested was that this be put in place immediately instead of the initial timetable that was suggested by the European Commission, i.e. that we do not postpone, as was the original idea that the Council have, because we made great efforts. The idea here is to be speaking with one voice in a responsible way to show that we in the European Parliament are assuming our responsibilities.

SOUNDBITE (French), Aurore LALUCQ (S&D, FR), rapporteur, We managed to reach a compromise between the left and the right when it came down to having to make a compromise, we did that. Now, obviously, an agreement is some here is not something everybody is going to be completely happy with. Some people would be frustrated. We, for example, would have liked to see a higher rate for some things.

SOUNDBITE (French), Aurore LALUCQ (S&D, FR), rapporteur, On the other hand, we refuse this to be mortgaged by certain governments, to be held hostage by certain governments where it has nothing to do with the tax issues. That's why I hope tomorrow we will be voting with a single voice in the implementation as soon as possible of this agreement, which once again is an historic agreement, an agreement we've been waiting for for many years.

SOUNDBITE (French), Aurore LALUCQ (S&D, FR), rapporteur, We will be the first continent to implement this. Often we complain about the slowness and how Europe is dragging its feet. While here, we've reacted quickly. We have assumed a responsibility and I hope we should recall that. Thank you.