Verbatim report of proceedings

Thursday, 18 April 2019 - Strasbourg

11.6. Disclosures relating to sustainable investments and sustainability risks (A8-0363/2018 - Paul Tang)

Mündliche Stimmerklärungen

  Alex Mayer (S&D). – Mr President, I think I’m the last Brit to speak in the Chamber at this session, but now I think perhaps not the last ever, happily. The financial sector cannot just be about making profits for the few and ignoring the consequences for everyone else and our planet. As a Labour MEP, I want the money that banks, insurance companies and pension funds invest to help create a more just society. Today’s vote is an essential part in our efforts to connect finance with the sustainable development agenda. It is in everyone’s long-term interests. A polluting fossil fuel is not a durable and stable investment, neither is ignoring health and safety, nor is using child labour. Today, we introduce new rules on how big banks and insurance companies need to not only consider the financial returns on investments, but also their effects on the environment, and issues such as the gender pay gap and stamping out corruption. Working together, we are building a fairer Europe for the many, not the few.