9. Wahlperiode Claude MORAES

Labour MEPs voted in favour of this report on VAT collection which will give authorities the tools to go after the EUR 5 billion (£4.3bn) lost to public services through VAT fraud.
The legislation is part of a wider EU action plan on VAT e-commerce, which is set to come into force from as early as January 2021. The package aims to achieve better VAT collection from online sales by simplifying the rules around VAT and also by ensuring online marketplaces are part of the fight against tax fraud – they will be required to share information with tax authorities to enable them to tackle tax fraud from online sales.
The VAT e-commerce package, which the proposals on cracking down on tax fraud are part of, also includes proposals to make online behemoths like Amazon and eBay liable for collecting VAT on sales they facilitate for goods sold from outside the EU worth EUR 150 or less.

. ‒ Labour MEPs voted in favour of this proposal mobilising EUR 1.6 million from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) in favour of the 751 Carrefour staff made redundant in Wallonia as a result of globalisation. This will ensure they are compensated and enrolled in courses and trainings to support their readjustment to the labour market.
Retail trade is going through a period of major change, due to globalisation. Changing patterns in consumers’ habits and digitalisation may increase redundancies in the future. Turning a blind eye to the problem is definitely not the solution. These people should receive support from the EU budget, and despite the rejection by the EU Council, we will keep fighting for workers’ rights.

Given the concerns surrounding pesticide resistance and effects on biodiversity, Labour MEPs opposed the renewal of the authorisation for the placing on the market of cotton, soy, rapeseed oil, and two types of maize containing or produced from genetically modified organisms.
Sadly, Parliament’s objections have no legal obligation for the Commission in that case. We will, however, keep asserting the importance of the precautionary principle and give priority to health protection and environment.