Martin Schirdewan: The federal government must now work to ensure that Western lenders cancel Ukraine's debts!
Martin Schirdewan, chairman of the left-wing parliamentary group THE LEFT and financial policy spokesman for DIE LINKE in the European Parliament, explains today's meeting of the EU Council "Economy and Finance":
“An oil supply freeze must also be on the negotiating table in Brussels. We must examine every possibility of cutting the millions of euros that European governments transfer daily to Putin for energy supplies. The EU must not make itself dependent on the nearest authoritarian energy suppliers. Rather, it is time to free the EU from its dependence on dirty fuels. Let’s make our economy fit for the future and expand renewable energies as quickly as possible.”
“Anyone who demands solidarity with Ukraine must also demand a haircut! The conflict with Russia cost the Ukrainian economy $280 billion between 2014 and 2020 alone. The attacks by Russia are driving Ukraine deeper and deeper into the debt trap.”
“Since 2014, Ukraine has been on the lending tap of the IMF, the World Bank and the European Commission. A solidary response from the EU must therefore be more than a reference to European development cooperation. The federal government must now work to ensure that Western lenders cancel Ukraine's debts!"
Regarding the negotiations to implement the OECD/G20 agreement on a minimum tax for large multinationals, Martin Schirdewan explains:
“We finally have to leave behind the principle of unanimity when it comes to tax policy decisions in the EU. Every time, sensible proposals are blocked by uncooperative states or riddled with loopholes like Swiss cheese. Even if a deal is reached at some point, the winners will ultimately be Amazon, Apple and Co.