Following the adoption of a Financial Transaction Tax proposal in plenary this afternoon, GUE/NGL MEP Marisa Matias has welcomed the vote result as a proposed exemption on pension funds was not carried in the final proposal.

“Finally after five years of crisis we had the opportunity to vote in favour of a financial transaction tax,” she said.

She continued: “We have to safeguard pensions, and including the speculative pension funds is a way of not allowing speculators to play with them. Speculators continue as if they are untouchable which adds insult to injury for Europe's citizens. Fighting against an exemption for pension funds was crucial and I am glad that it did not make it into the final proposal.

“Although this proposal is not perfect, notably when it comes to the lower rates for derivative products and pension funds, it is still a step in the right direction. For the first time in five years financial markets have been affected. Meanwhile, workers and retired people are continuing to pay for the financial markets' crisis.”

GUE/NGL Press Contacts:
Emily Macintosh +32 470 85 05 08
Gay Kavanagh +32 473 84 23 20
European United Left / Nordic Green Left
European Parliamentary Group