What Katri spoke about.

Mr President, bureaucracy paralyses competitiveness in the EU and weakens us in the global market. According to the Draghi's report, over 60 % of the enterprises in the EU consider the regulation an obstacle to investments, and over half of the small and medium-sized enterprises consider regulation and administrative burden to be their biggest challenge. We have lagged behind the United States in this matter, and if we don't deregulate, the split will evolve. For example, in the field of technology, only four of the world's 50 largest technology companies are European. Usually, the governments and even the Commission always want less bureaucracy. But then nothing happens. Quite the contrary. I believe it is more a question of culture and a way of doing things. Do we offer the businesses a possibility to prosper or do we regulate them out of business?

Mr President, the cornerstone of the welfare state is the very widely accepted progressive taxation. You pay taxes and receive high-quality public services in return, which you can also seek to decide on democratically in public duties. It is very important that taxation continues to be a national competence. But there is a huge need for international cooperation in tax evasion, exchange of information and the large-scale collection of taxes in general. Taxes are also very important in terms of inequality in society. In particular, economic, social or regional inequalities between people and regions also create a basis for the growth of various extremist movements. That is why tax policy must also take care of the overall integrity of society, and for that it works very well when used smartly. A sound tax policy will generate economic growth that can even out harmful inequalities. Above all, our continent needs prosperous, sustainable economic growth. A bad tax policy prevents it, a good one makes it possible.