Sir or Madam, dear friends, In March, the European Court has ruled for much more transparency in EU legislation. Yesterday, President Antonio Tajani (Forza Italia) replied to me that he did not want to take advantage of these opportunities. To convince him and to use the full potential of the new judgment for more transparency, […]
Financial and tax crimes: Parliament mission to Washington
Dear journalists and colleagues, Coming Monday to Wednesday I will be participating in an official mission of the European Parliament in order to discuss the fight against money laundering, tax crimes and aggressive tax avoidance in Washington DC. The members of the Parliament’s committee on financial crimes, tax evasion and tax avoidance will meet […]
Transparency international proves European Parliament’s ethics system is broken
Today, a report by Transparency International EU on the outside activities of MEPs shows that up to 104 MEPs have earned more than €100,000 each over the last four years on top of their salaries as full-time MEPs. Three MEPs currently engage in paid activities with companies listed as lobby organisations on the EU Transparency […]
New Directive enters into force: EU raises hurdles for money launderers
Today, 9 July 2018, the 5th EU Anti-Money Laundering Directive enters into force. Member States now have until 10 January 2020 to render their national company registers public. All citizens will then be able to see which beneficiaries are behind which companies. By 10 March 2021, national business registers are to be interconnected so that […]
We need a European label for social and solidarity economy products
This Thursday, 5 July, MEPs voted by a large majority in favour of the own-initiative report “recommendations to the Commission on a Statute for social and solidarity-based enterprises”. Only the right-wing opponents of Europe voted against. With the approval in plenary, a strong “legislative own-initiative report” has been presented, which puts the Commission under an […]
EU Ombudswoman’s final report: ECB risks its credibility and independence with Draghi’s G30 membership
Today EU Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly presented her final decision on the membership of ECB President Mario Draghi in the Group of Thirty (G30). The ECB had rejected the request of the EU Ombudsman to end Draghi’s membership of the G30. O’Reilly now acknowledges the ECB’s “continuing maladministration”. The Group of Thirty is an opaque association […]