Today, on 12 December, the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee of the European Parliament voted a resolution on “Institutions and bodies in the Economic and Monetary Union: Preventing post-public employment conflicts of interest”. This resolution is the European Parliament’s reaction to the appointment of Adam Farkas, currently Executive Director of the European Banking Authority (EBA), […]
Green Deal Day: Sven’s Watchlist
Today, Commission President von der Leyen presents her Green Deal for Europe to the plenary of the European Parliament. Sven Giegold, spokesperson for Bündnis 90/Die Grünen in the European Parliament, said that the following points should be carefully considered: 1. Climate targets It is an important step in the right direction that Ursula von der […]
Financial transaction tax: Scholz’ proposal does not deserve the name financial transaction tax
The German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz (SPD) has, at the request of nine other EU finance ministers, presented a final draft on the taxation of financial transactions, which we have seen. Already in September 2011, the European Commission had proposed a financial transaction tax for shares, bonds and derivatives throughout the European Union. Because the […]
Malta’s Prime Minister Muscat resigns: Malta’s chance for a fresh start
It has just been announced that Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat will resign shortly. This step was overdue. Following recent revelations and arrests in his immediate vicinity, Muscat is finally taking responsibility, two years after the murder of government-critical journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. MEP Sven Giegold, financial and economic policy spokesperson of the Greens/EFA group […]
Chief of staff Keith Schembri has resigned: International investigation would restore trust in Malta’s rule of law
Today, Keith Schembri the Chief of Staff of the Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat resigned following the arrest of businessman Yorgen Fenech last week in connection with the investgation into the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia. Fenech owns the company 17 Black, which appeared in the ‘Panama Papers’ with connections to Schembri and Tourism Minister […]
Arrest in Malta/Daphne Caruana Galizia: Tourism Minister and Head of Cabinet should resign
Today, businessman Yorgen Fenech was arrested in Malta in connection with the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia two years ago. According to media reports, he was arrested on Wednesday morning when he attempted to leave the island with his yacht. Fenech is the owner of the company “17 Black”, which appears in the “Panama […]