Today, the coordinators of the inquiry committee “money laundering, tax avoidance and tax evasion” (PANA) decided to invite Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. The invitation will be linked to his appearance in Strasbourg in the European Parliament plenary week (from 15th to 18th of May). The Greens supported the initiative of the chair to invite the Prime Minister.
MEP Sven Giegold, financial and economic policy spokesperson of the Greens/EFA group commented:
“Prime minister Muscat has to explain the latest developments and allegations regarding the offshore company called e-grant. The credibility of the EU is at stake as Malta holds the Presidency of the EU and is currently negotiating on revising the anti-money laundering standards. It is highly unusual to call for elections during a Presidency. This election may not delay the inquiry of the European Parliament.
We have already invited the Maltese Presidency twice and they didn’t show up. Similarly, we requested to meet with Mr Schembri, chief of staff of the Prime Minister and he refused to see us in Malta or to come to Brussels. In addition, the Greens have successfully insisted that Mr Zammit and Nexia BT will be reinvited to PANA in June.
Arnold Cassola, Chair of the Maltese Greens, fully endorses the request for the presence of Prime Minister Muscat in the PANA inquiry committee.”