The European Parliament’s Conference of Presidents of political groups today agreed on a proposal from the Greens/EFA group to set up a parliamentary inquiry committee to investigate the Panama Leaks revelations, which showed wealthy individuals and firms channel funds through offshore firms to avoid paying taxes and launder money. The mandate of the inquiry committee […]
Speech in the plenary debate on the Panama papers revelations
It is important when we view this scandal to see that it is not mainly a tax scandal, it is a money laundering scandal which has tax consequences. Most of the activities which have been uncovered are already in violation, as far as Europe is concerned, of existing money laundering law which has been in […]
European Parliament demands transparency, accountability and democratic control over global economic and financial institutions
Important things can sometimes go completely unnoticed. Over the last few years national parliaments and European institutions are increasingly behaving as if they were the excecutive bodies of global financial institutions. Core reforms for the banking sector were negotiated in the Basel Committee of central banks. During the work on financial market reforms, key elements […]
Tax avoidance/Panama Leaks: EU Parliament must set up inquiry committee
In response to the Panama Leaks revelations, which showed wealthy individuals and firms channel funds through offshore firms to avoid paying taxes, the Greens have called for an immediate response at EU level. The Greens/EFA group is leading the push for the creation of a European Parliament inquiry committee to properly investigate the revelations […]
Panama leaks revelations underlines how EU still failing to tackle tax avoidance
Tax avoidance/money laundering Panama leaks revelations underlines how EU still failing to tackle tax avoidance In response to the Panama Leaks revelations, which showed wealthy individuals and firms channel funds through offshore firms to avoid paying taxes, the Greens have called for an immediate response at EU level. Commenting on the findings and their implications, […]
Panama Papers: European sanctions against the aides of tax evaders
The Süddeutsche Zeitung, Le Monde and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) report in a masterpiece of transnational journalism about an enormous amount of leaked data on offshore companies in Panama. Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca has facilitated dubious deals for many prominent figures as well as companies. MEP Sven Giegold, financial and economic […]