The billion-euro scandals and involvement of European banks in money laundering transactions are being debated today (Wednesday 3 October) by MEPs in the European Parliament on the initiative of the Greens/EFA Group. On the same day, the European Commission responds to the money laundering scandal at Pilatus Bank and demands of the Greens/EFA Group to […]
Macedonia referendum: Europe should reach out to pro-European Macedonians
Around 36.8 percent of the 1.8 million voters in Macedonia took part in the referendum on a new name for the country. After counting almost all votes, 91.3 percent of the participating voters voted to change the name to “Northern Macedonia”. The referendum would only have ben valid if the voter turnout had exceeded 50 […]
Transparency Register: Parliament avoids steering negotiations over the cliff
Dear journalists, dear friends, Today, the leadership of Christian-Democrats (EPP), Social-Democrats (S&D) and Liberals (ALDE) in the European Parliament turned a corner for negotiations with EU Commission and Council for a stronger Transparency Register for lobbyists last minute to avoid driving them over the cliff. Parliament’s lead-negotiators Sylvie Guillaume (S&D, FR, EP vice-president) and […]
Corporate Tax Reform/Bilaterals: Switzerland Hearing in the European Parliament
Next Monday, 1st October, the Special Committee on Financial Crimes, Tax Evasion and Tax Avoidance (TAX3) is organising a hearing on Switzerland at the European Parliament. It comes at the right time for the ongoing bilateral negotiations between Switzerland and the EU. The hearing will take place on the suggestion of the Greens/EFA Group in […]
Malta Delegation: The Rule of Law Monitoring Group continues with investigations
Dear correspondents and journalists, Next week, from Wednesday 19th September until Thursday 20th September, I will visit Malta as part of a delegation of the Rule of Law Monitoring Group (ROLMG) of the European Parliament. We will meet the Attorney General Dr Peter Grech, representatives of NGOs active in the field of rule of law […]
MEP expenses: Plenary must bring transparency that Parliament’s Vice-Presidents block in the back room
Last night, the majority of the European Parliament’s Vice-Presidents (Parliament’s Bureau) blocked the attempt to correct its own decision against more transparency for MEPs’ expenses. On 2 July, Parliament’s Bureau had rejected with narrow majority proposals to require Members to keep receipts and to employ a professional paying agent to checks for their General Expenditure […]