Tax Justice

A Greens/EFA take on the plenary week

Plenary week, 17-19 June 2020

Greens/EFA priorities for the plenary week included anti-racism protests following the death of George Floyd, Hong Kong, sustainable investment/taxonomy, tax sub-committee, the Disability Strategy, the animal transport inquiry committee, investigation against the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic on the misuse of EU funds and potential conflicts of interest, the Future of Europe, recovery/MFF, land grabbing and deforestation in the Amazonas, Brexit, Eastern Partnership and European Council.

European Parliament permanent subcommittee on tax a victory for tax justice

The European Parliament’s plenary session has voted to support a standing subcommittee to look at tax transparency and to tackle tax evasion and avoidance.

Fight against money laundering in times of the Corona crisis more important than ever

Anti-Money Laundering Action Plan

The European Commission presented its new Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Action Plan. The plan, which is the first step before the legislative proposals expected at the beginning of next year, supports long-standing Greens/EFA calls for increased action on money laundering. The Commission also published an updated list of countries that pose a risk of money laundering.

Tax haven blacklist exposes double standards of EU governments

Quote from Sven Giegold MEP

The European Union's Ministers of Economy and Finance presented the updated list of tax havens, to include also Panama, the Seychelles, the Cayman Islands and Palau, because they do not meet at least one of the European Union's tax good governance criteria

A look on the plenary week

Greens/EFA priorities - session 10-13 February 2020

A look ahead to the plenary session in the European Parliament in Strasbourg and the Greens/EFA priority issues on the agenda

Parliament to debate EU subsidies and potential conflicts of interest - quote from Mikuláš Peksa MEP

Czech PM Babiš

The European Parliament debates the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic and the reopening of a criminal investigation into his company's use of EU subsidies and potential conflicts of interest.

Taxonomy deal not agreed today by Member States

Sustainable Finance

The same day the Commission came forward with the "European Green Deal", Member States have not passed the Taxonomy deal agreed last Thursday. Member States will have another opportunity to revisit the deal on Monday.

Commission audit finds conflict of interest with Czech PM's companies

Andrej Babiš

The leaked report clearly states Andrej Babiš controls the Agrofert group and that contracts awarded to his companies are in breach of Czech and EU law. The Commission audit has found that around €11 million will need to be returned as a result of Andrej Babiš' conflict of interest.

Greens/EFA Debriefing

Plenary week, 25-28 November 2019

Greens/EFA priorities for the plenary week included the votes on climate emergency and the Climate Summit in Madrid (COP25), the new European Commission, the votes on the 2020 Budget, public country-by-country reporting, combatting gender-based violence, and an EP Mission to Malta following recent revelations around the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia.

EU Ministers fail to agree corporate transparency measures

Quote from Ernest Urtasun MEP

EU Ministers failed to agree on Thursday 28 November, on proposals for greater corporate transparency. The proposals, which have been on the table for over three years, for public country-by-country reporting would ensure more transparency around the profits earned and taxes paid by large multinational companies.

European Parliament to send mission to Malta after the revelations around the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia

Quote from Sven Giegold MEP

The priority of the Parliament mission must be to investigate all potential links to the Prime Minister who has protected and defended three ministers for so long. Malta must adhere to the rule of law and European values so that there can be justice for Daphne Caruana Galizia and her family.

Maltese Prime Minister's Chief of Staff Keith Schembri resigns

Quote from Sven Giegold MEP

Keith Schembri the Chief of Staff of the Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, has resigned following the arrest of businessman Yorgen Fenech last week in connection with the investigation 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 Konrad Mizzi.