Greens/EFA Debriefing

Plenary week, 11-15 March 2019

Greens/EFA priorities for the plenary week included the climate debate, the final trilogue on Whistleblower Protection Directive, the second Brexit vote, the reform of the European citizens’ initiative, the Clean Air for All resolution, the European Anti-Money Laundering Blacklist, the opening of trade negotiations between the EU and the US, gender balance and top EU financial roles,...

EU's tax haven blacklist starting to have an impact

Tax

European Union Finance Ministers (ECOFIN) have just agreed to further expand the list of jurisdictions included on the EU's tax haven blacklist and which countries will remain on the grey list for further scrutiny.

What's coming up in Parliament

Greens/EFA priorities 11-14 March 2019

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

Oxfam report on tax blacklist

Quote from Molly Scott Cato MEP

Oxfam have published their latest findings into the EU's tax haven blacklist. European Union finance ministers will sign off on an updated EU black list next week, where it expected that several key tax havens will be removed from the list.

Troika Laundromat leak

Quotes from Judith Sargentini and Molly Scott Cato

The OCCRP have just released their investigation the "Troika Laundromat", exposing how 4.6 billion USD from Russia and elsewhere was channelled through European banks and businesses, in what appears to be efforts to obscure the origin of the funds involved.

Member States hostile to EU anti-money laundering blacklist

Quote from Judith Sargentini MEP

Judith Sargentini, Greens/EFA rapporteur on the Anti-Money Laundering Directive, comments.

European Parliament united on urgent need for stronger tax policies, demands that Member States stop blocking tax reforms

Tax justice

The European Parliament special committee on taxation (TAX 3) just voted on its final report, which calls for EU Member States to match the ambition of the European Parliament on tackling tax evasion, avoidance and money laundering.

Greens/EFA Debriefing

Plenary week, 11-15 February 2019

Greens/EFA priorities for the plenary week included the EU-Singapore trade agreement, the protection of animals during transportation, the EU-Morocco fisheries agreement, the debate on the Future of Europe with the Italian Prime Minister, the final trilogues on copyright and on the gas directive, ...

Money laundering and affordable housing - what’s the link?

Impact of money laundering on housing prices across the EU

Tax evasion and money laundering through real estate can contribute to the increase of rental and housing prices in your city. We Greens/EFA are fighting hard in the European Parliament against money laundering - not least, because everyone in Europe should have the right to affordable housing!

Transparency International Corruption Index

Quote from Benedek Jávor MEP

Transparency International released their annual Corruption Perceptions Index, which showed that among others Hungary has slid in score considerably over the five years. Malta, Romania and Bulgaria have all slipped significantly in TI's rankings in the last year.

Vast differences in corporate tax rates across EU shows urgent need for transparency – new report

Tax

Today, a new report by the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament shows the privileges given to multinationals through low corporate tax rates across Europe. The report 'Effective Tax Rates of Multinational Enterprises in the EU' quantifies the difference between nominal and effective tax rates for multinationals in the EU. Effective tax rates in the European Union (15% on average) are well below nominal tax rates (23%). Multinationals may have an effective tax rate as low as 2% and as high as 30% across the EU.

Brexit and the future of tax havens

22.01.2019

The conference will address the UK’s role in financial secrecy services and the tools that the EU should mobilise to prevent the UK from evolving towards a tax haven on the EU’s doorstep. It will also assess the tax reforms that have been adopted in recent years at EU level and make recommendations to address the remaining loopholes in order to combat tax havens.