{"id":5154,"date":"2022-09-29T13:44:18","date_gmt":"2022-09-29T11:44:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greens-efa.eu\/opinions\/?p=5154"},"modified":"2022-10-03T18:19:36","modified_gmt":"2022-10-03T16:19:36","slug":"tax-evasion-pandora-papers-scandal-one-year-later","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greens-efa.eu\/opinions\/tax-evasion-pandora-papers-scandal-one-year-later\/","title":{"rendered":"One year after the Pandora Papers scandal – has the EU learned any lessons on tax havens?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

On 3 October 2021, a gigantic journalistic effort by the ICIJ uncovered the biggest scandal<\/a> on tax avoidance, the Pandora Papers. These revelations show how the richest and most powerful companies and billionaires are finding loopholes to hide and increase their wealth at the expense of society. The list revealed the names of world leaders, politicians, business owners, and oligarchs. They all seem to think that the tax rules don\u2019t apply to them. The wealth of those representatives of the top 1% comes from the work and the lives of the other 99%.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\n\n<\/div>
\n

One year after the Pandora Papers – what have we learnt from it?<\/h3>\n<\/div>
\n\n<\/div>
\n

One year after this unprecedented leak, some governments are still blocking some of the most important European laws. These laws would move the EU towards a fair and redistributive economy. Much like the billionaires in the Pandora Papers, it seems like these governments prefer to put their own interests and needs above those of society. Although the difference between them and millionaire entrepreneurs is that governments are responsible for the welfare of their citizens. This is why the governments in power have to put the citizen\u2019s needs at the forefront of their decisions.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\n\n<\/div>
\n

The cost-of-living crisis that is hitting the European Union hard would require radical fiscal decisions. The rise in energy prices has been generating super profits for the biggest companies for months. The richest continue to get richer while the rest of society struggles to pay ever-increasing bills. This is why we have been calling for a windfall tax<\/a> on all sectors. But we need to start with the largest energy companies and redistributes these unfair profits back to the people.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\n\n<\/div>
\n

At a time when Europe is seeing a cost-of-living crisis we need to act fast. But we still seem to be stuck in a limbo where there are no political decisions. The rich keep getting richer and people\u2019s bill increase while they remain helpless and powerless<\/p>\n<\/div>

\n\n<\/div>
\n

So what needs to change to ensure tax justice in Europe?<\/h3>\n<\/div>
\n\n<\/div>
\n

We really want to learn from the endless tax scandals that journalists worked so hard for to uncover. And there are a series of steps that the EU and its member states must take. It is time to stop delaying decisions that maintain a status quo where corporations are at the core of EU policies. The EU needs to make decisions for people – and not for profit. Sadly enough, tomorrow, Tuesday 4 October 2022, the Ministers of Finance will meet, but not discuss any of the much-needed tax reforms. A truly depressing Pandora Papers anniversary. As the Greens\/EFA group in the European Parliament we call for them to once and for all commit to real tax justice. <\/p>\n<\/div>

\n\n<\/div>
\n
This is what we propose to fight tax injustice:<\/h6>\n<\/div>
\n\n<\/div>
\n