Strasbourg, 24/11/2014 (Agence Europe) - The motion of no confidence in the new European Commission put down by the europhobes and eurosceptics at the European Parliament in the wake of the Luxleaks tax scandal is not to be taken seriously, in the view of the main political groups. That was what came out of the debate in Strasbourg on Monday 24 November in which the Parliament and the president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, made clear their determination to clean up the tax situation in Europe.
The motion was lodged by the EFDD Group of Nigel Farage and Beppe Grillo and backed by the non-attached MEPs. Opening the debate, eurosceptic Marco Zanni (EFDD, Italy), one of the authors of the no confidence motion, lambasted Juncker, describing him as the “worst image of the European Union”. “If you had the least credibility, you would resign”, Zanni told Juncker, stating once again that his group was the last “to stand up for the European ideal”.
The EPP leader Manfred Weber said that he wanted the European Commission to be able to continue working and stated that, if any others did not want the same thing, then he wished them no success in the Parliament. Gianni Pittella (S&D, Italy) said that there was nothing to fear from this no confidence motion, unlike the one that would be delivered by European citizens if the Commission ultimately failed to deliver tax harmonisation in Europe. Ryszard Antoni Legutko (ECR, Poland) elaborated on the tax issue, telling Juncker that this scandal would continue to follow him around until it had been settled. He was also critical that the European Commission was taking charge of the Luxleaks investigation, suggesting that it could not be the judge and in the dock. Taking the view that the motion was “stupid”, the leader of the European Liberals, Guy Verhofstadt (ALDE, Belgium) also thought it was “absurd” to begin with a defence motion before the investigation had even begun.
Rebecca Harms (Greens/EFA, Germany) said that the Luxleaks affair had brought once again to the surface an unease on an aspect of EU working. It gave the impression of one set pitted against another and that solidarity has scant meaning, she suggested. These matters had to be brought out into the open. It would not all be settled just by bringing down Juncker, in her view. The issue of a common tax base was fundamental. “This issue has to be settled with the European spirit that so characterises you”, she said, addressing Juncker. Steven Woolfe (EFDD, UK) declared that this tax scandal was not going to go away. The stain would spread for as long as Juncker is in post as Commission president, he said, in short. For Marine Le Pen (non-attached, France), Luxembourg had organised “tax evasion on a grand scale”. In her view, Juncker bore “full responsibility” for putting these tax techniques in place. “We back this motion of no confidence. The Juncker Commission must be brought down”, she stated.
“We will tackle tax evasion and tax fraud”, promised Juncker at the end of the debate. The Commission is working on a draft directive which provides for automatic exchange of information on advance tax decisions. He argued for tax harmonisation and a system for a common tax base. “Do not doubt my word”, he told MEPs (our translation throughout). (MD with LC)