Brussels, 07/04/2016 (Agence Europe) - In response to the recent revelations about global tax evasion networks, known as the Panama Papers, the Greens and GUE/NGL groups at the European Parliament called on Thursday 7 April for a special committee of investigation to be set up.
The Belgian co-president of the Greens, Philippe Lamberts, said that the Panama Papers scandal has disclosed the extent to which “the requirements laid down in the European anti-money laundering directive are not being implemented by the European authorities and governments” (see other article). The Greens group hopes that the creation of a committee of investigation will allow the EP to investigate the “scale and implications of the scandals uncovered”. Eva Joly, deputy chair of the special TAXE committee, said that the committee of investigation is the “most powerful tool at the European Parliament's disposal, as it allows it to investigate violations of Community law by the member states and whether or not the European Commission is complying with its obligations”.
Gianni Pittella, President of the S&D group, has so far not taken position for or against such a committee. However, he said that there would be an extraordinary discussion on the scandal at the forthcoming plenary session of the EP in Strasbourg (11-14 April) to find the “best way for the Parliament to tackle this problem of tax evasion”.
As well as calling for a committee of investigation to be set up, the Greens are also demanding the “immediate” adoption of a directive to protect whistleblowers and “to counterbalance the legal imbalance caused by the adoption of the business secrecy directive” (see EUROPE 11526). (Original version in French by Maëlle Didion, intern)