Strasbourg, 12/04/2016 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 14 April, the conference of the presidents of the political groups at the European Parliament is to decide whether or not to set up a committee of investigation following the Panama Papers scandal.
Most of the political groups are in favour of such a move, but the EPP Group is to meet on Wednesday to decide on its position. The co-chair of the Greens/EFA Group, Philippe Lamberts, on Tuesday morning explained his fears that the EPP would again seek to protect President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, as the Panama Papers revealed that Luxembourg banks were top of the list of schemes used. The Greens argue that the Panama Papers committee of investigation should also deal with what remains to be done in the LuxLeaks special committee, for instance in order to obtain the most recent documents of the Code of Conduct group.
A number of attempts to set up a committee of investigation into Luxleaks failed.
Speaking on behalf of the S&D Group, its chair, Gianni Pittella, said that he had no issue with converting the special TAXE committee into a committee of investigation into Panama. It is not yet clear whether European Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Miguel Arias Cañete will be invited to appear before this committee, as some groups are calling for him to do. (Original version in French by Elodie Lamer)