The European Parliament should set up a special committee to investigate tax-avoidance and evasion after the Luxleaks scandal according to EP Vice-President and GUE/NGL MEP, Dimitrios Papadimoulis.

Papadimoulis, who represents the Left group in the taxation working group of Parliament's Economic and Monetary Affairs committee, is seeking a thorough MEP investigation into the phenomena of tax evasion and avoidance by multinationals, through intra-group transactions and favourable tax deals.

“Particular emphasis must be placed on the phenomenon of global tax competition and the lack of coordinated action by the EU and its member states towards tax planning, such as the case in Luxembourg,” he said, recalling that tax evasion in conjunction with austerity have deprived countries of necessary resources. “Hence, the tax burden has been put on workers, pensioners and consumers.”

“We need a specific focus on the political responsibilities of the Commission and other EU institutions and on any possible omissions in performing their duties,” he said.

Lastly, Papadimoulis would like to investigate the possible violation of Union laws, as provided for by Article 226 of the Treaty of the EU and the relevant articles of the European Parliament’s Regulation.

The GUE/NGL group is made up of 52 MEPs from across Europe working for peace, solidarity, social justice, equality, democracy and human rights in Europe and beyond. It is the only gender balanced group in the European Parliament.

 

GUE/NGL Press:
David Lundy +32 470 85 05 09
Emily Macintosh +32 470 85 05 08
Gay Kavanagh +32 473 84 23 20