European Parliamentary Research Service Blog
tax evasion
Understanding money laundering through real estate transactions
Money laundering through real estate transactions integrates black funds into the legal economy while providing a safe investment. It allows criminals to enjoy assets and derived funds having camouflaged the origin of the money used for payment. Continue reading
Outcome of the EU leaders’ meetings on 22 and 23 March 2018
On 22 and 23 March 2018, the EU Heads of State or Government convened in four different formations with varying compositions and levels of formality: a regular meeting of the European Council, a Leaders’ Meeting on taxation, a Euro Summit and a European Council (Article 50) meeting. Continue reading
Tax: tackling tax avoidance and fighting tax evasion [Topical Digest]
Tax avoidance and tax evasion have once again hit the headlines, with an outcry across the world over the leaked ‘Paradise Papers’. Continue reading
Mapping the Cost of Non-Europe, 2014-19 – Fourth edition
This paper embodies work-in-progress on a long-term project being undertaken by the European Parliament’s European Added Value Unit, in conjunction with the office of the Secretary-General, to try to identify and analyse the ‘cost of non-Europe’ in certain policy fields. Continue reading
PANA committee of inquiry [Plenary Podcast]
The European Parliament’s ‘Committee of Inquiry to investigate alleged contraventions and maladministration in the application of Union law in relation to money laundering, tax avoidance and tax evasion’ (PANA committee) was established in June 2016. Continue reading
Plenary round-up – Strasbourg, November I 2017
The key focal points of the November I plenary session included debates on the rule of law in Malta and Poland and on the ‘Paradise papers’ revelations. Continue reading
Money laundering, tax avoidance and tax evasion: Research papers and a video
Written by Amandine Scherrer, In April 2016, after months of intense work, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, the German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung, and over 100 other media partners, published the first news stories on the now infamous ‘Panama Papers’. In the light of the leaks, the European Parliament decided, on 8 June 2016, to establish a … Continue reading
Aggressive tax planning – The TAXE 2 report [Plenary Podcast]
Written by Gustaf Gimdal, The special committee on tax rulings and other measures similar in nature or effect (TAXE 2) adopted its report on 21 June 2016. The report is now on the agenda for the plenary on 4–7 July 2016, with a vote planned for 7 July. Background Following the LuxLeaks revelations, which broke on … Continue reading
Tax Transparency [Topical Digest]
Updated on 15 April 2016 Tax transparency has once again hit the headlines with outcry across the world over the leaked ‘Panama Papers’, which highlight that tax avoidance and evasion is practised by individual taxpayers, and not just by multinational enterprises (which were already under scrutiny following the ‘Lux-leaks’ affair). The European Union works actively … Continue reading
Panama papers: A need for global action on tax
Written by Cécile Remeur, The practices and policies of taxpayers and tax jurisdictions that make revenues and tax bases opaque, reducing tax bills and resulting in lost resources for countries, have been continuously in the news over recent days. Yet, the ‘Panama papers’, revealed as a result of a joint journalistic investigation (under the auspices … Continue reading
Tax rulings and state aid – literature
Written by Veronika Kunz and Teresa Garcia Lopez The Special Committee of the European Parliament on Tax Rulings and Other Measures Similar in Nature or Effect (TAXE) “will look into tax ruling practices […], but will also review the way the European Commission treats state aid in member states and the extent to which they … Continue reading
EP reaction to the Lux-leaks revelations
Many citizens are writing to the European Parliament wishing to know what the Parliament is doing on the issue of the ‘Lux-leaks’ revelations concerning preferential tax treatments granted to multinationals in Luxembourg. 3 language versions available in PDF format EN: EP reaction to the Lux-leaks revelations FR: Réaction du Parlement européen aux révélations dans l’affaire … Continue reading
Lutte de l’UE contre la fraude et l’évasion fiscales
La fraude et l’évasion fiscales pèsent sur les budgets et les contribuables de l’Union européenne (UE) car, en permettant à certains de ne pas payer ou de moins payer d’impôts, elles privent les budgets de recettes fiscales. Pour réintégrer les recettes fiscales non perçues, la lutte contre la fraude et l’évasion fiscales doit être coordonnée, … Continue reading
Action de l’UE visant à réduire le commerce illicite du tabac
English version: EU action to reduce illicit trade in tobacco products Le commerce illicite des produits du tabac prive l’Union européenne (UE) et les États membres de recettes douanières et fiscales considérables. Cette activité criminelle particulièrement lucrative sape en outre les politiques de santé publique, menace les entreprises légales et participe au financement du crime organisé. La coopération internationale en matière de lutte contre … Continue reading
A FATCA for the EU? Data protection aspects of automatic exchange of bank information
The revelation of scandals involving offshore accounts, as well as the economic crisis, has created a new momentum in the fight against tax evasion. The EU has already put in place instruments for the exchange of bank information such as the Savings Directive, albeit with Luxembourg and Austria opting instead for an anonymous withholding tax … Continue reading
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