EP launches new committee to tackle tax evasion

After the Panama Papers scandal and the success of the special committee created at the European Parliament to fight tax evasion, today the European Parliament set up a new committee which will continue to tackle financial crimes, tax evasion and tax avoidance.

This committee will build on the work carried out by PANA, TAXE and TAX2 committees and focus on the effective implementation and the appropriate follow up of the recommendations they made to the Member States and the Commission.

The new committee will, among other things:

- Follow up on the progress made by Member States in the fight against harmful tax practices allowing tax avoidance and/or tax evasion that are harmful to the functioning of the Single market.

- Evaluate the impact of VAT fraud and administrative cooperation rules in the EU

- Contribute to the evaluation of tax evasion and tax avoidance related to the digital economy.

- Analyse and assess the third‑country dimension in financial crimes, tax avoidance and tax evasion practices, including the impact on developing countries.

ALDE MEP Petr Ježek co-rapporteur on the report of the PANA inquiry committee said: “Our battle against money laundering and tax evasion is far from over, as also the Paradise Papers revelations have showed. We still have more enquiries to do and we have to explore how the recommendations we made in PANA, TAXE1 and TAXE2 are observed by the Commission and Member States. Fair taxation is certainly one of the elements which would enhance the benefits of globalization.

More info: david.vidal@europarl.europa.eu