About: Panama Papers

Campaigners hail ‘significant’ UK move on tax havens

Britain's historic decision to compel its overseas territories to identify the owners of registered companies marks a "significant" moment in the global crackdown on dirty money, campaigners said Wednesday (2 May).

Tackling corruption in football is actually a fight for democracy

Football can be a force for good and democratisation but it can also shelter some of the worst aspects of society, like corruption and money laundering to mask illegal activities, warns MEP Stelios Kouloglou.

EU now better prepared to tackle tax evasion

Two years after the Panama Papers scandal revealed the scope of tax haven activities, the EU has adopted new legislation and is now better prepared to tackle tax evasion and fraud. EURACTIV’s partner Euroefe reports.

EIB needs to commit to responsible taxation policy, NGO coalition says

On the second anniversary of the Panama Papers tax scandal, the European coalition of development and environmental non-governmental organisations Counter Balance calls the European Investment Bank (EIB) to develop a comprehensive and responsible taxation policy.

Uproar over removal of Panama and seven others from EU tax haven blacklist

European Union finance ministers agreed on Tuesday (23 January) to remove eight jurisdictions, including much-criticised Panama, from the bloc’s blacklist of tax havens, one month after the list was set up. The decision prompted an outcry from lawmakers and activists.

MEPs try to add EU member states to the blacklist of tax havens

Socialists (S&D) want to add the Netherlands, Ireland, Luxembourg and Malta to the blacklist of tax havens in the EU during a vote on the report of the committee of inquiry on tax evasion next Tuesday (12 December). EURACTIV France reports.

EU adopts list of 17 tax havens, Panama first to protest

The EU finance ministers adopted yesterday (5 December) a list of “non-cooperative tax jurisdictions”, which is another way to label tax havens.

EU divided over tax haven blacklist

European Union ministers will haggle on Tuesday to draw up a blacklist of non-EU tax havens, with about 20 countries in danger of being publicly exposed for facilitating tax evasion.

Maltese police arrest ten suspects in murder of anti-graft journalist

Maltese police have arrested ten suspects in the murder of anti-corruption blogger Daphne Caruana Galizia, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said on Monday (4 December), after an EU delegation left the island last week saying there were serious concerns about the rule of law there.

Paradise Papers is an ‘opportunity’ for EU to tackle multinational tax evasion, says Greek MEP

The Paradise Papers has presented the EU with a golden opportunity to crack down on tax evasion by multinationals and the art of investing profits from cheap labour in tax havens practised by emerging economies, insists European Parliament Vice-President Dimitris Papadimoulis.

EU denounces ‘shocking’ Paradise Papers revelations

The European Union on Monday (6 November) denounced the "shocking" revelations on the way top companies and dignitaries, including Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, avoid taxes using offshore wealth hubs.

‘Paradise Papers’ embarrass US trade chief, Queen Elizabeth, and counting

The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists on Sunday (5 November) released The Paradise Papers, a global investigation that reveals the offshore activities of some of the world’s most powerful people and companies.

MEPs call for stronger protection for whistleblowers

MEPs adopted by a large majority a report calling for a tough EU law on the protection of whistleblowers on Tuesday (24 October), despite attempts by some right-wing MEPs to water it down. EURACTIV France reports.

Murder of Malta’s top investigative journalist provokes shock and outrage

Daphne Caruana Galizia, Malta’s top investigative journalist, was killed on Monday (16 October) when the car she was driving exploded shortly after she left her home.

Cake and taxes

The European Parliament has the opportunity on Monday (12 June) to vote for real public country-by-country tax reporting. Anything short of real transparency will allow large companies to keep hiding crucial information and avoiding their fair share of taxes, writes Elena Gaita.

Multinationals should say what they pay

From an investor’s perspective, planned transparency is far preferable to surprise leaks or investigations into corporate tax avoidance strategies which lead to reputational risk and government crackdown, writes Morris Pearl.

OLAF investigates EU leaders in Panama Papers scandal

The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) is investigating several European politicians and high-ranking civil servants for tax evasion, using information leaked in the Panama Papers scandal. EURACTIV’s partner La Tribune reports.

Booming Malta to deliver verdict on scandal-hit PM

Maltese voters head to the polls tomorrow (3 June) to deliver their verdict on a government hit by corruption allegations linked to the Panama Papers scandal, but fortified by a booming economy.

Juncker promises EU law to protect whistleblowers

At his hearing with MEPs investigating the Panama Papers scandal on Tuesday (30 May), the European Commission president promised to present a bill to improve and harmonise the protection of whistleblowers across the EU, a subject on which the block is divided. EURACTIV France reports.

MEPs grill Juncker over LuxLeaks: ‘You turned from Saul to Paul’

European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker admitted on Tuesday (30 May) that he overlooked certain effects of Luxembourg's tax policy during his tenure as prime minister of the tiny member state.

Malta branded ‘Panama of Europe’ after anonymous tip-off

An anonymous tip has alerted German authorities to the existence of 70,000 offshore companies registered in Malta. Tax investigators now want to share that data with other countries. EURACTIV’s partner Italia Oggi reports.

Snap elections over Panama Papers scandal shake up Malta’s EU presidency

Malta's Prime Minister Joseph Muscat yesterday (1 May) called a snap general election for 3 June, bowing to pressure over his family being embroiled in the Panama Papers scandal. Malta is holding the rotating presidency of the EU until 1 July when Estonia will take over.

French prosecutor’s office eagerly awaits launch of European equivalent

France's anti-corruption efforts were boosted three years ago with the creation of a national finance prosecutor's office (PNF). The planned European Public Prosecutor's Office could simplify its now high-profile investigations. EURACTIV France reports.