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EU leaders blasted for ignoring tax dodging

Tuesday, 12 October 2021 2:59 AM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 12 October 2021 2:59 AM ]

Jerome Hughes
Press TV, Brussels

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis is the most high profile politician in the EU to be exposed by the Pandora Papers leak earlier this month. It was revealed that Babis, who lost a re-election bid just last Saturday, spent €19m using tax haven companies to buy a château in France. The scandal has just been debated in the European Parliament.

Hundreds of current and former politicians, celebrities, religious leaders and drug dealers have used so-called shell companies to hide their wealth and investments.

A consortium of journalists from around the world compiled the report containing 12 million leaked documents, dubbed the Pandora Papers.

Most of those avoiding tax are based in the West. EU leaders, who talk a lot about values, are accused of hypocrisy.

Experts warn the issue will never be resolved unless the rich and powerful develop a conscience.

Legislators say a big problem relates to the amount of money politicians and policy-makers can generate for themselves.

Revelations like these are nothing new. Lawmakers say it proves European Commission policies in this area are not working and therefore it's simply a matter of time before more scandals come to light.

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