Greens welcome the revision of the Anti-Money laundering directive
AD Chairperson, Prof . Arnold Cassola, said: “Alternattiva Demokratika welcomes the revision of the Anti-Money laundering directive at Committee stage in the European Parliament. A public register for companies and trusts will make it more difficult for people like Konrad Mizzi, Keith Schembri and Brian Tonna to open up shelf companies and obscure trusts. Stronger sanctions are being proposed for violators of this directive as well as more control of the financial intermediaries. The increased income by the state should serve to better finance the social system and the health and educational institutions of our country”.
Greens/EFA economic and finance spokesperson Sven Giegold said:”This is a very strong signal from the European Parliament in the fight against money laundering and the financing of terrorism. The position adopted today includes a number of Green ideas and is a strong response to the Panama Papers scandal. The majority of MEPs have rightly backed better control of the middle-men who make these crimes possible. We must put the interests of the public good ahead of those of a small number of big businesses and banks. We are especially pleased to have secured a Green proposal for the introduction of a real estate register showing who owns what land and property in each Member State. Real estate is often misused for money laundering purposes and it is crucial to have public information on who benefits from its ownership.”
“In so many of the tax dodging scandals of recent years, poor enforcement has been as much of a problem as poor legislation. Our proposal, backed by the majority today, would grant the European Commission the power to audit Member States’ relevant authorities to make sure they are enforcing the rules and to stop further scandals happening.”
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Alternattiva Demokratika tilqa’ pożittivament ir-reviżjoni tad-direttiva kontra l-Ħasil tal-Flus
Iċ-Chaiperson ta’ Alternattiva Demokratika, il-Prof. Arnold Cassola, qal: “Alternattiva Demokratika tilqa’ pożittivament ir-reviżjoni tad-direttiva kontra l-Ħasil tal-flus fl-istadju ta’ kumitat fil-Parlament Ewropew. Reġsitru pubbliku għall-kumpaniji u għat-Trusts ser jagħmilha aktar diffiċli għal nies bħal Konrad Mizzi, Keith Schembri u Brian Tonna biex jiftħu “shelf companies” u trusts oskuri. Qed jiġu proposti sanzjonijiet akbar għal min jikser din id-direttiva kif ukoll kontroll akbar fuq l-intermedjaturi finanzjarji. Il-flus żejda li mistennija jidħlu fil-kaxxa tal-istat għandhom iservu biex jiffinanzjaw aħjar is-s-sistema soċjali kif ukoll l-istituzzjonijiet finanzjarji u edukattivi ta’ pajjiżna”.
Il-Kelliem tal-Greens/EFA fil-Parlament Ewropew, Sven Giegold, qal: “Dan huwa sinjal qawwi li qed jagħti l-Parlament Ewropew fil-ġlieda kontra l-ħasil tal-flus u l-finanzjament tat-terroriżmu. Il-pożizzjoni adottata llum tinkludi bosta proposti u ideat tal-Greens u hija tweġiba qawwija għall-iskandlu tal-Panama Papers. Il-maġġoranza kbira tal-MEPs ġustament appoġġaw kontroll aktar strett tal-intermedjarji li jiffaċilitaw il-krimini finanzjarji. Aħna għandna nqiegħdu il-ġid u l-interess komuni qabel dawk ta’ numru żgħir ta’ businesses kbar u tal-banek. Aħna partikolarment kuntenti li ġiet aċċettata l-proposta tal-Greens biex jiġi introdott reġistru tal-proprjeta’ tal-bini li juri f’kull pajjiż membru tal-EU min hu s-sid tal-artijiet u tal-proprjeta’. Ħafna drabi l-art, l-bini u l-proprjeta’ huma użati għall-ħasil tal-flus u għalhekk huwa kruċjali li jkollna informazzjoni pubblika dwar min ikun qed jibbenefika mill-proprjetajiet.”
“F’ħafna mill-iskandli ta’ skartar u evitar ta’ taxxi f’ dawn l-aħħar snin, in-nuqqas ta’ infurzar kien problema kbira daqs in-nuqqas ta’ liġijiet effiċjenti. Il-proposta tagħna l-Greens, milqugħa mill-maġġoranza tal-MEPs, tagħti l-poter lill-Kummissjoni Ewropea li tagħmel awditjar tal-awtoritajiet nazzjonali biex tiżgura li dawna qed jinfurzaw ir-regoli u qed iżommu aktar skandli milli jseħħu”