MEPs urge Schulz to set up inquiry committee on tax evasion

A quarter of the members of the European Parliament backed on 14 January 2015 a proposal by the Greens calling for chamber's president Martin Schulz to set up an inquiry committee on tax evasion, following the revelations about Luxembourg tax avoidance schemes for multinational corporations.

Greens/EFA co-president Philippe Lamberts stated that it would not be a inquiry against European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker, who was in the past Luxembourg's prime minister.

However, on the 5 February 2015 the leaders of the political groups in the European Parliament discussed the proposal to create a full European Parliament inquiry committee. The conference of presidents failed to endorse the inquiry committee idea. Instead, the bigger political groups (EPP, S&D, ECR and ALDE) agreed to the creation of a special committee, a parliamentary instrument with less standing and reduced investigative powers.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Juncker admits he is 'weaker' after fresh batch of Luxleaks revelations http://www.europeansources.info/record/juncker-admits-he-is-weaker-after-fresh-batch-of-luxleaks-revelations/

Greens/EFA: Press Release, 14.01.15: EU Parliament inquiry committee gains cross-political support and must be swiftly put in place http://www.greens-efa.eu/tax-evasionluxembourg-leaks-13398.html

Financial Times, 14.01.15: ‘Sweetheart’ tax deals inquiry a setback for Jean-Claude Juncker http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/3e5cbbfa-9bff-11e4-b6cc-00144feabdc0.html

EUObserver, 14.01.15: Greens get cross-party support for LuxLeaks inquiry https://euobserver.com/institutional/127209

The Guardian, 14.01.15: MEPs urge parliamentary inquiry into tax deals in wake of Luxleaks http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/jan/14/meps-european-parliament-inquiry-luxleaks

EUObserver, 02.02.15: MEP predicts 'blood on carpet' in EU tax inquiry https://euobserver.com/political/127466

EUObserver, 06.02.15: Big groups in EP downgrade 'LuxLeaks' probe https://euobserver.com/political/127520

Greens/EFA: Press Release, 05.02.15: Blocking EU Parliament inquiry committee a bad political choice, which undermines the EP http://www.greens-efa.eu/tax-evasionluxembourg-leaks-13498.html

EurActiv, 06.02.15: Parliament shuns committee of inquiry into Luxleaks http://www.euractiv.com/sections/euro-finance/parliament-shuns-committee-inquiry-luxleaks-311886

EurActiv, 11.02.15: Parliament despondent after failure of Luxleaks committee http://www.euractiv.com/sections/euro-finance/parliament-despondent-after-failure-luxleaks-committee-312022

Blog: EP: EPRS, 19.02.15: EP reaction to the Lux-leaks revelations http://epthinktank.eu/2015/02/19/ep-reaction-to-the-lux-leaks-revelations/

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