S&D - Group of the Progressive Alliance of Sociali : Hannes Swoboda: "The SPD’s Braunschweig declaration is an important step in the fight against tax evasion in Europe"

Following yesterday's presentation of the so-called Braunschweig declaration for fairer taxation by SPD chancellor candidate Peer Steinbrück, party leader Sigmar Gabriel and leader of the SPD in Lower-Saxony, Stephan Weil, the Chairman of the Socialists & Democrats Group in the European Parliament, Hannes Swoboda stated:

"We support this paper and its content fully. Given the current developments in the use of tax havens, the initiative by Peer Steinbrück, Sigmar Gabriel and Stephan Weil has come at exactly the right time.

Our group has also felt the need for active engagement, and the estimated potential savings of 850 billion Euros mentioned in the Braunschweig declarationis, in our view, even a conservative one.

Last year our group presented a study estimating the potential savings of 1 trillion Euros, which is even higher than the figures presented now".

Hannes Swoboda argued in support of an active approach at the European level:

"It is important to tackle this issue at the European level and to take decisive steps against future tax evasion.

It is high time that Luxembourg and Austria abandon their opposition to an effective agreement with Switzerland, and sit with us the table to negotiate."

Regarding the withdrawal of banking licences called for by the SPD, Hannes Swoboda said:

"Our group supports and endorses the proposed withdrawal of banking licences when tax evasion is continually facilitated, which the paper calls for. This is an important measure to prevent assistance in tax evasion.

In Europe tax evasion has reached drastic proportions, and the time has come to respond with drastic measures".