The Balkan press is reporting a mixed reaction to the Macedonian government's announcement yesterday of plans to create a tax haven in that country. While financial experts are reportedly cock-a-hoop about the plan (who doesn't like a free lunch?), and Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski (pictured) says … [Read more...]
AllEurope
Jean-Claude Juncker and the rise of extremism
We have previously blogged about the role played by the former Luxembourg prime minister in shaping the rise of tax haven Luxembourg. Europe now faces the prospect that he will be elected the next president of the European Commission this coming week. If this happens, those politicians who vote … [Read more...]
The Offshore Wrapper: a week in tax justice
Did Qatar bribe its way to host World Cup 2022? The UK’s Sunday Times is filled with explosive allegations that Qatar bought the right to host the 2022 World Cup through a series of bribes to FIFA officials. The reports are based on a leak of a database to the paper. … [Read more...]
The Offshore Wrapper: a week in tax justice
The Offshore Wrapper is written by George Turner It’s just take, take, take… Three members of Take That, the highly successful UK boy band, have been caught “on the take” by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC). … [Read more...]
European voters: make tax dodging an election issue
From our friends at Eurodad: Eurodad … [Read more...]
“Western tax havens have resulted in Ukrainian deaths”
Here's something for the weekend. The American Interest has just published this article by Ben Judah, whose previous article on why Russia no longer fears the West caused such a stir earlier this year. The title says it all: How Offshore Finance Sank Western Soft Power. … [Read more...]
The Offshore Wrapper: a week in tax justice
The Offshore Wrapper is written by George Turner Switzerland-India Dispute Last week we reported that India is getting tough with Cyprus and Mauritius on tax. This week it is Switzerland’s turn to feel Indian ire. … [Read more...]
The Offshore Wrapper: A week in tax justice
The Offshore Wrapper is written by George Turner Nigeria – failed state? Recently Nigeria almost doubled its GDP in a day, showing that strong growth in a time of global economic malaise is still possible - on paper at least. … [Read more...]
European Investment Bank exposes “hypocritical nature of western financial institutions”
The Guardian has published an article, picked up by media across the world, about the NGO follow-up to revelations in 2011 that the European Investment Bank had lent money to the Zambian firm Mopani Copper Mines (a.k.a. Glencore) which avoided paying tens of millions of dollars in local tax. At … [Read more...]
European Union Savings Tax Directive Amendments – coming very soon?
We have written at length about the European Union Savings Tax Directive (EUSD), a scheme involving 43 European countries and other participating jurisdictions to tackle tax evasion by exchanging appropriate information automatically with each other. … [Read more...]
Automatic info exchange: will Europe’s spoilers soon play ball?
Recently we explored the welcome (if imperfect) news that the OECD had presented its report on a new global standard for countries and tax havens to exchange information with each other automatically: a brand new tool for fighting tax evasion. And a few days ago we reported on a European … [Read more...]
Links Jan 21
HIghlights of Offshore Leaks So Far ICIJ See also: ICIJ To Reveal China's Offshore Secrets … [Read more...]
Links Jan 14
"BEPS Action Plan: Update on 2014 Deliverables"- Live Webcast Thursday 23 January OECD Hellenic EU Presidency Outlines Priorities Tax-News "Greece will press for the extension of automatic information exchange procedures as part of its six month European Union (EU) Presidency." … [Read more...]
Jersey: A Case Study in Path Dependence
This blog is part of a series highlighting the narrative reports from a number of secrecy jurisdictions around the world, explaining how they became offshore financial centres. Jersey ranked ninth on the 2013 Financial Secrecy Index. … [Read more...]
Architect behind Eurozone’s biggest tax haven wants to be EC president
This is a very dangerous development. From Euractiv: "Former Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, the EU's longest-serving elder statesman, threw his hat into the ring yesterday (9 January) for the presidency of the European Commission to succeed José Manuel Barroso. … [Read more...]
