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• European Parliament, Strasbourg, 21 May 2013

• Speaker: Nigel Farage MEP, Leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP), Co-President of the 'Europe of Freedom and Democracy' (EFD) Group in the European Parliament - http://nigelfaragemep.co.uk

• Joint debate: European Council meeting (22 May 2013) - tax fraud and tax havens

1. Preparations for the European Council meeting (22 May 2013)
Council and Commission statements
[2012/2805(RSP)]

2. Fight against tax fraud, tax evasion and tax havens
Report: Mojca Kleva Kekuš (A7-0162/2013)
Report on Fight against Tax Fraud, Tax Evasion and Tax Havens
[COM(2012)0722 - - 2013/2060(INI)]
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs

3. Annual tax report: how to free the EU potential for economic growth
Report: Ildikó Gáll-Pelcz (A7-0154/2013)
Report on the Annual Tax report: how to free the EU potential for economic growth
[COM(2012)0756 - - 2013/2025(INI)]
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs

• Bluecard question: Liisa JAAKONSAARI MEP (Finland), Socialist group (S&D)

Speech transcript:

"Thank you. Well there is a great degree of unity here this morning, with a common enemy - rich people, successful companies evading tax, which of course is a problem.

Avoiding tax, which is not illegal, but it gives this whole chamber this morning a high moral tone.

And as Mr Barroso says it is all about the perception of fairness. Because there is the added bonus of course that it drives a wedge between the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, and the Caymans.

But before we declare our virtues, perhaps we ought to look just a little bit closer to home.

And I hope that the taxpayers all over Europe listen to this. If we look at the EU officials who work for the European Commission and the European Parliament, the highest category [the most common grade is AD12] are people that earn a net take home pay of just over 100 thousand pounds a year. And yet under EU rules they pay tax of 12 per cent. It is tax fraud on an absolutely massive scale.

And Mr Barroso I would say to you, how can that be deemed to be fair? How can people out there struggling - the 16 million people unemployed in the eurozone - how can they look at these institutions, not only paying people vast sums of money but allowing them tax and pension benefits on a scale not seen anywhere else in the world? So I suggest we have a bit less of this high moral tone.

And what have these officials given us? Well, they were the architects of the euro, which is a complete disaster. Their obsession with global warming which chimes very strongly here means we are despoiling our landscapes and seascapes with these disgusting wind turbines and driving up energy prices.

But never let it be said that I cannot acknowledge success when I see it. And I am sure the citizens of Europe will all clap and cheer loudly that the grave, mortal danger of olive oil in dipping bowls has been removed by the officials. Well done everybody."

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Video source: EbS (European Parliament)
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• EU Member States:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, United Kingdom