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01/22/2008

Where do Presidential Candidates Stand on Tax Havens ?

Tax Justice Network -USA calls on the presidential candidates to declare what they would do to combat tax evasion.

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07:06 Posted in General | Permalink | Comments (0)

01/13/2008

What is the use of abiding by ethical rules stated at the international level?

Today I would like to lay emphasis on the consequences of the “generous grant’ received by the FATF from the financial center of Luxembourg for international organisations (OECD, IMF…) in their programs in fighting against fraud, corruption and money laundering in developing countries despite such grant is compatible neither with the official funding of the FATF nor its assignments.
(FATF, Annual Report 2006-2007, paragraphs 54 and 55 page 17)

First of all, let’s recall what Luc Frieden (Minister of Justice in Luxembourg) stated at the IMF Boards of Governors in 2002 : "Personally, I have no doubt that my country can lead by example in promoting good governance, in fighting against the financing of terrorism and against money laundering, and in actively promoting development policies."

What example?
For a Court to receive a generous grant from a litigant it is gonna judge?
For a commission tender to receive a generous grant from a tender it is gonna assess?
For an auditor to receive a generous grant from an auditee it is gonna audit?
And so on.

By sheltering in a complicit silence and inaction despite many public and official red flags (that are the visible part of the iceberg) of poor governance in Luxembourg, international organisations are responsible for the drifts that took place, the “generous grant” being a milestone.

I was speaker at a conference relating to « Financial Institutions, markets and ethics : Mixed approaches in the European context » (Firenze, May 2007) : my topic was "Ethics in Luxembourg : between myth and reality". The speaker who introduced the conference (Yves Meny) explained that when you have principles you don't need rules. But we are in a situation where there is neither principles nor rules but the rule of money.

Developing countries now only have a couple of word to say to international advisors and/or assessors: up yours; ensure first that developed countries clean up their act.

07:55 Posted in General | Permalink | Comments (0)

01/10/2008

Parliamentary question about tax havens

Mr. Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will commission research on the levels of use of offshore tax havens by UK banks and the economic effects of that use. [175531]

Jane Kennedy: There are no plans to commission research on the levels of use of offshore tax havens by UK banks and the economic effects of that use.

Source

20:15 Posted in UK | Permalink | Comments (0)