Substantive measures relating to ‘residence bonds’
29.9.2016
Question for written answer E-007250-16
to the Commission
Rule 130
Tibor Szanyi (S&D)
Regrettably, I have not received a satisfactory reply from the Commission to my questions E-002681/2016 and P-002676/2016 concerning trade in ‘residence bonds’.
Instead, the Commission stated that its security strategy assigned priority to the fight against terrorism and to increasing law enforcement's capacity to address the finance of organised crime and its infiltration into the licit economy, while also stressing its commitment to measures to combat tax evasion.
Acknowledging that, in the absence of powers, the Commission’s opportunities to investigate the security and taxation risks arising from residence bonds are currently limited:
- 1.Does the Commission recognise the security and taxation risks arising from residence bonds while also bearing in mind that it is most unlikely that governments which supervise trade in these bonds and derive profit from them will institute investigations or launch criminal proceedings against themselves?
- 2.Does the Commission acknowledge that the European security strategy and the fight against tax evasion may easily become a vain, Sisyphean task due to loopholes in Member States’ laws which cannot be monitored and which fall outside the Commission’s fields of responsibility?
- 3.In view of the above, in order to put an end to loopholes in security and taxation will the Commission initiate a more detailed investigation into residence bonds issued by the Member States, possibly seeking the assistance of tax authorities in third countries?