Пълен протокол на разискванията

Четвъртък, 5 юли 2018 г. - Страсбург

7.8. Неблагоприятното въздействие на Акта на САЩ за спазване на данъчното законодателство във връзка със задгранични сметки за гражданите на ЕС (B8-0306/2018)

Ústní vysvětlení hlasování

  Andrejs Mamikins (S&D). – Mr President, providing an adequate level of protection for personal data transferred to the US under FATCA in full compliance with national and EU data protection law is a matter of crucial importance for the European Union. Thus I call on the Member States and the Commission to ensure that the fundamental rights of all citizens are guaranteed, especially the right to a private and family life.

The right to privacy and the principle of non—discrimination is laid down in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and in the European Convention on Human Rights.

It is necessary to present a joint EU approach to FATCA in order adequately to protect the rights of European citizens and improve equal reciprocity in the automatic exchange of information by the United States of America. I also would like to call on the Commission to open negotiations with the US on an EU—US FATCA Agreement with a view to ensuring full mutual exchange of information.

  Alex Mayer (S&D). – Mr President, I welcome this resolution. Since I spoke in this Chamber last night, I have heard from more accidental Americans in my constituency. Michelle, who lives in Norfolk, was born in the United States to a British dad and a Canadian mum and left aged four years old. Since then, she’s only lived studied and worked in Britain and, of course, paid British tax, but now her bank is threatening to close her account if she doesn’t supply multiple US tax compliance documents, not least providing her US Social Security number, which of course she doesn’t have. I have heard from constituents who are getting into debt, having their bank accounts closed and are feeling afraid and scared.

We have got European banks handing over personal data about their customers to the US authorities. FATCA breaches the right to data privacy under the European Convention on Human Rights. It’s time for a rethink so that Brits who never wanted to be Americans can continue ‘life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness’ in the place that they call home without being chased down like common criminals by the US tax authorities.