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Pandora Papers: Casa calls for action against secret offshore companies
Casa: With the Pandora Papers, we are once again reminded of how far powerful people go, to avoid scrutiny over funds at their disposal and their provenance
6 October 2021, 5:08pm
Matthew Vella
Matthew Vella
2 min read
Nationalist MEP David Casa
The Nationalist MEP and Quaestor David Casa spoke out against the use of offshore jurisdictions, following the revelations of the Pandora Papers, the biggest leak of documents from offshore law firms to date.
Five years after the Panama Papers, Europe is still debating on how to deal with the ultra-rich who use expensive legal services to stockpile their wealth, tucked away from scrutiny.
“We have learnt nothing from the Panama Papers,” Casa declared in an address to the European Parliament plenary in Strasbourg, just days before the 4th anniversary of the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia, who had reported on the Panama Papers in 2016.
“With the Pandora Papers, we are once again reminded of how far powerful people go, to avoid scrutiny over funds at their disposal and their provenance. In the aftermath of the pandemic, the Pandora Papers is a slap in the face of recovery efforts for the economy, on which honest workers and families depend.
“This money shouldn’t be hidden away. Politicians shouldn’t hide money, but invest money in our youth to find better work; in those who lost their jobs because of the pandemic, to find other opportunities; for those who lost their part-time jobs, to find other work.”
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Casa underlined the disillusionment of European citizens, when politicians are caught flouting their own obligations towards the citizens and the state.
“This is especially true for those who opened offshore companies and accounts to hide their ill-gotten gains, notably through embezzlement, kickbacks, and money laundering.
“My appeal is clear: together - all the European institutions - let's unite, let's pass the necessary laws, and let's ensure that they are enforced. Those who have buried their cash, should not find the law on their side. I give my word that I will be on the forefront on this fight, so that the corrupt are made accountable for their actions. Justice must be done and must be seen to be done. We can only achieve this if we work together.”
This article is part of a content series called Ewropej. This is a multi-newsroom initiative part-funded by the European Parliament to bring the work of the EP closer to the citizens of Malta and keep them informed about matters that affect their daily lives. This article reflects only the author’s view. The action was co-financed by the European Union in the frame of the European Parliament's grant programme in the field of communication. The European Parliament was not involved in its preparation and is, in no case, responsible for or bound by the information or opinions expressed in the context of this action. In accordance with applicable law, the authors, interviewed people, publishers or programme broadcasters are solely responsible. The European Parliament can also not be held liable for direct or indirect damage that may result from the implementation of the action.
Matthew Vella, a freelance journalist at MaltaToday, was formerly executive editor at Malt...
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