Paradise Papers: ‘The EU needs to sort out tax havens’ blasts Poland’s deputy PM

It is the latest clash between and the EU as tensions escalate between Brussels and the member state. 

The so-called Paradise Papers, exposed the names of over 120 politicians, celebrities and prominent sportsmen who have been quietly investing their funds in off-shore accounts.

Among those named in the papers, are former EU parliamentarian Pawel Piskorski, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, former Chancellor of Austria Alfred Gusenbauer and even Queen Elizabeth II.

Mateusz Morawiecki said the Paradise Papers “could prove to be a seismic tremor” as he blasted the “global elite” for depriving the EU and its member states of billions in funding through tax evasion.

In a fervent press release, Mr Morawiecki demanded the EU address the Paradise Papers. 

He said: “The European Commission, European Parliament and Council of the need to immediately address the Paradise Papers, because we are likely talking about billions in unpaid taxes, which have thinned each member states’ budgets.

“Tax heavens equate to unbuilt hospitals and roads in Poland, in Italy, in Slovakia or Spain.

“Havens for the few, reduce the quality of life for 99 per cent of society.”

The leaked documents are the second biggest data leak, following the infamous Panama Papers in 2015.

The 13 million files were obtained by German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung, and shared with the the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.

About six million of the documents come from 19 corporate registries located in the Caribbean, and nearly seven million relate to offshore legal service provider Appleby.

Mr Morawiecki said: “Lux Leaks and the Panama Papers were a breakthrough, but the Paradise Papers could prove to be a seismic tremor which could forever change global perceptions of tax havens.”

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The Deputy PM, also argued the Paradise Papers prove that tax evasion is a problem felt on a global scale.

In his mind, the continued existence of tax havens is only possible thanks to the involvement of individuals and corporations “from the front pages of the papers”.

He added the world’s richest cannot be “immune” to the responsibility of paying taxes.

Calling tax havens a “capitalist privilege of the few”, he said they exist in a system which already favours the rich at the cost of society’s needs.

The Minister said the only solution to the problem is to rebuild Europe’s welfare through a new model of republican-democrat capitalism.

He said: “I am appealing to the societies of these nations to exert pressure on their political leaders, so that today’s more developed and wealthy countries of the world do not carry out tax dumps on weaker nations, such as Poland, which have been treated less favourably or brutally by history.”

“The problem of tax havens can only be sorted out on a global scale, which is why we need an agreement similar to the old Bretton Woods, which would contain new rules on international tax law.

“The European Union needs to fight with a strong voice, for an end to these practices, which break the principles of solidarity and elementary justice.”