Today the European Parliament debated with the Council and the Commission concrete ways to combat tax fraud and tax evasion. .

"Cutting expenditure is not the only tool to recover from the current crisis. Fighting against tax fraud and tax evasion is equally important as Greece's struggling situation has shown". said ALDE spokesperson on the topic Sylvie Goulard (Modem, France).

"Tax evasion is a phenomenon that finds its own lifeblood in legislative loopholes and lack of cooperation within the EU and between Member States and third countries". Therefore by referring to the European Council conclusions adopted on 2 March whereby both the Council and the Commission are invited to develop concrete ways to improve this fight and to report by June 2012, she concluded: "It is in the interest of all Member States to make the utmost effort in fostering a closer cooperation and coordination in the field of taxation as well as opting for an EU-wide agreement with third countries. We also need a comprehensive EU strategy to tackle the problem of tax havens".   

ALDE MEP Izaskun Bilbao Barandica (PNV, Spain) said: "Combating tax fraud and tax evasion is a matter of social justice and institutional efficiency. Firstly because it discourages fraudsters and encourages fair play. Secondly, because it improves the public accounts balance..We especially need to improve control over the black economy and eliminate this practice, which is a more systematic and horizontal form of evading taxes or committing tax fraud".