unimelb-nlp/MultiEup-v2 huggingface dataset:
Debate: State of play of the EU's fight against money laundering, in light of the Luanda Leaks
Date: WEDNESDAY, 12 FEBRUARY 2020
Speaker: Nikolina Brnjac
Language: EN

Let me start by assuring you that the Council, like the Parliament and the Commission, is fully committed to the fight against money laundering and terrorism financing. Together, we have made substantial progress in this area, including with amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering Directive and the Banking Package, the European Banking Authority Regulation and in the Criminal Law Framework. All these recent rules now need to be implemented and enforced. The speculations raised by the Luanda Leaks case are indeed alarming and damaging if confirmed. Damaging not only to the country in question, which may have been deprived of essential revenues, but also for EU banks if it turns out that not all applicable rules were followed. I understand that related investigations are being undertaken, including in Angola and Portugal, which now need to follow their course.  Last July, the Commission published, at the request of the Council, a post—mortem review of alleged money—laundering cases involving EU banks. In that report, the Commission identified concrete problems with the supervision and enforcement of any anti-money laundering rules across the European Union. And I think it is not excluded that we may now see some of these same issues repeated if, in fact, confirmed.  Looking ahead, however, in spite of the challenges and setbacks, there are also causes for more optimism. Indeed, there is a sense of urgency shared by Parliament, the Commission and the Council, and more than that, I would say that there is also a shared sense of ambition in tackling the big problem that is money laundering.  This brings me to the strategic conclusions that the Council adopted last December. In these conclusions, the Council advised the Commission to look into ways to increase harmonisation in the anti-money laundering area, as well as to consider the possibilities, advantages and disadvantages of establishing an EU supervisory body.  The Council is advising on other fronts as well. For one, we still have the Anti-Money Laundering Action Plan, agreed by Ecofin in December 2018, which is running its course and which we continue to monitor.  Additionally, our Presidency has started a broader discussion on fighting serious and organised crime by tracing its proceeds more effectively. We stand at an important crossroads from where we have the opportunity to proceed towards an effective regime to counter money laundering and the financing of terrorism. In this sense, I very much look forward to the Commission’s upcoming initiatives and proposals and I trust that the Commission will take on board any lessons learned in this last case, the Luanda Leaks, as appropriate.
Debate: State of play of the EU's fight against money laundering, in light of the Luanda Leaks
Date: WEDNESDAY, 12 FEBRUARY 2020
Speaker: Markus Ferber
Political group: PPE
Country: Italy
Language: DE

Die Umsetzungsfrist für die fünfte Richtlinie war vor wenigen Tagen, am 10. Januar. Zu diesem Zeitpunkt haben ganze fünf – fünf! – von siebenundzwanzig Mitgliedstaaten die Richtlinie vollumfänglich umgesetzt, fünfzehn nur teilweise – Frau Ratspräsidentin, auch wenn Sie nicht zuhören, Ihr Land gehört zu diesen fünfzehn –, und der Rest hat die Kommission noch nicht mal über die Umsetzung informiert. Ich begrüße es sehr, dass Sie heute ein Vertragsverletzungsverfahren gegen diese Mitgliedstaaten eröffnet haben. Wenn das aber die Art und Weise ist, wie die Mitgliedstaaten in der Praxis gegen Geldwäsche vorgehen, dann sind all die schönen Entschließungen der EU-Finanzminister doch nur Lippenbekenntnisse. Da die Mitgliedstaaten offenbar nicht in der Lage oder willens sind – und jetzt auch nicht zuhören –, effektiv gegen Geldwäsche vorzugehen, müssen wir schon darüber nachdenken, wie wir das Problem auf europäischer Ebene bekämpfen können. Thank you very much, President, that you are listening now again.  Immerhin geht es hier um die Integrität des europäischen Finanzsystems und auch um die Sicherheit unserer Bürgerinnen und Bürger, denn Geldwäsche und organisierte Kriminalität sind unmittelbar miteinander verknüpft. Wir haben mit der Europäischen Staatsanwaltschaft ein Modell dafür, wie man eine Behörde aufbauen kann, die auch eine europäische Perspektive in strafrechtlichen Fragen einnehmen kann. Und deswegen fordere ich die Mitgliedstaaten wirklich auf, hier mitzuarbeiten, dass wir zu europäischen Verfolgungsbehörden kommen, damit wir dieses Problem dauerhaft in den Griff bekommen. Immer darauf zu warten, bis das letzte EU-Land alles umgesetzt hat, wird nicht ausreichen.
Debate: State of play of the EU's fight against money laundering, in light of the Luanda Leaks
Date: WEDNESDAY, 12 FEBRUARY 2020
Speaker: Eero Heinäluoma
Political group: S-D
Country: Sweden
Language: FI

Ryhmämme on pitkään vaatinut pelisääntöjen tiukentamista, todellista muutosta. Nyt on aihetta sanoa, että tuskin selviämme enää näillä direktiiveillä, joita kansallisesti toimeenpannaan vaihtelevalla tavalla. Tarvitsemme yhtenäistä lainsäädäntöä, ja tähän meitä kehottaa myös finanssimaailma itse. Tämä on myös pankkien toivomus. Joten on muutoksen aika, ja se vaatii myös parempaa valvontaa eurooppalaisella tasolla.
Debate: State of play of the EU's fight against money laundering, in light of the Luanda Leaks
Date: WEDNESDAY, 12 FEBRUARY 2020
Speaker: Ramona Strugariu
Political group: Renew
Country: Italy
Language: RO

Comisia a început astăzi procedurile de infringement împotriva mai multor state, inclusiv împotriva României pentru că nu a transpus la timp Directiva a cincea. Mai mult decât atât, niciunul dintre statele membre nu a transpus corect și complet cea de-a patra Directivă, pentru care termenul de transpunere era luna iunie 2017.  Sunt câteva linii de acțiune clare care se desprind, în special, în lumina ultimelor dezvăluiri din scandalul Luanda Leaks. În primul rând, avem nevoie, doamna comisar, de regulamente pentru combaterea spălării de bani. Este o abordare curajoasă, dar absolut necesară. Directivele nu sunt un instrument suficient de puternic. Trebuie schimbată paradigma.  Apoi trebuie să cunoaștem cu adevărat beneficiarii reali. Transparența este un exercițiu absolut obligatoriu în tot acest proces.  Lacunele legislative creează situații de mare vulnerabilitate pentru Uniune și pentru statele membre. Este inacceptabil ca una din cele patru mari firme de consultanță europene, care lucrează inclusiv cu instituțiile Uniunii, să ofere consultanță financiară și legală rudelor și camarilei dictatorilor din state terțe pentru a-i ajuta să spele bani, să-și transfere activele în paradisuri fiscale și să evazioneze bugetele statelor în care operează. Răspunsul este legislație Magnitsky, orizontal, la nivel european, așa cum am cerut inclusiv prin scrisoarea trimisă Comisiei în luna decembrie.  Nu în ultimul rând, trebuie subliniat că jurnaliștii de investigație ne-au demonstrat din nou, prin dezvăluirile din Luanda Leaks, cât de importantă este munca lor pentru lupta împotriva spălării banilor și a corupției. Protecția lor, inclusiv legislativ, trebuie să fie o prioritate absolută a Comisiei și a noastră.
Debate: State of play of the EU's fight against money laundering, in light of the Luanda Leaks
Date: WEDNESDAY, 12 FEBRUARY 2020
Speaker: Sven Giegold
Political group: Verts/ALE
Language: DE

Es ist kein Zufall, dass wir es bei Luanda Leaks wieder mit unserem Mitgliedstaat Portugal zu tun haben. Schon bei den Football Leaks vor einem Jahr stand Portugal im Zentrum eines Korruptionsskandals – und was ist daraus gefolgt? Der Whistleblower, Rui Pinto, sitzt im Gefängnis, aber die wahren Verbrecher wurden nicht verfolgt. Genauso hat Portugal in großem Maße Tausende von  Wir haben daher ein Rechtsstaatlichkeitsproblem in Portugal, und die EU-Kommission muss sich dieses Problems schleunigst mit gezielten Vertragsverletzungsverfahren annehmen. Die kommende Revision der Wirtschaftsprüferrichtlinie brauchen wir, um dafür zu sorgen, dass gerade Wirtschaftsprüfer in Zukunft mit schmutzigem Geld keine Geschäfte mehr machen können, so wie es in den Luanda Leaks leider wieder aufgedeckt wurde. Dieses Problem ist noch lange nicht gelöst, wir müssen da dranbleiben.
Debate: State of play of the EU's fight against money laundering, in light of the Luanda Leaks
Date: WEDNESDAY, 12 FEBRUARY 2020
Speaker: José Gusmão
Political group: GUE/NGL
Country: Finland
Language: PT

Agora, há uma responsabilidade também das instituições europeias em perceber que, se há jurisdições nacionais que estão a facilitar o branqueamento de capitais, a evasão fiscal, a criminalidade financeira, então os restantes membros da União Europeia, e a União Europeia como um todo, têm que impedir que isso aconteça. E há o risco de a multiplicação destes escândalos terminar sem responsabilidades e sem consequências para todos os que colaboram na lavagem de dinheiro, sejam eles Estados, sejam eles as empresas de consultoria financeira que a Comissão Europeia contrata para trabalharem para instituições europeias e que estão também envolvidas nestas operações que sabem ser ilegais, e nas instituições financeiras da União Europeia. Se nada disto tem consequências, se no final deste processo a única pessoa que for responsabilizada for o Rui Pinto, que é a pessoa que trouxe estes documentos a público, então a única lição que os cidadãos irão retirar da atuação da União Europeia a é de que, nestes escândalos, só há consequências para aqueles que não cometeram crimes.
Debate: State of play of the EU's fight against money laundering, in light of the Luanda Leaks
Date: WEDNESDAY, 12 FEBRUARY 2020
Speaker: Lídia Pereira
Political group: PPE
Country: Finland
Language: PT

Senhor Presidente, Senhoras e Senhores Deputados, o branqueamento de capitais é um crime com muitas faces. Tem legitimado fortunas e investimentos, aberto a porta à contaminação de empresas e à viciação da economia. No entanto, o dinheiro lavado não perde a sua origem criminosa. Combatê-lo é mais que um imperativo económico ou de supervisão, é uma questão de Estado de Direito e, não poucas vezes, de defesa dos direitos humanos. Exigem-se respostas determinadas e sólidas. Hoje há possíveis processos de infração de Estados-Membros por falha na transposição da 5.ª Diretiva no combate ao branqueamento de capitais. Falta determinação e falta solidez, porque cada um dos vinte e sete tem a sua própria abordagem, como a Senhora Comissária bem disse na sua intervenção inicial. É na divisão que se encontra a porta entreaberta para o crime. No final de março, a Comissão apresentará o seu plano de ação. Cabe a este Parlamento responder, com ainda maior determinação e solidez, nem que para isso diretivas tenham de passar a regulamentos, e nem que para isso tenhamos de reforçar a supervisão europeia e o Banco Central Europeu, quando os reguladores nacionais continuam a falhar.
Debate: State of play of the EU's fight against money laundering, in light of the Luanda Leaks
Date: WEDNESDAY, 12 FEBRUARY 2020
Speaker: Caterina Chinnici
Political group: S-D
Country: Italy
Language: IT

Signor Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, le rivelazioni dei Luanda Leaks, che coinvolgono anche operatori di alcuni Stati membri, confermano che la lotta al riciclaggio deve rimanere fra le priorità dell'Unione europea. Il riciclaggio, insieme a corruzione e frode, rappresenta infatti uno dei mezzi attraverso cui le organizzazioni criminali si radicano sul territorio e penetrano nell'economia ledendo la libertà economica e la libera concorrenza. Ed è il riciclaggio una delle fonti di finanziamento del terrorismo.  È necessario quindi rafforzare la normativa europea antiriciclaggio ed armonizzare le legislazioni nazionali. Ed è necessario monitorare l'attuazione delle direttive sulla lotta al riciclaggio, anche quella in materia penale. Occorre poi dare all'autorità giudiziaria ed investigativa pieno accesso alle informazioni raccolte dalle FIU e dotare le autorità di contrasto di efficaci poteri di controllo già sul piano amministrativo e di un'adeguata specializzazione, come avviene ad esempio nel mio paese, l'Italia, con la Guardia di Finanza. E tutto questo anche al fine di recuperare i proventi di tali gravi reati che oggi sappiamo avviene solo nella misura dell'1 %.
Debate: State of play of the EU's fight against money laundering, in light of the Luanda Leaks
Date: WEDNESDAY, 12 FEBRUARY 2020
Speaker: Francisco Guerreiro
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: Germany
Language: PT

Senhor Presidente, Luanda Leaks, este escândalo espelha bem como o sistema financeiro, económico e fiscal promove autênticas passadeiras vermelhas de lavagem de dinheiro, corrupção e tráfico de influências. Veja-se o caso gritante e incompreensível do sistema de vistos Gold Mas mais, os dados que relacionam os vistos com a entrada de capitais duvidosos são tão evidentes que este próprio Parlamento já recomendou o fim dos vistos Gold em todos os Estados—Membros, recomendação essa a que Portugal fez, e faz, vista grossa. Mas o Luanda Leaks faz também reabrir o tema da proteção dos denunciantes e a garantia da não interferência do sistema político no jornalismo de investigação. É urgente garantir a transposição da Diretiva de 2019, nomeadamente em Portugal, sobre a proteção de denunciantes e garantir que o jornalismo de investigação tem todas as ferramentas para exercer o seu trabalho de guardião da democracia.
Debate: State of play of the EU's fight against money laundering, in light of the Luanda Leaks
Date: WEDNESDAY, 12 FEBRUARY 2020
Speaker: João Ferreira
Political group: GUE/NGL
Language: PT

Senhor Presidente, escândalos fiscais como o Lux Leaks e outros revelaram ao mundo um sistema que promove a opacidade e o anonimato e que permite o branqueamento de capitais. Na reação a tais escândalos a União Europeia mostrou que continua fortemente condicionada pelos interesses das multinacionais e não só. Medidas tidas por elementares para lutar contra o branqueamento de capitais foram travadas e, se alguma coisa mudou, foi para que ficasse tudo na mesma. Quanto a recentes alegações vindas a público, cabe às autoridades dos países envolvidos averiguar a existência de ilicitudes ou ilegalidades e agir em conformidade. Aquilo que estes acontecimentos não podem justificar, em nenhum caso, são atitudes hipócritas e de ingerência de quem aqui vê uma oportunidade para dar força às suas ambições de domínio neocolonial. O combate ao branqueamento de capitais, assim como à evasão e elisão fiscais, continua limitado por um nó que a União Europeia não se mostra interessada em desatar: os paraísos fiscais com os quais a União Europeia convive e é conivente. Continua a ser necessário desatar este nó.
Debate: State of play of the EU's fight against money laundering, in light of the Luanda Leaks
Date: WEDNESDAY, 12 FEBRUARY 2020
Speaker: Emil Radev
Political group: PPE
Country: Austria
Language: BG

Г-н Председател, уважаеми колеги, днес на ниво Европейски съюз сме въвели строги правила, залегнали в Четвъртата и Петата директива за борба с прането на пари и финансирането на тероризма, която трябваше да бъде транспонирана от държавите членки до 10 януари тази година. Но Луандалийкс ясно показват, че не всички държави и банки в Европейския съюз все още са приложили тези правила. Обезпокоителен е фактът, че имаме силно регулиран сектор. Разполагаме с необходимите инструменти за разкриването на всяка потенциално рискова за пране на пари дейност, но въпреки това нищо не се е случило. Виждаме, че през последните години заплахите не идват само отвън, а има фрапиращи случаи на пране на пари вътре в Европейския съюз. По този начин целият финансов пазар на Европейския съюз е изложен на заплаха от страна на престъпници и терористи. Луандалийкс са поредният пример за неприлагането на европейското законодателство и в частност механизмите за установяване на самоличността на клиентите, докладване на подозрителни транзакции, свързани с определени сметки и т.н. В тази връзка Европейската комисия трябва да следи за правилното въвеждане и прилагане на съществуващата правна рамка, и ако е необходимо, да започне процедури за нарушения срещу държавите членки. Благодаря Ви!
Debate: State of play of the EU's fight against money laundering, in light of the Luanda Leaks
Date: WEDNESDAY, 12 FEBRUARY 2020
Speaker: Pedro Marques
Political group: S-D
Country: Czechia
Language: EN

Mr President, with this timely debate we go back to a recurrent concern of this Parliament. These practices harm the European society because relevant parts of our resources are directed to criminal activities. The scope of innovation in financial transactions is enormous. Digital transactions grow every day and become more and more sophisticated. We have to recognise that regulation in actual practices by the authorities have been insufficient. We need coherent regimes of supervision and on the actual definition of illegal practices. We need much more cooperation between the different authorities in Member States. We need to consider an additional role for the European authorities. We need compliance to step up in the institutions, even through the enforcement of public authorities. For all this to happen, we probably have to step up the legislative and regulatory process at European level, considering seriously the possibility of approving a European regulation. Finally, we need people to trust the banks, financial institutions, public authorities. Therefore, this battle is far from won. Let’s keep fighting the good fight.
Debate: State of play of the EU's fight against money laundering, in light of the Luanda Leaks
Date: WEDNESDAY, 12 FEBRUARY 2020
Speaker: David Casa
Political group: PPE
Country: Germany
Language: MT

Il-ħasil tal-flus jibqa’ delitt diffiċli biex jiġi skopert u aktar diffiċli biex min jaħsel il-flus, jitressaq il-qorti. Ġurisdizzjonijiet sigrieti jagħmlu minn kollox biex jiffaċilitaw l-attività kriminali. Informazzjoni kruċjali għall-prosekuzzjonijiet mhux qed tingħadda lil min jinvestiga u dan kollu qed iwassal biex il-kriminali jgawdu minn impunità. Naturalment il-ġurnalista Ewropea Daphne Caruana Galizia nqatlet biex ma tibqax tikxef il-korruzzjoni u l-ħasil tal-flus; l-istess korruzzjoni u ħasil tal-flus li saru minn kumpanija rreġistrata fid-Dubai. Minkejja dan kollu, l-Emirati Għarab Magħquda jibqgħu jinsistu li ma jgħaddux informazzjoni importanti, li jfisser li l-ġustizzja ma tistax isseħħ.  Għandu jkollna qafas f’postu biex dan it-tip ta’ informazzjoni tkun tista’ tingħadda kif suppost, anke bejn l-FIAUs fl-Ewropa. Irridu nkunu b’saħħitna biex nassiguraw li pajjiżi terzi jikkooperaw ma’ investigazzjonijiet Ewropej dwar il-ħasil tal-flus.  Fl-aħħar mill-aħħar, irid ikun hemm konsegwenzi għall-ġurisdizzjonijiet li ma jikkooperawx. Ma jistax ikollna din is-sitwazzjoni u nħalluha għaddejja kif inhi.
Debate: State of play of the EU's fight against money laundering, in light of the Luanda Leaks
Date: WEDNESDAY, 12 FEBRUARY 2020
Speaker: Paul Tang
Political group: S-D
Country: Spain
Language: EN

Mr President, she took EUR 2 billion from the Angolan people, bought companies at a great discount, and got loans she never repaid. How did Isabel dos Santos become Africa’s richest woman? Many say it’s corruption, but we only seek money that we can spend, and she did her spending here. Her EUR 50 million superyacht was Dutch; her GBP 30 million mansion is in London. The real enablers of her crimes are those who cleaned her money: bankers from Liechtenstein, tax advisers from Luxembourg, and trust firms in Amsterdam, my hometown. These enablers roam free, while Rui Pinto, the source behind the Luanda Leaks and the Football Leaks, has already been in prison for one whole year. Is he not a whistle—blower? Doesn’t he deserve protection? These are my specific questions to the European Commission.  We need to acknowledge the problem. We need to acknowledge that the problem is also ours, and to protect those that expose these crimes. So let’s fight money laundering. Let’s gather our resources, European and national. Let’s fight.
Debate: State of play of the EU's fight against money laundering, in light of the Luanda Leaks
Date: WEDNESDAY, 12 FEBRUARY 2020
Speaker: Othmar Karas
Political group: PPE
Country: Germany
Language: DE

Herr Präsident, meine sehr geehrten Damen und Herren! 2 000 Milliarden Euro werden pro Jahr auf der Welt gewaschen. Aber wir brauchen nicht nur auf andere zu sehen; das Problem beginnt nicht außerhalb der Europäischen Union. 110 Milliarden Euro werden innerhalb der Europäischen Union gewaschen – das kommt dem jährlichen EU-Haushalt schon sehr nahe. Es ist daher eine Frage der Glaubwürdigkeit der Rechtsgemeinschaft, es ist eine Frage der Glaubwürdigkeit der europäischen parlamentarischen Demokratie. Es ist haarsträubend, dass es noch immer einen Widerspruch zwischen den eingegangenen Verpflichtungen und deren Umsetzung durch die Mitgliedstaaten gibt; dass es noch immer die Situation gibt, dass die vierte Geldwäscherichtlinie nicht umgesetzt ist, obwohl die fünfte seit Jänner bereits umgesetzt hätte werden sollen; und dass es noch immer einen durchlässigen Fleckerlteppich gibt und wir noch immer eine gemeinsame Geldwäscheaufsicht benötigen, die über den Finanzsektor hinausgeht, eine europäische Finanzpolizei und eine europäische Meldestelle. Machen wir endlich das, was wir seit Jahren versprechen.
Debate: State of play of the EU's fight against money laundering, in light of the Luanda Leaks
Date: WEDNESDAY, 12 FEBRUARY 2020
Speaker: Marek Belka
Political group: S-D
Country: Poland
Language: EN

Mr President, after discussions connected to the Panama Papers, Paradise Papers, Luxleaks and you name it, here we are again with Luanda Leaks.  Getting into detailed discussions about Ms dos Santos’ potential wrongdoings makes little sense now. What we need to look at is own European plate.  Firstly, if Dubai is so often mentioned in the Luanda leaks as a destination country for illicit wealth, why are the United Arab Emirates not on our European blacklist of non-cooperative jurisdictions? I call on the Commission to look into this issue whilst reviewing the lists.  Secondly, if a Portuguese bank and Maltese financial service providers have helped Ms dos Santos is in her actions, where are the loopholes in our fight against tax fraud and against money laundering? This year’s anti-money laundering action plan and legislative files on taxation have to address these points. While rightly criticising the wrongdoings of Africa’s richest woman, we need to also ask ourselves why in the EU we facilitate such actions.
Debate: State of play of the EU's fight against money laundering, in light of the Luanda Leaks
Date: WEDNESDAY, 12 FEBRUARY 2020
Speaker: Sirpa Pietikäinen
Political group: PPE
Country: Italy
Language: EN

Mr President, we all know that the biggest fault of the Anti—money Laundering Directive lies in the Member States; in poor implementation, lacking European powers on European prudential supervision, poor cooperation between financial intelligence units, the limited scope of powers of the Financial Intelligence Unit Platform to set standards. We know that the system is not working, because it’s not made to be working.  That is the reason, once again reminded, how ineffective we are. What I do hope is that the Commission would consider seriously chasing the anti-money laundering Directive to be a Regulation and to increase substantially the transparency of the beneficial ownership registers, increase the European prudential supervision, and to really set the system on place to function.