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Liechtenstein Cooperates In The Fight Against Tax Fraud
Low-tax compromise in the dispute: Head of Government of Liechtenstein Otmar Hasler media signed accession to the EU Schengen agreement - and promises cooperation in the fight against tax fraud. Major concessions, Europe can not expect.
Brussels - Liechtenstein, the EU cooperation in the fight against tax cheaters assured. "We want a successful conclusion of the negotiating comprehensive agreement fraud," said Prime Minister Hasler. An agreement with all 27 EU countries was "very advanced". He hoped to early signing of the contract.
AFP
Castle Vaduz in Liechtenstein: Agreement against tax fraud "very advanced"
Major concessions from the EU Liechtenstein should not expect: "Of course we will be in the negotiations, as our European partners, the legitimate interests of our citizens represented," said Hasler. A thriving banking sector is expected in the interests of Liechtenstein, and tax evasion is not punishable.
Hasler had previously under great media crush with EU representatives a protocol on the accession of the Principality to Schengen zone. This Liechtenstein undertakes to work closely with police and judiciary of the EU countries.
Switzerland, the Schengen zone will join in November, is already working closely with the EU. The legal assistance to the principle of double criminality: The authorities need each other in the Enlightenment indeed a help if they are punishable in both countries. In tax matters, but fine distinction: In Switzerland, tax evasion - unlike in Germany - only as public order. Only tax fraud - such as using false receipts - evaluate the Swiss as a crime.
German Finance Minister Peer Steinbrück (SPD) meanwhile announced that he wanted against tax evasion to Liechtenstein hard way - if necessary even without support of the EU. Should the policy "at European level does not make progress, we will take measures in Germany". It was the introduction of a duty or withholding taxes for each transfer from Germany to Liechtenstein.
The approach of the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) in the affair justified Steinbrück strongly: The secret service had "behaved quite correctly", as he stolen data on tax evaders by Heinrich Kieber informant bought.
The secret, the delicate information quickly the tax, which then acted. Critics of action would have liked the question, what storm of indignation swept through Germany if the authorities for prosecution of tax evaders had surrendered.
A method of LGT Trust since the summer of 2007
The tax proceedings against customers of LGT Trust in Liechtenstein apparently began earlier than previously known. "First indications of the stolen data transmission us to the authorities we have in the summer of 2007," LGT said spokesman Hans-Martin Uehlinger the "Sueddeutsche Zeitung".
Half a year before the raid with Ex-Post chief Klaus Zumwinkel had first customer in the bank sued, and that because of their secret accounts by the tax authorities would be prosecuted. "This information did not come from Germany," Gass said.
Meanwhile run in more than half a dozen states investigations against Liechtenstein bank customers: Sweden, Italy, Britain, France, the United States and Australia announced
in the affair to determine. Germany wants its data on Liechtenstein foundations and institutions according to "Financial Times" other countries free of charge. Finland, Sweden, Norway and Holland
therefore already expressed interest.
In Germany, investigations were already successful: More than 200 million euros suspicious foundation assets has been discovered, 91 suspects confessed,
72 showed themselves. Several Geständige made according Bochum senior public prosecutor has advance payments amounting to 27.8 million euros.
The German investigation is based on comprehensive data, according to information Newspaper especially Heinrich Kieber, a former employee of the Liechtenstein LGT Bank, the BND in August 2006 was given. Overall, it is 4527 records of Liechtenstein foundations and institutions, of which some 1400 German investors include: - around 65 percent of foundations exist, according to the investigators today.
ssu / AFP / AP / ddp / dpa
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