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Monday, 3 March 2008, 12:34 GMT

Germany wants EU tax haven debate

A counter-demonstrator holding a Liechtenstein flag in the capital Vaduz (AFP) Germany is calling for a Europe-wide debate on tax havens after hundreds of wealthy Germans were said to have used a Liechtenstein bank to evade taxes.

But a spokeswoman denied reports that Berlin wanted EU ministers to agree to specific plans at a meeting on Tuesday.

A number of countries have launched raids on suspected tax dodgers in response to the German revelations.

The European Commission says it will speed up plans to change EU rules on taxing savings if asked to do so.

Liechtenstein is not alone in providing a high level of secrecy in its status as a tax haven for wealthy Europeans. Andorra and Monaco may also be targeted by EU ministers.

German Finance Minister Peer Steinbrueck said last week that Berlin would take its own measures if there was no progress at a European level.

In a newspaper interview at the weekend, Liechtenstein's Prime Minister Otmar Hasler said the tiny Alpine state was ready to work for a "reasonable compromise" on banking secrecy.

A small demonstration by anti-globalisation activists in the capital, Vaduz, on Saturday was outnumbered by hundreds of residents who shouted at them to go home.




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Related to this story:
Liechtenstein in data theft probe (27 Feb 08 |  Business )
Net widens in tax evasion probe (26 Feb 08 |  Business )
Q&A: Liechtenstein and tax evasion (25 Feb 08 |  Business )
Country profile: Liechtenstein (23 Feb 08 |  Country profiles )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Principality of Liechtenstein
German Finance Ministry (in German)
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