THE
US-based GFI has commended the full European Parliament for voting to
crack down on anonymous shell companies, a major conduit for laundering the
proceeds of crime, corruption, and tax evasion.
Following similar votes by two committees of the EU Parliament last
month, the full legislative body voted yesterday in favor of requiring public
registries of beneficial ownership information for companies incorporated in the
EU, as part of its revisions to the EU's Anti-Money Laundering Directive
(AMLD).
The
move follows an announcement by UK Prime Minister David Cameron in October that
the United Kingdom would be creating a public registry of the beneficial owners
of all companies registered in the UK, and it significantly raises pressure on
the United States to follow suit.
Following the European Parliament's vote today, negotiations over the
EU's AMLD now turn to discussions between representatives of the European
Council, the EU Parliament, and the EU Commission before a final framework is
adopted and implemented.
"We
call on the European Council to honor the will of the people by moving quickly
to endorse the creation of public registries of beneficial information," added
Mr. Baker, GFI's president.
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