AT the closing ceremony of the global summit on tax crimes, money
laundering and other financial crimes, hosted by Norway, FATF and the OECD, it
was resolved that inter-agency co-operation can enhance financial integrity and
good governance by improving the effectiveness of countries’ abilities to fight
financial crimes. In a world where criminals operate across organizational and
geographic boundaries, inter-agency co-operation both domestically and
internationally is the only viable response.
In
this background, the conference reached the following conclusions:
1. Tax
crimes are serious crimes and need to be pursued as such. Participants welcomed
the discussions within FATF on tax crimes as a predicate offence.
2.
Changing behavior is key and requires clear, consistent and public
messaging.
3. Business can play a key role by establishing the tone from
the top through internal controls, policy and structures to ensure
compliance.
4. There is a clear benefit to inter-agency co-operation
covering tax, law enforcement, anti-money laundering authorities and where
appropriate other agencies.
5. Different models for international
co-operation exist and should be reviewed to enhance co-operation on tax and
crime, such as a forum for criminal investigators bringing together different
governmental agencies from both developing and developed countries.
6.
There is a need to identify and fill the legislative, policy and operational
gaps that prevent effective domestic and international co-operation.
7.
Developing countries can also benefit from the “whole of government approach”
and in particular significant improvements could be achieved through early
detection, effective investigation, prosecution and recovery of assets by use of
appropriate tools.
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