Finance Minister calls for coordinated global action to stop tax avoidance and evasion

“The Paradise Papers have shown once again that by hiding taxes, a part of society, a part of people feel themselves superior to others, closer to the sky, although they actually are closer to the bottom,” Sapoka told reporters ahead of a meeting of EU finance ministers in Brussels.

“Since this is a global problem, we need a coordinated global response. Lithuanian supports all political initiatives in this area, both in the prevention of money laundering and in increasing tax transparency,” he said.

According to the minister, Lithuania this year receives information about its citizens’ foreign assets from 50 countries and that number will increase to 100 next year. Also, legislation allows the exchange of additional information about companies and their ultimate owners.

The Paradise Papers have revealed that nearly 130 politicians and celebrities allegedly used offshore companies to avoid paying taxes at home. The list includes members of the US president administration, Canada’s prime minister and even Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.

According to the leaked documents, U2 frontman Bono invested in a Lithuanian shopping centre which may have broken tax rules.