Brussels, March 24, 2014 - Ana Gomes met today in Washington DC with American Democratic Senator Carl Levin, Chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the US Senate. This Subcommittee issued last month (February 26) a report on the concealment of bank accounts, money transfers and other illegal techniques used by Credit Suisse to facilitate tax evasion by U.S. citizens. Senator Levin, who chaired the US Senate hearing where Credit Suisse executives testified, asked the U.S. Department of Justice to demand Credit Suisse to disclose the names of thousands of American citizens who used its accounts to evade taxes.

Ana Gomes agreed with Senator Levin to articulate efforts and cooperate in the follow up of the Senate report, investigating the incidence of the Swiss banking action on tax evasion and fraud and illicit wealth protection in Europe as well.

"The devastating impact on the public coffers of these highly sophisticated criminal schemes, operationalized by banks in Switzerland and other tax havens is not restricted to the US. Member states of the EU are even more affected. In Portugal, for instance, outrageous tax amnesties granted by the Government in 2012 and 2013 allowed owners of hidden accounts abroad to "clean" their tax situation, with guaranteed confidentiality regarding their beneficiaries and the origin of those funds - in practice, a mechanism for money laundering sponsored by Government and the with the blessing of the Troika" said the socialist MEP at the end of the meeting. "The Senate is taking action, investigating and demanding an end to impunity. The European Union, its Member States and the European Parliament also need to wake up, especially at a time when the debate about the relationship between Switzerland and the EU is high on political agenda", she concluded.

Gomes also had the opportunity to discuss with Senator Levin the preparation of the public hearing she has proposed - and which will take place next week in the European Parliament (ECON) - about the involvement of Swiss banks on tax evasion, tax fraud and corruption in the EU.

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