The Swedish Tax Agency as a competent law enforcement authority in simplified exchange of information within the EU
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
S wants to approve the bill because it gives the Swedish Tax Agency tools to combat tax fraud, tax evasion, and crime in the labor market through more efficient information exchange with other authorities in the EU 1. S emphasizes that it is important to break down secrecy barriers to strip criminal gangs of their resources 1. V wants to approve the matter but requests a reservation submitted together with Miljöpartiet 2. M wants to approve the government's regulations as international connections in crime have increased and organized crime has become cross-border 3. M argues that the Swedish Tax Agency needs the same opportunities to share confidential information as its international counterparts in order to streamline crime fighting 3.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Hanna Westerén (S)
Madam Speaker! We have gathered here this evening to debate information exchange aimed at preventing and combating crime. During the spring term in the chamber of the Riksdag, we Social Democrats have on several occasions raised the issue of crime in the workplace. I also want to take the opportunity tonight to speak about the rampant crime in the workplace.
Madam Speaker! During the last decades, the map has been redrawn for Swedish workers. Since I was a child in the early 90s, Sweden has become a full-fledged and active member of the European Union. Free movement for people, goods, services, and capital has given Sweden many fantastic business opportunities and given many Swedes a much larger and more exciting labor market. It has also resulted in smooth border crossings in many places.
However, freedom has its downsides. It is still all too profitable to neglect accounting, personnel records, and security in Swedish and European workplaces. It is still all too profitable to exploit vulnerable people from both other EU countries and third countries.
Madam Speaker! It is completely obvious that the toolbox for combating tax evasion, tax avoidance, and crime in the working life needs to be expanded. With the bill that is submitted to the Riksdag today, the Swedish Tax Agency receives an additional tool to deliver on the mandate it has received from politics. The purpose of the proposal is to improve the Swedish Tax Agency's opportunities to conduct effective crime-fighting activities and exchange information with other crime-fighting authorities in the EU.
This is an important step forward, but hopefully one does not stop here but follows up from the government's side with more measures to close the loopholes for those forces that are constantly on their toes to exploit the systems and withhold resources needed to meet our common needs. It must always result in punishment to cheat with taxes, to exploit labor, and to illegitimately profit from free movement.
As a Social Democrat, I also want it to always be profitable to sign collective agreements and to be a member of a union. For me, it is a very important factor in the fight for healthy competition. We are not quite there yet, but we Social Democrats do not give up.
The work to provide the Swedish Tax Agency with this tool began during the Social Democrats' shift in the Government Offices. Now it is becoming a reality, and it is only to be applauded. Every party that says it wants to fight the criminal gangs—it is an area that for obvious reasons is often debated in the chamber of the Riksdag today—must also take every chance to turn the tap that supplies the gangs with resources. Today's crime is brutal, organized, and internationally branched out and spares no means. That we politically increase transparency and break down secrecy barriers is and must remain a priority.
Madam Speaker! I would therefore move to approve Proposition 2022/23:104, Skatteverket as the competent law enforcement authority for simplified exchange of information within the EU, and wish everyone a happy summer.
Ilona Szatmári Waldau (V)
Madam Speaker! In the matter itself, the committee is in agreement. We need to say yes to Skatteverket as a competent law enforcement authority in simplified information exchange within the EU. But the committee goes a bit further in its position. Therefore, Vänsterpartiet, together with Miljöpartiet, has submitted an alternative proposal for the committee's position. It changes nothing in substance in the matter itself, but I want to demand approval of our reservation here and now.
Since it is my last debate before the summer break, I would like to take the opportunity to thank the committee members for a good cooperation and thank the chair for a well-led committee. I also thank the committee's secretariat as well as the Speaker and the Speaker's secretariat.
Marie Nicholson (M)
Madam Speaker! To begin with, I would like to move for approval of the Committee on Taxation's proposal in SkU22 and thereby to the government's amended rules which ensure that the Swedish Tax Agency becomes a competent law enforcement authority.
International connections in various types of crime, tax crime as well as others, have increased. Half of all reports that the tax crime unit forwards contain connections to foreign countries.
Organized criminal groups are also becoming increasingly cross-border in their activities. With removed border controls, it is becoming increasingly difficult within the EU to tackle this type of crime. A higher degree of international cooperation is needed here. But for it to function in an effective way, the Swedish Tax Agency needs the same opportunities to share information as its European and international counterparts.
The regulatory changes proposed hereby enable the Swedish Tax Agency to provide classified information and classified intelligence to foreign counterparts in order to streamline crime-fighting activities. Personal data will be able to be provided to Interpol and Europol, to police authorities and prosecutorial authorities in states affiliated with Interpol, as well as to customs and tax authorities within the EEA. The exchange of information may take place for the purpose of preventing, deterring or detecting crimes or fulfilling obligations resulting from international commitments, provided it is compatible with Swedish interests.
This naturally also means that corresponding information can be obtained from our international cooperation partners. The proposal covers both private individuals and companies.
Madam Speaker! Economic crime and tax crime are problems in themselves. They can also be part of a larger problem and serve as a way to finance other illegal activities. The proposal before us today unfortunately does not solve the entire challenge, but our secrecy legislation must not place "obstacles" in our own way. This is a good step in the right direction.
Madam Speaker! I wish everyone present a pleasant and - said in all good intentions - somewhat moderately rainy summer.
The Swedish Tax Agency as the competent law enforcement authority in simplified exchange of information within the EU
In this speech, Jesper Skalberg Karlsson (M) agreed.
The deliberation was hereby concluded.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.