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Dard, Delphine
5 articles of this author have been cited in the European Press Review so far.
Will the G20 summit move things ahead?
One year after the bankruptcy of US investment bank Lehman Brothers, the daily Le Quotidien takes stock of the global financial crisis that then ensued: "From the ashes of this more than one-hundred-year-old institution arose the worries of numerous states that they would see their economic system collapse in turn. From its ashes also arose promises of reforming the global finance system, which faced its worst crisis in 60 years. Everyone agreed the lesson to be learned from Lehman was that the global financial system had to be given a major overhaul in terms of regulation and governance. ... Now, a year after Lehman's demise, a new G20 summit will meet in Pittsburgh in two weeks. Its goal: to set the course for a new code of conduct in the world of finance. ... It remains to be seen, however, whether the nations can keep a cool head, set their differences aside and work jointly to establish veritable long-term reforms."
» full article (external link, French)
More from the press review on the subject » Fiscal Policy, » Global
A slap in the face for the European Parliament
Delpine Dard comments in Le Quotidien on Europeans' lack of enthusiasm for the European Parliament elections: "This is a real slap in the face for the European Parliament. Above all because it is clear from the survey that 53 percent of respondents aren't interested in the vote at all, while 62 percent believe their ballots won't change a thing. Luxembourg seems to come out well in the survey in terms of voter intent. But does that mean a thing when you know that voter turnout is mandatory here? ... We are in the midst of a crisis, and as the Eurobarometer shows, Europeans are more worried about unemployment, inflation, buying power and problems associated with their national governments. ... Basically it seems the European Parliament has difficulty explaining what it does in simple terms to the citizens of Europe. Sure, it takes pains to cast itself in a good light during election campaigns, but otherwise it remains in the shadows."
» full article (external link, French)
More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Europe
Tax hypocrisy must stop
The daily Le Qoutidien comments on the hypocrisy of the G20 states in tax matters: "During the G20's preparatory meeting … the finance ministers once again confused the terms tax haven and banking secrecy. Without going into detail we must recall that one can preserve banking secrecy, as Luxembourg has done, and at the same time be integrated into Europe's information systems. This makes a country a cooperative partner state rather than an impenetrable tax haven. … At the very same G20 summit British Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling made the case with reference to Switzerland that tax evasion and 'a banking secrecy that enables people to hide assets without paying the appropriate taxes' could not be tolerated. … Even the British papers attacked the hypocrisy of their own country, where London City has thought up a number of clever systems that enable the rich to optimise their tax payments thanks to offshore accounts … . How far will the tax hypocrisy and crisis populism go?"
» full article (external link, French)
More from the press review on the subject » Fiscal Policy, » Tax Policy, » Luxembourg, » Switzerland
Switzerland as a scapegoat
The daily Le Quotidien sees the criticism of tax havens as an attempt to make Switzerland into a scapegoat for the continuting financial crisis: "We all know that in times of crisis people always look for a scapegoat ... that one can pull out of the hat to blame for the troubles of the world. And indeed France and Germany have found the answer to the question 'Who is responsible for the financial crisis?': namely, the tax havens. We are not disputing the fact that these tax havens have led the way in covering up information and have thus aggravated the financial crisis that was triggered by a lack of transparency. Yet in times of crisis a discussion about tax havens [allows] ... those states who believe themselves to be above all wrongdoing to point a finger at the states they hold responsible for all the ills of the world. And since those who are absent are always in the wrong, responsibility has been shifted to Switzerland, which Germany would like to see put on the OECD blacklist of tax havens."
» full article (external link, French)
More from the press review on the subject » Corporations, » Financial Markets, » Tax Policy, » Germany, » France, » Switzerland
Europe - strong in the crisis
At the summit of the EU heads of state and government there were growing signs of a consensus among the 27 EU states on the rescue plan approved by the 15 Eurozone countries last Sunday. According to the daily newspaper Le Quotidien this has made the European Union into a truly unified whole. "A few months ago the European idea suffered after the second 'no' to the Treaty of Lisbon. ... Not a few European citizens were convinced that Europe was no good for anything and that it just generated a load of extra regulations. ... But all these discussions seem like a long-forgotten quarrel now, because a crisis situation has ushered in the true birth of the Union. Now that European solidarity exists everyone is rushing to take the credit - above all Nicolas Sarkozy. But it's not so important to know who has brought Europe to speak with one voice. What really counts is that this crisis has finally created a true Europe. This is a step forward that the EU now wants to share with its 27 member states."
» full article (external link, German)
More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Fiscal Policy, » Europe
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