New EU Commission report revealed: Russian businessmen are still active in Europe to a significant extent. According to a recent study, there are nearly 31,000 companies in Europe that are beneficially owned by Russia, according to a new report on money laundering and terrorist financing risks. They are mainly active in the real estate, construction and hotel sectors as well as in the financial and energy sectors.
In the report to the Council of Member States and the European Parliament, the Commission assesses the risks of money laundering and terrorist financing in the EU. A section on Russia’s war against Ukraine states that proper implementation of EU asset freeze measures requires effective enforcement of beneficial ownership transparency rules. In addition, the authority advocates, among other things, a better exchange of information and an “appropriate” disclosure and monitoring of assets that are hidden from the tax authorities.
According to this, the formation of shell companies is still relatively easy, so that these would be used to “move hundreds of millions of euros through opaque transactions”. With the help of shell companies, criminals could not only hide the origin and destination of funds, but also disguise the actual beneficiary of the transaction. The funds in question could therefore be used both for personal enrichment and for the destabilization of entire countries.
“The detection of black money flows not only contributes to the defense of democracy and the security of the citizens of the EU, but also helps to fight the influence of autocracies,” states the Commission.
According to the report by the EU authority, of the 31,000 companies with beneficial owners from Russia, at least 1,400 companies have owners who have recently been sanctioned. Specifically, it is about 33 people. At the same time, it notes that some oligarchs may disguise their ownership or control of companies through intermediary companies registered in third countries or local nominal shareholders.
Jürgen Döschner has been working for WDR for 38 years. But it’s not enough work for the WDR veteran – he’s suing his broadcaster. Döschner’s lawyer sees the rejection of topics as a “de facto ban on working”.
On Friday evening, a small plane en route from Mexico to Costa Rica crashed. On board was McFit founder Rainer Schaller and his family, as well as his assistant and a pilot from Switzerland. According to his daughter, he should never have “taken a risk”.
Shortly after the China deal in the port of Hamburg, the federal government is said to be planning to approve the next takeover. According to a media report, a Dortmund chip manufacturer could soon fall into Chinese hands. The Office for the Protection of the Constitution warns against the takeover.
