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Paradise papers, Catalonian mayors, and divine intervention (Tweets of the Week, Ep. 24)

1,150 views · Published 10 November 2017 · 2:59 · Indexed 20 September 2026

Channel: Euractiv · 2017 · News & Politics

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Welcome to Tweets of the Week. Paradise papers could get litigious, singing Catalan mayors are prodigious, and a Commission meeting this week got religious.

A massive amount of tax avoidance and suspected corruption was revealed this week with the publishing of the so-called Paradise Papers. https://twitter.com/ICIJorg/status/927234309429383170

It seems to have involved everyone from the Queen of England to Apple.

Even professional do-gooder Bono was implicated. Have I Got News For You reckons authorities still haven’t found what they’re looking for. https://twitter.com/haveigotnews/status/928260176402178048 

EU Ombudsman Emily O'Reilly said the #ParadisePapers show the real world consequences of tax avoidance. https://twitter.com/GundiGadesmann/status/927902729988648960 

Frederik Obermaier said it revealed how the Netherlands attracts American multinationals and cheats its EU neighbors. https://twitter.com/f_obermaier/status/928227165950263296 

George Monbiot replied to those who say "the #ParadisePapers are no big deal, because the practices are legal." He says it's the legality of tax avoidance that makes it such a scandal. https://twitter.com/GeorgeMonbiot/status/928210639599882240 

Carl Dolan believes that apart from the taxes dodged, the most shocking thing is how laws are written to order by advisor-lobbyists. https://twitter.com/carl_dolan/status/927658460082262021 

But the European Commission was quick to claim that #TeamJunckerEU has done more in past 3 years than has been done in decades. https://twitter.com/EU_Commission/status/928340118561157120 

Finally Jon Stone wants to know what idiot called it the #ParadisePapers and not the #ParasitePapers! https://twitter.com/joncstone/status/927282293915439111 

Too right Jon!

Here in Brussels, 200 Catalan mayors descended on the city to “thank Belgium” for allowing Puigdemont to stay here, as reported by Mark Stone.
https://twitter.com/Stone_SkyNews/status/927883484105932800 

They congregated in the EU Quarter under the Berlaymont and the Council to sing the national anthem of Catalonia. https://twitter.com/sophiacmcbride/status/927886686356430849 

One tweeter reckoned they looked remarkably happy for people that live under constant oppression in a dictatorship. https://twitter.com/MartijnBCN/status/927960617369178113 

Barbara Wesel said that Flemish secessionists had seized the moment to seek a blueprint for the break up of Belgium. https://twitter.com/wesel_barbara/status/927955984571666434

And on that note, Le Soir reckoned Belgium PM Charles Michel would have been a lot happier if Puigdemont had gone ANYWHERE else!
https://twitter.com/IdafeMartin/status/926855340733419520 

But Jim Brunsden says, you don't mess with the ceremonial sticks. https://twitter.com/jimbrunsden/status/927949876792610818 
https://twitter.com/josepgoded/status/927950197027737606 

And speaking of ceremonial garb...

Peter Spiegel was very saddened not to be in the house for his annual: "A priest, a rabbi, and an imam walk into the Berlaymont press room..." joke as the Commission hosted a high-level meeting with religious leaders.
https://twitter.com/SpiegelPeter/status/927930820626665473 \

For Mehreen Kahn too it’s her favourite time of the year at the Commission: divine intervention time.
https://twitter.com/MehreenKhn/status/927857089220923392 

Nikos Chrysoloras‏ said that once again, God refused to accept questions from journalists.
https://twitter.com/nchrysoloras/status/927964228560064512 

Martini Seltzermayr said it was a new record: 13 people on the EU Commission podium each of whom thinks the others should go to hell. https://twitter.com/mseltzermayr/status/927862867499593729 

And James Crisp wondered “Why are those people wearing Juncker's University robes?” https://twitter.com/JamesCrisp6/status/928029197028806656 
https://twitter.com/MehreenKhn/status/928029629633433600 https://twitter.com/TomMcKiernan1/status/926245098416955392
https://twitter.com/mseltzermayr/status/928615129951952896 
Yes indeed Jean-Claude, that’s quite a look!

This week we are supported by Exxon Mobil EU. Check out their #renewables research on algae by following them on Twitter. https://twitter.com/ExxonMobil_EU/status/926815155383541760 

Join me again next Friday for more of the good, bad and ugly in the Brussels Bubble Twittersphere and send in your suggestions using the hashtag #EUtweets.

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