Mr President, I abstained from the vote on Mr Lehne' s report, not because I am against the measures it lays down - it is right to employ all possible means to combat crime and the fact that we are combating the laundering of the proceeds of criminal activities is important, useful and right - but because I consider that the European Union is not doing enough to fight financial crime. Financial crime is a drain on energy, resources, means and therefore money which could be used by our governments in activities which are more important for society such as meeting the needs of the less well-off part of the population such as pensioners and the elderly.
Hr. formand, når jeg undlod at stemme om hr. Lehnes betænkning, er det ikke, fordi jeg er modstander af forslagene heri - det er rigtigt at tage alle midler i brug for at bekæmpe kriminaliteten, og det er nyttigt, vigtigt og rigtigt at bekæmpe hvidvaskning af penge, der stammer fra kriminelle aktiviteter - men fordi EU efter min mening ikke gør nok for at bekæmpe den økonomiske kriminalitet, der i øvrigt koster energi, ressourcer, midler og penge, som vores regeringer kunne anvende til vigtigere sociale aktiviteter, f.eks. at opfylde behovene hos den mindre velstillede del af vores befolkning, heriblandt de ældre og pensionisterne.