In blow to UK, MEPs back stricter anti-tax dodging law on trusts

A European Union flag is waved in front of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain, February 20, 2017. Picture taken February 20, 2017. REUTERS/Toby Melville

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - EU lawmakers voted on Tuesday to let the public see data about the owners of trusts and companies, tightening draft anti-money-laundering legislation that would have given such access to tax authorities but not to journalists and activists.

The amendment, passed by an overwhelming majority in the economic committee of the European Parliament, rejects the British government's traditional policy of protecting the privacy of inheritance trusts.