Algirdas Aemeta, the EC commissioner for taxation, audit and anti-fraud, has called on member states to retain their collective focus on fighting tax fraud and evasion.

Speaking at a meeting of the European Parliament's economic committee on taxation on Tuesday, Semeta referred to the work of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, whose documentation of tax evasion exposed the identities of thousands of offshore account holders who kept their wealth in low-tax jurisdictions. The consortium's work led to the 'Offshore Leaks report.

Semeta said the report underscored that it was now 'time for concrete and ambitious actions'.

Semeta called on members to embrace the tenets of the EU action plan against tax fraud and evasion - unveiled in December 2012 - to 'dramatically improve our chance of eliminating these pervasive problems, and return hundreds of billions of euros back to the public purse'.

Improving mutual assistance between member states, tackling the mismatches that evaders exploit, and clamping down on tax havens were top priorities to help ensure success, he added.

Semeta told the committee: 'Coordination is the linchpin, which will determine the success of our efforts to combat fraud and evasion.

'Tax evaders thrive on the mismatches and misgivings that exist cross-border. It is only by coming together that we will finally bring this problem down.

'Up to now, I'm afraid that the appetite for full and unreserved coordination has been lacking amongst the member states. And as a result, fraudsters and evaders have been able to use our single market as a playground for their activities.'

'We should not forget that the EU is a global forerunner in tax good governance. We've been ahead of the crowd on issues like automatic exchange of information and fair tax competition.

'So it is really a pity that we lacked the strong and coordinated stance to push these standards more forcefully at global level. This has to change - and I believe that it will.'

He said the task was huge as 'fraudsters and evaders have no borders, nor do they lack resources and ideas. As a consequence, any initiative, be it at national, EU or international level, which pushes things forward more quickly, or which increases ambition on what must be achieved, is very welcome.'

On 24 April, Aemeta sent a letter to all EC finance ministers, setting out measures which include a comprehensive action plan, a stronger EU savings directive, and the VAT anti-fraud package.

In the same month the EC announced moves a new 'platform for tax good governance', which will monitor progress in tackling aggressive tax planning and clamping down on tax havens across member states in Europe.

The forum will be made up of around 45 members, including a high-level delegate from each member state's national tax authority and up to 15 non-governmental representatives who will come from business, academia and specialist groups. They will exchange ideas and expertise in order to develop a more effective EU approach against tax evasion and avoidance.

The first meeting of the platform is provisionally planned for 10 June 2013.