EU taxation policy

Latest news from the European Union about EU taxation policy.

The European Commission in its Communication of 23 May 2001 on "Tax policy in the European Union - Priorities for the years ahead" reiterated its belief that there is no need for an across the board harmonisation of EU Member States' tax systems. Provided that they respect Community rules, Member States are free to choose the tax systems that they consider most appropriate and according to their preferences.

Biggest European groups are big in tax havens: NGO — 12 June 2013, 20:50 CET

The 50 largest European companies are all heavily present in tax havens with an average of 117 offshore subsidiaries each, a French NGO said on Wednesday.

EU looks to strengthen its arsenal against tax fraud — 12 June 2013, 15:57 CET

The European Commission geared up to accelerate the fight against tax fraud on Wednesday by widening the data automatically exchanged between EU tax administrations to cover income such as dividends and capital gains.

EU asks Switzerland to renegotiate savings tax deal — 12 June 2013, 15:33 CET

The European Union has asked Switzerland to open talks on updating a 2005 deal on taxing the savings of EU citizens held in the banks in the Alpine nation, the Swiss finance ministry said Wednesday.

Being 'very open for business' important to Dublin: Irish PM — 23 May 2013, 15:57 CET

Being "very open for business" is important for Irish jobs, Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny said on Thursday as Dublin faced heat from the United States over a tax dispute involving Apple.

EU leaders face tough talks at tax-fraud summit — 22 May 2013, 11:18 CET

EU leaders tackle tax fraud said to cost a trillion euros a year at a summit on Wednesday in the hope that tightening up the rules will help restore faith in European integration and raise revenue.

Tax avoidance creeps onto EU summit agenda — 21 May 2013, 22:33 CET

Minimal tax paid by conglomerates are back in focus after US Senate criticism of Apple for stashing tens of billions of dollars in a network of subsidiaries across the globe.

Italy PM slams 'hypocrisy' over tax fraud — 21 May 2013, 22:31 CET

Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta on Tuesday complained of "incredible hypocrisy on a European level" in the fight against tax fraud on the eve of a one-day Brussels summit dedicated to the issue.

Unemployment casts long shadow over EU summit — 19 May 2013, 13:38 CET

European leaders gather this week for a summit overshadowed by rampant unemployment and the deepening eurozone recession, but with hopes of breaking down resistance to a planned crackdown on tax evasion.

EU keeps tax-hunt momentum, even as resistance firms — 14 May 2013, 20:17 CET

European governments have firmed up plans to share bank records across borders for tax collection in a purge on money-laundering and offshore havens -- but failed to prise open key savers' data in Austria and Luxembourg.

Switzerland ready for talks with EU on savings tax — 14 May 2013, 20:18 CET

Switzerland said Tuesday that it was ready to boost cooperation with the European Union in the latter's battle with international tax evasion, provided Brussels made a formal request for talks.

EU seeks to unleash crackdown on tax evasion — 14 May 2013, 12:14 CET

European finance ministers bid Tuesday to unlock a trillion-euro annual crackdown on tax evasion, under pressure from EU leaders looking for new measures to boost job creation and growth.

EU ministers to thrash out tax clampdown — 12 May 2013, 23:28 CET

As tens of millions languish on the dole with EU austerity blamed for deepening recession, finance ministers will switch their focus Tuesday from bailout negotiations to the pursuit of a trillion-euro annual tax-fraud bounty.

Dijsselbloem attacks EU financial tax plans — 07 May 2013, 18:13 CET

Dutch Finance Minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem, who also heads the single currency eurozone, said Tuesday his government will fight current plans by 11 EU states to implement a controversial tax on financial transactions (FTT).

European taxes on the rise — 29 April 2013, 18:55 CET

Taxes rose across Europe in 2011 but the burden varied significantly from one country to another, an annual European Union report said on Monday.

Vienna eyes banking secrecy deal with EU by May 22 — 28 April 2013, 21:01 CET

Austria hopes to reach a deal with the European Union next month that would preserve banking secrecy for Austrians but open accounts held by foreigners to scrutiny, says Chancellor Werner Faymann.

Austria says will take part in EU tax fraud talks — 26 April 2013, 21:24 CET

Austria said Friday it will take part in EU talks aimed at limiting tax fraud after weeks of holding out on the issue amid severe international criticism of over banking secrecy law.

Bundesbank chief critical of EU finance tax — 24 April 2013, 17:58 CET

The head of the German central bank or Bundesbank warned Wednesday that a planned European financial transactions tax could have unexpected negative implications for monetary policy.

Austrians disagree with government on banking secrecy: polls — 20 April 2013, 20:04 CET

Austrians disagree with their government over the need to maintain the country's banking secrecy, according to polls published Saturday which showed a majority in favour of lifting the controversial measure.

Britain launches legal challenge to EU finance tax — 21 April 2013, 14:25 CET

The British government has launched a legal challenge against plans for a European financial transactions tax to be adopted by 11 EU states, finance minister George Osborne said Friday.

Banking secrecy issue not 'one-way street,' says Austria — 16 April 2013, 19:29 CET

Austria will not negotiate loosening its controversial banking secrecy policies until others do so too, notably tax havens under Britain's influence, top government officials said Tuesday in Vienna.

Luxembourg minister urges EU to go after 'real tax havens' — 15 April 2013, 22:20 CET

Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn called on Monday for the European Union to take on "real tax havens" in the British Channel islands, after his country and Austria were pressured into modifying their policies on banking secrecy.

EU big guns gain ground in battle over tax-fraud — 13 April 2013, 22:20 CET

Europe's biggest countries gained ground Saturday in their bid to recover some of the one trillion euros lost each year to tax fraud and money laundering, despite hold-out Austria railing against government "snooping" into bank accounts.

EU finance ministers tackle tax-fraud — 13 April 2013, 11:44 CET

European Union finance ministers tackle tax fraud and money-laundering as they wrap up two days of talks on Saturday.

EU's Big Six load up for battle over tax fraud — 13 April 2013, 22:21 CET

The EU's Big Six joined forces on Friday in a bid to claw back a hoped-for trillion euros each year of unpaid taxes by sharing customer bank data across borders.

Tax evasion on May EU summit agenda — 12 April 2013, 16:57 CET

The fight against tax evasion will be on the agenda of the next European Union summit in May, EU president Herman Van Rompuy said Friday.