Brussels, 30/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - At their meeting in Brussels on Wednesday 30 November, EU27 economic and finance ministers are expected to examine three tax questions and approve without debate:
- a directive to re-work the EU tax rules for parent companies and subsidiaries in different member states;
- a report from the finance ministers of the 23 Euro Plus Pact countries about coordinating their tax policies (see EUROPE 10503), which will be submitted to EU member states in December. It examines the organised talks on the Euro Plus Pact that took place from 26 October to 9 November 2011, setting out priorities for future work to coordinate tax policies, particularly on (a) preventing damaging taxation (tax measures that encourage companies to move from one member state to another; (b) tackling fraud and tax evasion; (c) exchange of best practice among tax offices; and (d) cooperation with non-EU tax authorities. The report suggests the above measures serve as the basis for further Euro Plus Pact progress. A high-ranking Council of Ministers' tax group will coordinate questions relating to tax policy and will examine recommendations from the European Commission and other bodies, monitoring progress and reporting back to ministers. It will also examine economic growth and cuts in public spending.
The ministers postponed the publication of a conclusions document on implementation of a code of conduct to prevent companies shopping around member states for the most profitable tax regime (see EUROPE 10503) in order to incorporate the outcome of the six-monthly report by the Council of Ministers' working group monitoring it. Discussion of tax negotiations with Switzerland and other countries in this connection has also been postponed. (FG/transl.fl)