Brussels, 06/06/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 6 June, Bloomberg reported that the European Commission will open investigations on Wednesday 11 June into tax incentives for companies in a number of EU member states, including Ireland and the Netherlands.
Quizzed about this on Friday, Antoine Colombani, a spokesman for Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia, initially refused to comment. He noted, however: “We've been gathering information on certain tax practices such as tax ruling to check their compliance with state aid rules”. Luxembourg has refused to provide information requested by the Commission in connection with an investigation and, in April, Almunia said he would be taking the matter to the European Court of Justice.
On Thursday, the Irish prime minister was quoted by the Irish Times as saying that he would defend the country's tax system tooth and nail.
Colombani said that the investigation into tax practices was a competition issue and therefore within the Commission's remit because state aid can take the form of selective tax incentives. (EL)