Brussels, 09/06/2015 (Agence Europe) - The MEPs of the special TAXE committee are unimpressed at the fact that the multinationals are one after the other turning down their invitation to come before them to discuss their tax optimisation practices.
Following reactions from the Greens/EFA and EPP groups, the TAXE committee itself has stuck its head above the parapet, publishing the names of the companies invited and the excuses invoked. Only the company Total agreed to speak to the MEPs. Its Director General, Patrick Pouyanné, will meet the special committee on 23 June. Google declined the invitation, but said that it would be happy to submit a position on taxation issues. McDonald's also refused, as the invitation clashed with a company initiative, but also due to the possibility of a European Commission investigation over state aid. IKEA sent its regrets, as it is already committed elsewhere. Amazon, Fiat, AB In-Bev and HSBC are unable to attend, on the grounds of investigations underway. The MEPs are still awaiting a formal response from BNP Paribas, Coca-Cola, Barclays Bank Group, Amazon, Walt Disney and Facebook.
The chair of the TAXE committee, Alain Lamassoure (EPP, France), said that if the multinationals stuck to their refusal to come and speak to the MEPs, it would come across as if they had more to lose than to gain by being transparent about the way they fulfil their legal obligations in Europe. The co-rapporteur for the TAXE committee, Portugal's Elisa Ferreira (S&D), said that this refusal should be taken very seriously. The second co-rapporteur, Michael Theurer (ALDE, Germany), described the absence of the multinationals as absolutely unacceptable.
As of 4 June, Finland, Luxembourg, Slovakia, Sweden, Jersey and Guernsey as well as the Council and the European Commission had responded to the questions sent by the MEPs. Poland, Portugal, Latvia, Estonia and Spain have invited the TAXE committee for discussions with the national authorities. The committee has already visited Luxembourg, Ireland and Switzerland and is scheduled to visit the UK on 17 June. France is reported to be open to a meeting in Brussels. (Elodie Lamer)