Brussels, 30/06/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 29 June, the European Commission provided the OECD with explanations regarding the compilation of the national lists of non-cooperative third countries, which has sparked reactions from some of the countries on the list since it was published on 17 June. Although for the most part, these countries have pledged to bring about tax transparency, the national lists of the member states take other criteria into account, the Commission explains.
The OECD took up its pen first, on 19 June, having been contacted by several of the third countries on the list, to express its concerns. Stressing that he understands the Commission's procedure to bring in a more coordinated EU approach, Angel Gurria, secretary general of the OECD, explained that it is nonetheless “unfortunate that this exercise may have been perceived as the establishment of an EU list”. “Many of the 30 jurisdictions identified in your consolidated compilation of national lists are Global Forum members, rated as largely compliant and also committed to automatic exchange of information (AEI), including as early adopters (of the AEI standard: Ed) for some of them”, Gurria explained. “There is nothing more that they could do in order to be considered as cooperative”, the OECD secretary general added. Gurria went on to stress that these countries had expressed their concern at the perception that they have been listed by the EU. The “objective” assessments of the Global Forum of the various jurisdictions “are agreed on a consensual basis and should be used as the basis to evaluate cooperation in the area of transparency and exchange of information for tax purposes”.
When publishing its consolidated list, the Commission was “very clear that the pan-EU list is not new information”, Pierre Moscovici replied in a letter dated Monday 29 June. This combination of national lists “was discussed and agreed with member states, and the final list reflects the situation in December 2014”, Moscovici writes. However, according to a source from one member state, this consolidated list came as a bit of a surprise and the procedure has not been politically approved. The list was discussed only at the level of the experts of the good governance platform. This 'snapshot', as he described it, “will be updated before the end of the year, to reflect any changes”, the French Commissioner promised. “We have clearly acknowledged those listed territories that have committed to adopting the new global standard for automatic exchange of information”, Moscovici continued; “nonetheless, some member states also take other criteria, such as harmful tax regimes, into account” when producing their lists. “This is consistent with the minimum standards of tax good governance we set ourselves within the EU”, Pierre Moscovici concluded, explaining that it remains to be seen how the list will evolve. He also said that he was contacting each of the 30 most frequently listed jurisdictions individually, to explain the pan- EU list and discuss how to move forward together. Moscovici is scheduled to meet Gurria on Thursday afternoon. (Elodie Lamer)