The Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU made no promises concerning the calendar of the work, in a response to a written question from the European Parliament over public country-by-country reporting (see EUROPE 11870).
In a letter dated 13 February of which EUROPE has had sight, it stresses the existence of several unresolved political issues, such as the legal base of the text, “which calls into question the very applicability of the ordinary method of legislation”.
Certain countries consider that this text is a proposal that should be negotiated as a taxation matter, in other words by unanimity of the Council and with simple consultation of the European Parliament.
The legal services of the Council also take this view. However, a unanimous decision of the member states is required to agree on changing the legal base. The Bulgarian Presidency intends to continue consultations with the member states to move the dossier forward.
“The Council will need further time in order to clarify its position on this file”, the Presidency concludes. (Original version in French by Élodie Lamer)