German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz said on Monday 19 November that Germany and France would be in a position to present ‘a joint proposal’ on the taxation of digital platforms at the December Economic and Financial Affairs Council (see other news and EUROPE 12139).
"We are multilateralists", therefore, we are working hard to find "a global solution" to prevent digital companies from not paying their fair share of taxes where they make profits, said the German minister at the end of the Eurogroup (see other news).
Nevertheless, we must are absolutely clear: if this will not work, we will have a proposal that gives the signal it will be necessary that the European Union acts on its own abilities, from 2021, for instance", he added. He also said "absolutely there will be a common proposal of the two of us", he added alongside his French counterpart, Bruno Le Maire.
It remains unclear whether Germany will allow the Ecofin Council on Tuesday 4 December to decide unanimously on the proposal for a directive on the table. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)