On Thursday 13 December, MEPs approved, by a large majority (451 votes in favour, 69 against and 64 abstentions), a favourable opinion on the proposal to tax gross income from the activities of digital platforms by 3% ('digital services tax' or DST).
"Both the European Parliament and the European people want tech giants to pay their taxes. That is why we voted for a more ambitious digital services tax", said rapporteur, Paul Tang (S&D, The Netherlands).
Although it only has an advisory role, the European Parliament intends, through this vote, to maintain pressure on the Council, which is struggling to reach unanimity (see EUROPE 12158) and seems to be moving towards a very watered-down version of the tax.
MEPs also recommend extending the list of taxable services, by adding the provision of video, audio or text content using a digital interface, which would also allow Netflix to be covered.
It should be noted that the amendments supported by several S&D, Greens/EFA and EUL/NGL MEPs to raise the tax rate to 5 % were rejected, as was the amendment by the EUL/NGL group, which proposed that each Member State should be able to define its own DST rate.
With regard to the opinion report by Dariusz Rosati (EPP, Poland) on the long-term 'structural' solution to define the concept of 'significant digital presence’, it was adopted by 439 votes to 58 with 81 abstentions. (Original version in French by Marion Fontana)