In Strasbourg, on Thursday, 17 January, MEPs approved by a large majority (by 530 votes to 32, with 68 abstentions) the report drawn up by Sven Giegold (Greens/EFA, Germany) on the ‘Fiscalis’ programme for the period 2021-2027, which aims to encourage cooperation between EU tax administrations.
It should be recalled that, while the European Commission has suggested allocating €270 million (see EUROPE 12037), MEPs are asking for €300 million (at 2018 prices) or €339 million (at current prices - see EUROPE 12144).
Only one amendment to this report has been tabled. This was a joint request from the S&D and Greens/EFA groups to include joint audits in the actions eligible for funding under the ‘Fiscalis’ programme, which was adopted with 359 votes in favour.
The report stresses that the programme should strengthen the capacity of Member States to combat tax fraud, corruption, tax evasion and aggressive tax planning, including through provision of technical assistance for human resources training and improvement of administrative structures.
MEPs also proposed encouraging the introduction of specific actions that include the involvement of the least developed third countries, focusing on achieving international tax targets, such as the automatic exchange of tax information.
The debate was also an opportunity for the Greens/ALE group to reiterate its disappointment with the Commission’s communication on the gradual transition to qualified majority voting in the EU Council on tax matters (see EUROPE 12172). The group would have preferred Article 116 of the Treaty to be used. EU Budget Commissioner Günther Oettinger assured MEPs that the relevant Commissioners are expected to meet with Mr Giegold on this matter in the coming weeks. (Original version in French by Marion Fontana)