While the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted the legislative agenda of the European institutions, the OECD is ensuring that negotiations on international tax reform (see EUROPE 12416/20) will continue.
The organisation, which operates from Paris, has taken several measures following Monday's announcement by the French government of a 15-day lockdown, including putting its staff on full telework and suspending all physical meetings.
Nevertheless, on Tuesday 17 March, it ensured in a statement that "the OECD Secretariat team is working full steam on the project and meetings with delegates are being held remotely". All the meetings of the Steering Group, the Task Force on the Digital Economy and other Working Parties will therefore continue holding virtual meetings in the coming weeks, on schedule.
"The working methods will be adapted to allow all countries to fully participate", the OECD said, as negotiations on international tax reform take place within the G20/OECD Inclusive Framework on the BEPS, which includes 137 jurisdictions.
The OECD, which has set itself the target of having an agreement by the end of 2020, confirms that all participants continue to work towards an agreement on the main political features of reform at the Inclusive Framework meeting in Berlin in July. (Original version in French by Marion Fontana)