MEP Sophie in ’t Veld (Renew Europe, Netherlands) has asked the European Commission for explanations following the written reply of Tax Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni on the US Foreign Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) and “Accidental Americans” on 7 April (see EUROPE 12464/35).
“Despite the fact that their bank accounts are being (threatened to be) closed down by banks afraid of the penalties imposed by the US, the Commission very regrettably pretends that there is no problem at all, hiding behind bureaucratic excuses”, she criticised in a letter to Mr Gentiloni on 9 April.
In his reply, Commissioner Gentiloni stated that the Commission had found no evidence of any violation of EU law, in particular the Payment Accounts Directive, by the bilateral agreements concluded between Member States and the United States to implement the FATCA legislation.
“Can you explain, in detail, how the Commission has come to this conclusion?” asks Sophie in ’t Veld, also demanding to know what questions were put to the Member States and their answers.
On the data protection aspect, she asked the Commission whether it had taken into account the guidelines of the European Data Protection Board announced 18 January 2020, whether it agreed that the bilateral agreements were not in conformity with them and whether it intended to ask the Member States to revoke them.
Disappointed with the Commission’s reply, the Dutch Member also asks whether the Commission attaches more importance to its relations with the United States than to the rights of European citizens.
See the letter: https://bit.ly/3bkF5RX (Original version in French by Marion Fontana)