Tax avoidance by companies cost EU countries €160-190 billion per year in lost revenue.

According to a Eurobarometer survey commissioned by the European Parliament, 75% of the EU population expects more EU action on the fight against tax fraud: it is necessary to respond effectively to this concern.
The European Parliament is leading this fight by adopting ambitious and concrete proposals to increase tax transparency and combat tax avoidance. Parliament is calling for the automatic exchange of tax rulings between member states and public country-by-country reporting for multinationals, together with a common definition of tax havens and strong and concrete sanctions.

#EUelections2019 - Corporate tax transparency

Since 2009, the EU has undertaken a large number of reforms to establish a safer, more resilient, transparent and responsible financial system, serving the economy and society as a whole.

However, the size and complexity of a number of banks remain an issue of concern. The balance sheet of some of these banks is larger than the GDP of their home countries. These banks remain 'too big to fail' and, as a result, take advantage of the presumption that the sovereign will bail them out with taxpayers' money in case of substantial trouble, instead of letting them fail.

#EUelections2019 - Safer banks

Following continued revelations in the last 5 years (Luxleaks, the Panama Papers, Football leaks and the Paradise Papers), the European Parliament decided to establish a Special Committee on Financial Crimes, Tax Evasion and Tax Avoidance (TAX3), on 1 March 2018.

The work of the TAX3 Committee built on the work of its predecessors (the TAXE, TAX2 and PANA Committees) and investigated new issues, such as digital taxation, national citizenship programs and VAT fraud.
In the course of its mandate, the TAX3 Committee met 34 times and organized 4 fact-finding missions to Washington, Latvia, the Isle of Man, Estonia and Denmark. Hundreds of experts were heard, including Commissioners, Ministers, prosecutors, investigative journalists, anti-money laundering and tax experts, accountants, bankers and NGO representatives before submitting a final report with its recommendations, including a detailed roadmap towards fairer and more effective taxation, and tackling financial crimes.

#EUelections2019 - Special Committees TAX3 and PANA

Established for a period of at least five years, a multiannual financial framework or MFF must ensure that the Union’s expenditure develops in an orderly manner and within the limits of its own resources, and sets out provisions with which the annual budget of the Union must comply, thus laying down the cornerstone of financial discipline.

Both the Parliament and Commission signalled that they were ready to make an effort to reach agreement on the package before the May 2019 European elections. Meeting this deadline would have enabled the new programmes to start without delay on 1 January 2021. However, on 13-14 December 2018, having conducted the first substantial exchange of views on the matter, the EU leaders called on the Romanian presidency to continue work at the level of the Council with a view to achieving an agreement only in autumn 2019.

#EUelections2019 - EU’s long-term budget (MFF)

EP Plenary session - Fair and simple taxation supporting the recovery strategy

EP Plenary session -Fiscalis programme for cooperation in the field of taxation 2021-2027

;EP Plenary session - Business Taxation

Plenary session - Fair taxation for a just society

EP Plenary session - US tariffs in the steel and aluminium sector and the EU's response

Press conference on ' EU tax agenda in the context of current developments '

Press conference - Recommendations for fair and transparent corporate taxation

HILL, Jonathan (EC) - Member of the EC in charge of Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union

Press conference ' Proposal on public tax transparency '

Plenary session week 05 2016 in Strasbourg    Commission decision adopted on the Corporate Tax package Commission statement

Plenary Session week 44 2015 in Strasbourg  Joint debate - Taxation

Pasquale TRIDICO (The Left/IT), Chair of the Tax Matters subcommittee and Wopke HOEKSTRA, European Commissioner responsible for taxation hold a press conference on the EU Tax Symposium 2025

Press Conference by Pasquale TRIDICO (The Left/IT), Chair of the Tax Matters subcommittee and Wopke HOEKSTRA, European Commissioner responsible for taxation on the EU Tax Symposium 2025

Closing statements by Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety on the historic CJEU ruling on the Apple state aid case and its consequences. MEPs discuss the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling that deemed Ireland’s tax arrangements with Apple as illegal state aid. The court's decision requires Ireland to recover €13 billion in taxes from Apple and overturns a previous General Court ruling that was favorable to Apple. This ruling is final and definitive. Representatives from the Commission and Council will provide insights on the potential impact of the ECJ’s verdict. The Chair of Parliament’s tax subcommittee has described the ruling as "historic," highlighting its significance for European tax policy. This debate explores the broader implications of the ruling for EU state aid regulations and international tax practices.

The historic CJEU ruling on the Apple state aid case and its consequences: closing statement by Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety

MEPs debate on the historic CJEU ruling on the Apple state aid case and its consequences. MEPs discuss the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling that deemed Ireland’s tax arrangements with Apple as illegal state aid. The court's decision requires Ireland to recover €13 billion in taxes from Apple and overturns a previous General Court ruling that was favorable to Apple. This ruling is final and definitive. Representatives from the Commission and Council will provide insights on the potential impact of the ECJ’s verdict. The Chair of Parliament’s tax subcommittee has described the ruling as "historic," highlighting its significance for European tax policy. This debate explores the broader implications of the ruling for EU state aid regulations and international tax practices.

The historic CJEU ruling on the Apple state aid case and its consequences: MEPs debate

Opening statements by János BÓKA, Hungarian Minister for European Affairs and Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, on the historic CJEU ruling on the Apple state aid case and its consequences. MEPs discuss the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling that deemed Ireland’s tax arrangements with Apple as illegal state aid. The court's decision requires Ireland to recover €13 billion in taxes from Apple and overturns a previous General Court ruling that was favorable to Apple. This ruling is final and definitive. The Chair of Parliament’s tax subcommittee has described the ruling as "historic," highlighting its significance for European tax policy. This debate explores the broader implications of the ruling for EU state aid regulations and international tax practices. This transcription is a result of an authomatic process. Please check against delivery.

The historic CJEU ruling on the Apple state aid case and its consequences: opening statements by János BÓKA, Hungarian Minister for European Affairs and Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety

With energy prices skyrocketing and households being put under increasing financial pressure, MEPs discuss the merits and the most effective way of imposing a windfall tax on energy companies’ profits. In a resolution adopted in May, MEPs called for such a tax in principle. Closing statements by Věra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Values and Transparency and by Mikuláš BEK, Czech Minister for European Affairs.

Taxing windfall profits of energy companies: closing statements by Věra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Values and Transparency and by Mikuláš BEK, Czech Minister for European Affairs

With energy prices skyrocketing and households being put under increasing financial pressure, MEPs discuss the merits and the most effective way of imposing a windfall tax on energy companies’ profits. In a resolution adopted in May, MEPs called for such a tax in principle.

Taxing windfall profits of energy companies: MEPs debate

With energy prices skyrocketing and households being put under increasing financial pressure, MEPs discuss the merits and the most effective way of imposing a windfall tax on energy companies’ profits. In a resolution adopted in May, MEPs called for such a tax in principle. Opening statements by Mikuláš BEK, Czech Minister for European Affairs and by Věra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Values and Transparency

Taxing windfall profits of energy companies: opening statements by Mikuláš BEK, Czech Minister for European Affairs and by Věra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Values and Transparency

The voting session inclides: Temporary trade liberalisation supplementing trade concessions applicable to Ukrainian products under EU/Ukraine Association Agreement - Sandra KALNIETE (EPP, LV); Eurojust: collection, preservation and analysis of evidence relating to genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes; Extension of the empowerment to adopt delegated acts; Annual implementation report on the EU association agreement with the Republic of Moldova - Dragoş TUDORACHE (Renew, RO); Commission’s 2021 Rule of Law report - Terry REINTKE (Greens/EFA, DE); 2021 Report on North Macedonia - Ilhan KYUCHYUK (Renew, BG); 2021 Report on Albania - Isabel SANTOS (S&D, PT); Prosecution of opposition and detention of trade union leaders in Belarus; Minimum level of taxation for multinational groups - Aurore LALUCQ (S&D,FR); Establishing the European Education Area by 2025; The fight agains impunity of war crimes in Ukraine.

Voting session, including: Eurojust and the Resolution on the fight against impunity for war crimes in Ukraine

During the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels (08-11 March 2021), MEPs debate on an administrative cooperation in the field of taxation: closing statement by Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice.

Corporate due diligence and corporate accountability: closing statement by Didier REYNDERS, European Commissioner for Justice

European Semester Conference The revamped European Semester and the role of the European Parliament and National Parliaments, in the EP in Brussels. Opening speeches by Joachim POSS, Deutscher Bundestag, SPD Fraktion, Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC,&nbsp; and Martin SCHULZ, EP President

European Semester Conference - "The revamped European Semester and the role of the European Parliament and National Parliaments": extracts from the opening speeches

Statement by Alain LAMASSOURE (EPP, FR), Chair of the TAXE Committee on the Fairer Corporate&nbsp;Tax for EU - Action Plan

Fairer Corporate Tax for EU - Action Plan: Statement by Alain LAMASSOURE (EPP, FR), Chair of the TAXE Committee

Extracts from the vote during the plenary session following the debate to set up a special committee to examine tax rulings.

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