Press Release: Tax rulings: ‘We need a common corporate tax base’, says Commissioner Vestager

The European Parliament's special tax rulings committee held a debate on 5 May 2015 with Commissioner Margrethe Vestager.

Members of the committee asked Ms Vestager several questions - why did the European Commission take so long to launch investigations into member states’ tax rulings? Is its strategy to go only after small countries, such as Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Ireland? Will the instruments available to it suffice? And if not, what would it take to do away with unfair tax competition?

On 11 May 2015, the special committee held a hearing with Richard Brooks of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, who defended that 'whistleblowers should receive protection when they reveal behaviour that goes against the public interest and not only when they reveal illegal activities'.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Combatting corporate tax avoidance: Commission presents Tax Transparency Package http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-combatting-corporate-tax-avoidance-commission-presents-tax-transparency-package/

ESO: Background information: Parliament’s investigative powers – Committees of inquiry and special committees http://www.europeansources.info/record/parliaments-investigative-powers-committees-of-inquiry-and-special-committees/

ESO: Background information: State aid: Commission extends information enquiry on tax rulings practice to all Member States http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-state-aid-commission-extends-information-enquiry-on-tax-rulings-practice-to-all-member-states/

EUObserver, 05.05.15: Tax probes frustrate EU competition chief https://euobserver.com/economic/128585

European Parliament: Newsroom: Press Release, 11.05.15: Tax: warm welcome for whistleblowers and investigative journalists http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20150511IPR54731/

EUObserver, 11.05.15: MEPs' Luxleaks probe risks falling apart https://euobserver.com/justice/128667

Politico, 11.05.15: Luxleaks panel needs more time http://www.politico.eu/article/luxleaks-panel-needs-more-time/

EUObserver, 18.05.15: LuxLeaks: Grand Duchy puts limits on transparency https://euobserver.com/justice/128742

EUObserver, 02.06.15: LuxLeaks source appeals for EU whistleblower laws https://euobserver.com/justice/128932

EUObserver, 02.06.15: Public shaming could help EU to pass tax laws https://euobserver.com/institutional/128922

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