State aid: Commission opens in-depth investigations into tax exemptions for Belgian and French ports

On the 8 July 2016, the European Commission opened two in-depth investigations to make sure that the corporate tax exemptions granted under Belgian and French law do not distort competition by giving an unfair advantage to some ports over others in Europe.

The investigations are following the proposals from January 2016, when Belgium and France had been asked to bring their corporate tax law in line with the EU state aid rules.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: State aid: Commission adopts three decisions requiring taxation of ports in the Netherlands, Belgium and France http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-state-aid-commission-adopts-three-decisions-requiring-taxation-of-ports-in-the-netherlands-belgium-and-france/

Politico, 08.07.16: Margrethe Vestager escalates ports dispute with France and Belgium http://www.politico.eu/article/margrethe-vestager-targets-french-and-belgian-ports-commission-european-state-aid-tax-breaks/

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