Press Release: Commission requests Ireland and Poland to end discrimination of foreign charities

The European Commission has sent Ireland and Poland formal requests to end discrimination of foreign charities. Both Member States allow tax relief for gifts to charities, but only if they are established in their own territory. Charities in other Member States are excluded from the relief and the Commission considers that this discrimination is contrary to the EC Treaty. The request is in the form of a ‘reasoned opinion’ under Article 226 of the EC Treaty. If Ireland and Poland do not reply satisfactorily to the reasoned opinion within two months the Commission may refer the matter to the European Court of Justice.