Press Release: Taxation and Good governance: The European Commission proposes actions to improve transparency, exchange of information and fair tax competition

On 28 April, 2009, the European Commission adopted a Communication identifying actions that EU Member States should take to promote 'good governance' in the tax area (i.e. more transparency, exchange of information and fair tax competition). The Communication identifies how good governance could be improved within the EU. It also lists the tools the EU and its Member States have at their disposal to ensure that good governance principles are applied at international level. Finally, it calls on Member States to adopt an approach that is more coherent with good governance principles in their bilateral relations with third countries and in international fora. The Communication builds on the existing EU policy on good governance and the recent G20 conclusions concerning uncooperative tax jurisdictions.