Commission approves Belgian tax measures for maritime transport

Further information:

The Commission considered that the scheme encourages shipping companies to register their ships in the European Union and so ensure higher social, environmental and safety standards. Belgium also committed to a number of changes to its scheme to prevent any discrimination between shipping companies and registries of different European Economic Area (EEA) States and to avoid undue competition distortions.

Under the Belgian scheme, a shipping company is taxed on the basis of ship tonnage (i.e. based on size of shipping fleet) rather than the actual profits of the company.

Background information:

To address the risk of flagging out and relocation of shipping companies to low-tax countries outside of the European Union, the Commission's 2003 Guidelines on State aid to maritime transport allow Member States to adopt measures that improve the fiscal climate for shipping companies.

The European Commission approved on 6 November 2017 under EU State aid rules the prolongation of various Belgian support measures for maritime transport.

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