EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes

Summary:

Amendment to Council conclusions setting out the European Union's list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes.

Further information:

The EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes was set up to promote good governance in taxation worldwide. The initial list was published in December 2017. While it is revised once a year, the so-called Code of Conduct Group - featuring representatives of the European Commission and of EU Member States - can recommend an update at any time.

The Decision to amend the list was taken in light of an expert assessment of the commitments made by a number of jurisdictions to address deficiencies identified by the European Union. In each case, the commitments were backed by letters signed at a high political level. Barbados, Grenada, the Republic of Korea, Macao SAR, Mongolia, Panama, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates were therefore removed from the list and moved to a separate category of jurisdictions subject to close monitoring.

The Conclusions comprising the decision was adopted at a meeting of the Council of the European Union on 23 January 2018. The amendment was published in the Official Journal on 26 January.

• Primary Source

News

Deutsche Welle, 23/01/2018: EU tax haven blacklist: Finance ministers remove eight countries, including Panama http://p.dw.com/p/2rMGQ

EUObserver, 23/01/2018: EU states loosen grip on tax havens https://euobserver.com/economic/140663

Euronews, 23/01/2018: EU removes 8 countries from controversital tax blacklist http://www.euronews.com/2018/01/23/eu-removes-8-countries-from-controversital-tax-blacklist

Politico, 23/01/2018: 8 countries removed from EU tax haven blacklist, sparking criticism https://www.politico.eu/article/8-countries-removed-from-eu-tax-haven-blacklist-sparking-criticism/

EurActiv, 24/01/2018: Uproar over removal of Panama and seven others from EU tax haven blacklist https://www.euractiv.com/section/economy-jobs/news/uproar-over-removal-of-panama-and-seven-others-from-eu-tax-haven-blacklist/

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Official

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 23/01/2018: Taxation: Eight jurisdictions removed from EU list https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2018/01/23/taxation-eight-jurisdictions-removed-from-eu-list/

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