Tax measures must be adopted unanimously by the Member States. The European Parliament has the right to be consulted on tax matters, except on budgetary-related issues, for which it is co-legislator.

The power to tax is in the hands of the Member States, with the EU having only limited EU competences. As EU tax policy is geared towards the smooth running of the single market, the harmonisation of indirect taxation was addressed before direct taxation. The fight against harmful tax evasion and tax avoidance has become a recent policy priority.

Fight against tax fraud and evasion - 8th parliamentary term

&nbsp;Arelatively recent phenomenon, the collaborative economy has become to the centre of the interest&nbsp;a decade in some areas of activities, such as car-sharing or short-term lets. Although it is now a well-known term – with alternative names from the 'sharing' to 'gig' to 'peer-to-peer' economy – it remains difficult to grasp precisely, beyond the central feature that potential consumers and providers are connected via a digital platform that matches demand and supply, providing cheap access to information on a very large scale.

These 'match-makers' make it possible for non-professional providers to offer goods and servicesin a wide range of activities, generating value and with the potential for further development.

The success of collaborative platforms has raised concerns regarding workers’ rights and unfair advantages these firms might enjoy over traditional companies that are bound by stricter legal regulations. Taxation issues in the collaborative economy increasingly highlight the need for an in-depth look into taxation, focusing on the link between the value created and tax, and the need for a level playing field for incumbent business facing competition from these new entrants to the market.

See more on this topic by visiting our package&nbsp; for the 8th parliamentary term.

Collaborative economy

Tax policy, including the fight against tax fraud, has become a hot topic over the past decade due to journalistic investigations such as LuxLeaks, the Panama Papers, Football Leaks, Bahamas Leaks and the Paradise Papers, which revealed tax leaks and tax havens. The latest finacial data-leak revealed by the media is Pandora papers.

During October II plenary MEPs voted for a resolution on Pandora papers, where they identified what they see as the most urgent measures the EU needs to take to close loopholes that currently allow for tax avoidance, money laundering and tax evasion on a massive scale. They also called for legal action to be taken by the Commission against EU countries that do not properly execute existing laws. MEPs reserved particular criticism for present and former prime ministers and ministers of EU member states whose activities were revealed by the Pandora Papers.

Tax policy has remained EU countries' own responsibility since the EU’s beginning, but the fight against tax fraud is shared by EU countries and the EU.

In November MEPs gave their final green light to new rules obliging big multinationals to publicly declare the taxes they pay in each EU country, in order to undermine tax avoidance. Multinationals and their subsidiaries with annual revenues over €750 million - and which are active in more than one EU country - will now have to publish the amount of tax they pay in each member state. This information will also need to be made publically available on the internet, using a common template and in a machine-readable format.

Since September 2020, the Parliament has had a permanent sub-committee on tax matters. The committee was established to assist the economic and monetary affairs committee with taxation issues and deals with the fight against tax fraud, tax evasion and tax avoidance, as well as financial transparency in taxation.

Fight against tax avoidance

EP Plenary session - Protection of the European Union’s financial interests – combating fraud – annual report 2023

REGI - Exchange of views with Laura Kövesi, European Chief Prosecutor, on frauds linked to ESI funds and on the cooperation with EU institutions

EP Plenary session - Need for urgent update of the EU list of high-risk third countries for anti-money laundering and terrorist financing purposes

EP Plenary session - Protection of the EU’s financial interests - combating fraud - annual report 2021

EP Plenary session - Rules to prevent the misuse of shell entities for tax purposes

EP Plenary session - Protection of the European Union’s financial interests - combating fraud - annual report 2020

EP Plenary session - Minimum level of taxation for multinational groups

EP Plenary session - Urgent need to adopt the minimum tax directive

MEPs vote on the following subjects: Implementation report on Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods - Metz; Protection of the European Union’s financial interests - combating fraud - annual report 2022 - Grapini; Shaping the EU’s position on the UN binding instrument on business and human rights, in particular on access to remedy and the protection of victims - Hautala; Impact of illegal fishing on food security – the role of the European Union - Melo;

Voting Session - Part 1

The statement of Luděk NIEDERMAYER (EPP, CZ) the co-rapporteur for the 6th Anti-Money laundering Directive on behalf of the Economic and Monetary Affairs committee.

Sixth Anti-Money Laundering Directive: statement by Luděk NIEDERMAYER (EPP, CZ), co-rapporteur, on behalf of the Economic and Monetary Affairs committee

The statement of Emil RADEV (EPP, BG), the co-rapporteur for the regulation establishing the Anti-Money Laundering Authority on behalf of the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs committee.

Regulation establishing the Anti-Money Laundering Authority: statement by Emil RADEV (EPP, BG), co-rapporteur, on behalf of the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs committee

The statement of Damien CARÊME (Greens/EFA, FR) the co-rapporteur for the Anti-money laundering regulation on behalf of the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs committee.

Anti-Money Laundering regulation: statement by Damien CARÊME (Greens/EFA, FR), co-rapporteur, on behalf of the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs committee

The statement of Paul TANG (S&D, NL), the co-rapporteur for the 6th Anti-Money laundering Directive on behalf of the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs committee.

Sixth Anti-Money Laundering Directive: statement by Paul TANG (S&D, NL), co-rapporteur, on behalf of the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs committee

The statement of Eero HEINÄLUOMA (S&D, FI), the co-rapporteur for the Anti-money laundering regulation on behalf of the Economic and Monetary Affairs committee.

Anti-Money Laundering regulation: statement by Eero HEINÄLUOMA (S&D, FI), co-rapporteur, on behalf of the Economic and Monetary Affairs committee

The statement of Eva Maria POPTCHEVA (Renew, ES), the co-rapporteur for the regulation establishing the Anti-Money Laundering Authority on behalf of the Economic and Monetary Affairs committee.

Regulation establishing the Anti-Money Laundering Authority: statement by Eva Maria POPTCHEVA (Renew, ES), co-rapporteur, on behalf of the Economic and Monetary Affairs committee

Anti-money laundering. Parliament debate with Council and Commission the decision to add the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gibralta, Mozambique, Tanzania and United Arab Emirates to the list of high-risk third countries for anti-money laundering and terrorist financing purposes. Closing statements by Jessika ROSWALL, Swedish Minister for EU Affairs and by Jutta URPILAINEN, European Commissioner for International Partnerships.

Urgent update of the EU list of high-risk third countries for anti-money laundering and terrorist financing purposes: statements by Jessika ROSWALL, Swedish Minister for EU Affairs and Jutta URPILAINEN, EU Commissioner for International Partnerships

fight against tax fraud and evasion (T)

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