Tax avoidance by companies cost EU countries €160-190 billion per year in lost revenue.

According to a Eurobarometer survey commissioned by the European Parliament, 75% of the EU population expects more EU action on the fight against tax fraud: it is necessary to respond effectively to this concern.
The European Parliament is leading this fight by adopting ambitious and concrete proposals to increase tax transparency and combat tax avoidance. Parliament is calling for the automatic exchange of tax rulings between member states and public country-by-country reporting for multinationals, together with a common definition of tax havens and strong and concrete sanctions.

#EUelections2019 - Corporate tax transparency

Since 2009, the EU has undertaken a large number of reforms to establish a safer, more resilient, transparent and responsible financial system, serving the economy and society as a whole.

However, the size and complexity of a number of banks remain an issue of concern. The balance sheet of some of these banks is larger than the GDP of their home countries. These banks remain 'too big to fail' and, as a result, take advantage of the presumption that the sovereign will bail them out with taxpayers' money in case of substantial trouble, instead of letting them fail.

#EUelections2019 - Safer banks

Following continued revelations in the last 5 years (Luxleaks, the Panama Papers, Football leaks and the Paradise Papers), the European Parliament decided to establish a Special Committee on Financial Crimes, Tax Evasion and Tax Avoidance (TAX3), on 1 March 2018.

The work of the TAX3 Committee built on the work of its predecessors (the TAXE, TAX2 and PANA Committees) and investigated new issues, such as digital taxation, national citizenship programs and VAT fraud.
In the course of its mandate, the TAX3 Committee met 34 times and organized 4 fact-finding missions to Washington, Latvia, the Isle of Man, Estonia and Denmark. Hundreds of experts were heard, including Commissioners, Ministers, prosecutors, investigative journalists, anti-money laundering and tax experts, accountants, bankers and NGO representatives before submitting a final report with its recommendations, including a detailed roadmap towards fairer and more effective taxation, and tackling financial crimes.

#EUelections2019 - Special Committees TAX3 and PANA

Established for a period of at least five years, a multiannual financial framework or MFF must ensure that the Union’s expenditure develops in an orderly manner and within the limits of its own resources, and sets out provisions with which the annual budget of the Union must comply, thus laying down the cornerstone of financial discipline.

Both the Parliament and Commission signalled that they were ready to make an effort to reach agreement on the package before the May 2019 European elections. Meeting this deadline would have enabled the new programmes to start without delay on 1 January 2021. However, on 13-14 December 2018, having conducted the first substantial exchange of views on the matter, the EU leaders called on the Romanian presidency to continue work at the level of the Council with a view to achieving an agreement only in autumn 2019.

#EUelections2019 - EU’s long-term budget (MFF)

Press conference on EU Tax Symposium 2026: The future of taxation - inequality and growth in the global economy

EP Plenary session - The role of simple tax rules and tax fragmentation in European competitiveness

EP Plenary session - Fair and simple taxation supporting the recovery strategy

EP Plenary session -Fiscalis programme for cooperation in the field of taxation 2021-2027

;EP Plenary session - Business Taxation

Plenary session - Fair taxation for a just society

EP Plenary session - US tariffs in the steel and aluminium sector and the EU's response

Press conference on ' EU tax agenda in the context of current developments '

Pasquale TRIDICO (The Left, IT), Chair of the Tax Matters Subcommittee, and Wopke HOEKSTRA, Member of the European Commission responsible for tax matters, hold a press conference on "EU Tax Symposium 2026: The future of taxation - inequality and growth in the global economy". This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press Conference by Pasquale TRIDICO (The Left, IT), Chair of the Tax Matters Subcommittee and Wopke HOEKSTRA, Member of the European Commission responsible for tax matters, on EU Tax Symposium 2026

MEPs vote on the following items: EU/Andorra agreement: automatic exchange of financial account information to improve international tax compliance; EU/Monaco agreement: exchange of financial account information to improve international tax compliance; EU/San Marino agreement: automatic exchange of financial account information to improve international tax compliance; EU/Liechtenstein agreement: automatic exchange of financial account information to improve international tax compliance; EU/Switzerland agreement: automatic exchange of financial account information to improve international tax compliance; Mobilisation of the European Union Solidarity Fund: assistance to Spain and France in relation to natural disasters in 2024 and 2025; Appointment of Maria Berger to the panel set up under Article 255 of the TFEU; Partial renewal of Members of the Court of Auditors; Gender Equality Strategy 2025.

Voting Session - Gender Equality Strategy

MEPs vote on the following items: Van Dijck (A10-0188/2025) - Exceptional trade measures for countries and territories participating in or linked to the Stabilisation and Association Process; Opinion from the Court of Justice on the compatibility with the Treaties of the proposed Agreement on Digital Trade between the European Union and the Republic of Singapore; Hahn (A10-0187/2025) - Digital Trade Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Singapore; Hahn (A10-0190/2025) - Digital Trade Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Singapore (Resolution); Regner (A10-0194/2025) - Business in Europe: Framework for Income Taxation (BEFIT)

Voting Session, including new trade and taxation measures

Pasquale TRIDICO (The Left/IT), Chair of the Tax Matters subcommittee and Wopke HOEKSTRA, European Commissioner responsible for taxation hold a press conference on the EU Tax Symposium 2025

Press Conference by Pasquale TRIDICO (The Left/IT), Chair of the Tax Matters subcommittee and Wopke HOEKSTRA, European Commissioner responsible for taxation on the EU Tax Symposium 2025

Closing statements by Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety on the historic CJEU ruling on the Apple state aid case and its consequences. MEPs discuss the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling that deemed Ireland’s tax arrangements with Apple as illegal state aid. The court's decision requires Ireland to recover €13 billion in taxes from Apple and overturns a previous General Court ruling that was favorable to Apple. This ruling is final and definitive. Representatives from the Commission and Council will provide insights on the potential impact of the ECJ’s verdict. The Chair of Parliament’s tax subcommittee has described the ruling as "historic," highlighting its significance for European tax policy. This debate explores the broader implications of the ruling for EU state aid regulations and international tax practices.

The historic CJEU ruling on the Apple state aid case and its consequences: closing statement by Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety

MEPs debate on the historic CJEU ruling on the Apple state aid case and its consequences. MEPs discuss the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling that deemed Ireland’s tax arrangements with Apple as illegal state aid. The court's decision requires Ireland to recover €13 billion in taxes from Apple and overturns a previous General Court ruling that was favorable to Apple. This ruling is final and definitive. Representatives from the Commission and Council will provide insights on the potential impact of the ECJ’s verdict. The Chair of Parliament’s tax subcommittee has described the ruling as "historic," highlighting its significance for European tax policy. This debate explores the broader implications of the ruling for EU state aid regulations and international tax practices.

The historic CJEU ruling on the Apple state aid case and its consequences: MEPs debate

Opening statements by János BÓKA, Hungarian Minister for European Affairs and Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, on the historic CJEU ruling on the Apple state aid case and its consequences. MEPs discuss the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling that deemed Ireland’s tax arrangements with Apple as illegal state aid. The court's decision requires Ireland to recover €13 billion in taxes from Apple and overturns a previous General Court ruling that was favorable to Apple. This ruling is final and definitive. The Chair of Parliament’s tax subcommittee has described the ruling as "historic," highlighting its significance for European tax policy. This debate explores the broader implications of the ruling for EU state aid regulations and international tax practices. This transcription is a result of an authomatic process. Please check against delivery.

The historic CJEU ruling on the Apple state aid case and its consequences: opening statements by János BÓKA, Hungarian Minister for European Affairs and Stella KYRIAKIDES, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety

With energy prices skyrocketing and households being put under increasing financial pressure, MEPs discuss the merits and the most effective way of imposing a windfall tax on energy companies’ profits. In a resolution adopted in May, MEPs called for such a tax in principle. Closing statements by Věra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Values and Transparency and by Mikuláš BEK, Czech Minister for European Affairs.

Taxing windfall profits of energy companies: closing statements by Věra JOUROVÁ, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Values and Transparency and by Mikuláš BEK, Czech Minister for European Affairs

Taxation (T2)

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