Joinly meeting of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON)&nbsp;and the Special Committee on Tax Rulings and Other Measures Similar in Nature or Effect (TAXE) in the EP in Brussels.&nbsp;Questions and remarks&nbsp;by Bernd LUCKE (ECR, DE), Burkhard BALZ (EPP, DE), Elisa FERREIRA (S&amp;D, PT), Michael THEURER (ALDE, DE), Sven GIEGOLD (Greens/EFA, DE), Rolandas PAKSAS (EFDD, LT), Bernard MONOT (ENF, FR). Answers by Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC and Pierre MOSCOVICI, Member of the EC in charge of Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs.

Brussels

exchange of views

meeting

JUNCKER, Jean-Claude (LU)

fight against tax fraud and evasion (T)

Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs

LUCKE, Bernd (ECR, DE)

MONOT, Bernard (EFDD, FR)

MOSCOVICI, Pierre (PSE, FR, EC)

GIEGOLD, Sven (Greens/EFA, DE)

PAKSAS, Rolandas (EFDD, LT)

THEURER, Michael (ALDE, DE)

Special Committee on Tax Rulings and Other Measures Similar in Nature or Effect

FERREIRA, Elisa (S&D, PT, EC)

Exchange of views with Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC and Pierre MOSCOVICI, Member of the EC in charge of Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs: extracts

SOUNDBITE (German), Burkhard BALZ (EPP, DE), Why  do SMS's, and SMS's business hours, in your country, have to fulfil all their tax obligations, while most of the big players, the multinationals,  have the possibility to reduce and even bringing down to zero their tax burden?

SOUNDBITE (Portuguese), Elisa FERREIRA (S&amp;D, PT), Certain countries are in the business of eroding the tax bases of other countries. I don't want to make accusations here, but now we have to take responsibility for own agenda. Our concern now is to put political pressure on those who have - until this point - blocked us in our agenda.

SOUNDBITE (German), Bernd LUCKE (ECR, DE), "What do you intend to do with the financial advantages are given to a company in a relevant market. This puts them in an advantageous position compared to a competitor. There can be a national market, or an EU Internal market."

SOUNDBITE (German), Michael THEURER (ALDE, DE), The picture shows that for the moment there is a kind of unholy alliance between the large scale consultancies and multinational ones. The question is: are the governments in fact helpless? Do you actually want to do to something in this respect?

SOUNDBITE (English), Sven GIEGOLD (Greens/EFA, DE), Since you've take office in 89..the share of US profits recorded in Luxembourg, until your mandate has ended in Luxembourg, has increased from 0% in 89, to 10% today. So 10% of foreign profits are reported in Luxembourg. Are you ready to report systematically which roles have you played in the construction of tax heaven aspects of Luxembourg?

SOUNDBITE (Latvian), Rolandas PAKSAS (EFDD, LT), Mr Juncker, I will like to ask you whether you have in mind any possible measures to limit these practices, and even to deal to those preparing, drafting such rules.

SOUNDBITE (French), Bernard MONOT (ENF, FR), Your conception of humanism and solidarity is obviously having variables: you've been undermining other member states for over 20 years. You've been organising tax evasion and tax avoidance on a massive scale by multinationals at the benefit of your country, Luxembourg.

SOUNDBITE (German), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, I didn't set up any system in Luxembourg for tax avoidance; you are exaggerating my political talent. It wasn't at all something like that that I was trying to do. Lux is not an exception in this area. The legislative framework in this domain is done by the finance ministers, and tax authorities are developing the specific rules that are applied.

SOUNDBITE (German), Jean-Claude JUNCKER, President of the EC, You know that in no way, I never give support to tax admin in Luxembourg for actions with an impact negative on other EU countries. I've been very keen, especially in terms of private tax arrangements, to help, to help neighbouring countries for example Belgium.

SOUNDBITE (French), Pierre MOSCOVICI, Member of the EC in charge of Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs, We have to find a balance between the right of information of the Parliament - and this is a must for me - and on the other side the necessities of confidentiality demanded by the member states.