There is a new twist in the Union's fight against the loss of around 50 to 70 billion euros in corporate taxes every year through marginal legal tricks. In the Council, i.e. the decision-making body of the national governments, Austria is now in favor of obliging large corporations to publish their profits and tax payments on a country-by-country basis.
When asked by the “press” on Tuesday, the Portuguese EU Council Presidency as well as the Permanent Representation of Austria to the EU and the Council Secretariat confirmed that there had been a misunderstanding at the latest meeting of the responsible working group of national experts. Contrary to media reports, Austria did not abstain, but was in favor of proceeding with the amendment of the EU accounting directive from 2013.
Austria's vote is decisive here. It follows that this legislative proposal by the European Commission from April 2016 can be voted on in the next few weeks by the EU ambassadors or within the framework of the next council of ministers responsible for competition issues. When that will be is open, it said on the part of the Portuguese.
Sharp SPÖ attack against turquoise-green
The Commission's proposal stipulates that corporations that are active in the EU and have an annual worldwide turnover of at least 750 million euros must declare their taxes within the EU by country. You must also state how much corporate income tax you pay outside the EU, in the case of “uncooperative” countries (commonly known as tax havens) also per country.
Last week the SPÖ had sharply criticized the turquoise-green federal government for the alleged blockade. In the coalition-free area, the SPÖ, FPÖ and Greens decided in December 2019 that the next federal government would have to support “Country by Country Reporting” in the Council.
