European Commission - Press release

Fair Taxation: EU updates list of non-cooperative tax jurisdictions
Brussels, 12 March 2019
Over the course of last year, the Commission assessed 92 countries based on three criteria: tax
transparency, good governance and real economic activity, as well as one indicator, the existence of azero corporate tax rate. Today's update shows that this clear, transparent and credible processdelivered a real change: 60 countries took action on the Commission's concerns and over 100 harmful
regimes were eliminated. The list has also had a positive influence on internationally agreed tax goodgovernance standards.
Based on the Commission's screening, ministers blacklisted today 15 countries. Of those, 5 have taken
no commitments since the first blacklist adopted in 2017: American Samoa, Guam, Samoa,
Trinidad and Tobago, and US Virgin Islands. 3 others were on the 2017 list but were moved to thegrey list following commitments they had taken but have now to be blacklisted again for not having
followed up: Barbados, United Arab Emirates and Marshall Islands. A further 7 countries weremoved today from the grey list to the blacklist for the same reason: Aruba, Belize, Bermuda, Fiji,Oman, Vanuatu and Dominica.Another 34 countries will continue to be monitored in 2019 (grey list),
while 25 countries from the original screening process have now been cleared.
"The EU tax havens list is a true European success. It has had a resounding effect on tax transparency
and fairness worldwide”, said Pierre Moscovici, Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs,Taxation and Customs. “Thanks to the listing process, dozens of countries have abolished harmful tax
regimes and have come into line with international standards on transparency and fair taxation. Thecountries that did not comply have been blacklisted, and will have to face the consequences that thisbrings. We are raising the bar of tax good governance globally and cutting out the opportunities for taxabuse."
The EU's list has led to changes in global tax practices that would have been unimaginable only a few
years ago. Conceived by the Commission and first agreed by Member States in December 2017, it is acommon tool to tackle risks of tax abuse and unfair tax competition globally. The process is fair withimprovements made visible in the list and it boosted transparency with countries' commitment letterspublished online. The EU listing process has also created a framework for dialogue and cooperation
with the EU's international partners, to address concerns with their tax systems and discuss tax
matters of mutual interest. The screening will now be enhanced with more compulsory transparency
criteria to be respected and three G20 countries added to the next screening, Russia, Mexico andArgentina.
In terms of consequences, Member States have agreed on a set of countermeasures, which they canchoose to apply against the listed countries, including increased monitoring and audits, withholding
taxes, special documentation requirements and anti-abuse provisions. The Commission will continue tosupport Member States' work to develop a more coordinated approach to sanctions for the EU list in
2019. In addition, new provisions in EU legislation prohibit EU funds from being channelled ortransited through entities in countries on the tax blacklist.
Next steps
The EU listing process is currently a dynamic one, which will continue in the years ahead.
- A letter will now be sent to all jurisdictions on the EU list, explaining the decision and what they
can do to be de-listed.
- The Commission and Member States (Code of Conduct Group) will continue to monitor thejurisdictions that have until the end of 2019/2020 to deliver, and assess whether any othercountries should be included in the EU listing process.
- The Commission will continue the open dialogue and engagement with the jurisdictions concerned,
to provide technical support and clarifications whenever needed and to discuss any tax matters ofmutual concern.
Further information
Common EU list of third country jurisdictions for tax purposes

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