The European Union (EU) has expanded its list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes, including Antigua and Barbuda.
Belize and Seychelles were also added today, while simultaneously the British Virgin Islands, Costa Rica, and the Marshall Islands were removed from the list. These updates bring the total number of jurisdictions on the EU’s list to 16.
The decision to add the three countries was reached by the EU Council, primarily due to their lack of cooperation concerning the exchange of tax information upon request. These jurisdictions have been identified as non-cooperative on tax matters, and the Council has encouraged them to enhance their legal framework to address the identified issues.
The EU’s list of non-cooperative tax jurisdictions also consists of countries that have not engaged in constructive dialogue with the EU on tax governance or have failed to implement necessary reforms.
These reforms should align with key tax governance criteria, emphasizing tax transparency, fair taxation, and the implementation of international standards aimed at preventing tax base erosion and profit shifting.
The EU’s code of conduct group, responsible for preparing updates to the list, collaborates closely with international bodies like the OECD Forum on Harmful Tax Practices to promote global tax good governance.
Established in December 2017, the EU’s list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes aligns with the EU’s external strategy on taxation and contributes to ongoing efforts to promote global tax good governance.
Jurisdictions are assessed based on criteria defined by the Council, encompassing tax transparency, fair taxation, and the implementation of international standards designed to counteract tax base erosion and profit shifting. The chair of the code of conduct group conducts political and procedural dialogues with relevant international organisations and jurisdictions when necessary.
The list is updated biannually, with the next revision scheduled for February 2024.
The Council’s decisions are crafted by the Council’s code of conduct group, which also oversees the monitoring of tax measures in EU member states.