Tax deals: EPP Group fully backs inquiry

“The EPP Group fully trusts and fully supports the European Commission in the ongoing investigation on schemes in Luxembourg and other Member States opened by Commissioner Almunia and which Competition Commissioner Vestager will now be taking over,” said Manfred Weber MEP, the Chairman of the EPP Group in the European Parliament.

Reacting to revelations over the tax practices of big companies in Luxembourg, Manfred Weber pointed out that this is not a personal issue for European Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker, but a question to be handled by the competent European and national authorities. Juncker, he added, "has made very clear that, under his leadership, the European Commission would step up efforts to combat tax evasion and tax fraud. The EPP Group will strongly support all initiatives in that direction.”

“Fiscal policy remains a competence of the Member States. What we would like to see is national governments putting a stop to the use of dual language on the fight against tax evasion - expressing one view when they are in Brussels and another when they are back in their capitals - and agree on bold initiatives to put an end to these practices,” Weber concluded.