highlight views and concerns of LRAs with regards to this topic
continue the work stream with the COR's initial opinion on this topic (on CCCTB by Gusty Graas, adopted in 2011)
where possible influence the EP's work in this field
After contacts with the CoR Philippe de Backer (BE/ALDE) tabled two amendments to the TAXE report by Theurer & Feirrera on the basis of two important points from the CoR opinion:
Amendment 785 on the treatment of debt financing in corporate tax systems
Amendment 792 on common accounting rules
The content of Amendment 792 is fully preserved in the final text of the report in point 120, which reads:
120. […]emphasises that, if it is to achieve one of its goals, i.e. reducing red tape, the application of a common consolidated tax base should be accompanied by the implementation of common accounting rules and appropriate harmonisation of administrative practices in tax matters;
Regarding the dossier in EP/ECON, the document adopted in Committee shares some of the CoR's key concerns, mainly the need for a Common Tax Base (CCTB) as a first step, which later on should be consolidated as well (CCCTB).
THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS
- highlights the complexity of the current rules on corporate taxation within the EU, as well as the lack of coordination and complementarity between the different systems of the various Member States;
- stresses the positive effects that a CCCTB is likely to have on economic growth, employment and tax equity as well as on public finances, including those of local and regional authorities; moreover, adequate, transparent and effective tax collection which is fair for all companies would bring about reductions in the tax burden;
- considers it desirable to immediately introduce a common consolidated corporate tax base. Since the negotiations on consolidation have been difficult and protracted, supports the Commission's approach concerning the postponement of the CCCTB's consolidation element if this allows for progress to be made with the negotiations on the other elements of the proposal, in particular establishing the common tax base;
- calls on the Commission to carefully study the potential impact on local and regional authorities, particularly on their budgets, of a new legislative proposal to implement the CCCTB, without however restarting the whole procedure for analysing the impact of the CCCTB, which would unnecessarily delay its implementation;
- calls for the BEPS package to be implemented by the European Commission and the Member States and regions with legislative powers in the area of corporate taxation on a binding basis through a new anti-BEPS directive in order to combat these phenomena effectively within the EU.