In its work programme for 2018, published on 24 October 2017, the European Commission has expressed support for moving from unanimity to qualified majority voting by EU Member States on certain EU legislation, including tax legislation. The Commission’s announcement echoes a call by EU President Juncker for similar reform in his state of the union speech earlier in the year. Although the announcement was made in the European Commission’s work programme for 2018 it is clearly a more long term project with an indicative timing of 2025. Looking at the shorter term, the Commission’s work programme includes a number of existing proposals that it is pushing for swift adoption, including the controversial proposal to introduce common EU tax rules – known as CCCTB – and the disclosure of income tax information, which is presumably a reference to the – equally controversial – proposal for public country by country reporting.
Related Posts

EU Council stresses international tax cooperation and anti-evasion efforts in development financing
The EU Council released its conclusions and a press release on 26 May 2025, ahead of the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development. The Council of the European Union has released its conclusions and a press release on 26 May
Read More
EU Commission unveils strategy to streamline single market
The European Commission released a communication on 21 May 2025 outlining a strategy to strengthen and simplify the EU Single Market. The document emphasises the Single Market as a cornerstone of the EU's growth, competitiveness, and resilience,
Read More
EU: European Parliament endorses revisions to EU carbon border mechanism
The European Parliament has approved changes to the EU's carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), simplifying the rules and exempting 90% of importers. The European Parliament approved changes to the EU's carbon border adjustment mechanism
Read More
EU: European Council adopts UN convention on transparency for dispute settlement
The decision will increase public access to documents and hearings and include civil society in investor-state disputes under investment treaties. The Council of the European Union adopted a decision on the conclusion of the United Nations
Read More
EU to introduce flat tax on low-value imports from China
According to a Financial Times report on 20 May 2025, the EU is considering imposing a flat fee on small packages entering the bloc, mainly from China. The Financial Times reported that the European Commission shared a draft proposal for a
Read More
EU council approves draft directive holding foreign traders and platforms liable for import VAT
The EU Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) agreed on a draft directive on 13 May 2025, introducing new VAT rules for distance sales of imported goods and import VAT. The new rules seek to improve the VAT collection on imported goods
Read More