EU launches infringement procedures against Belgium, France, Malta over small business VAT scheme
The European Commission has opened infringement procedures against Belgium, France, and Malta for failing to implement the IT systems required for the EU small business VAT scheme. The European Commission has urged Belgium, France, and Malta to
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EU Commission moves to raise tariffs to shield steel sector
The European Commission proposed halving tariff-free steel import quotas and imposing a 50% duty on excess imports to support the EU steel industry. The European Commission has proposed measures on 7 October 2025 to safeguard the EU steel sector,
See MoreEU Commission recommends expanding access to tax-favoured savings and investment accounts (SIAs)
The EU recommended measures are aimed at increasing access to simplified, tax-advantaged savings and investment accounts. The European Commission (EC) issued a recommendation aimed at expanding access to savings and investment accounts (SIAs)
See MoreEuropean Commission releases reports on member states’ VAT rate exemptions
This report reviews how Member States apply VAT rate derogations, revealing an uneven distribution. The European Commission has released a report examining the VAT rate exemptions utilised by EU Member States, accompanied by annexes detailing
See MoreEU: Commissioner Hoekstra addresses current state of Pillar 1, 2
The European Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra responded that the European Commission notes Canada’s decision to suspend its digital services tax but considers it a sovereign matter and will not comment further. The European Parliament released a
See MoreEU Council streamlines carbon border adjustment mechanism, exempts small importers
The regulation aims to simplify the CBAM and lower compliance costs, particularly easing the regulatory burden for EU companies and SMEs. The Council of the European Union, in an announcement on 29 September 2025, stated that it has formally
See MoreEU urges 11 states to finalise 6th anti-money laundering directive transposition
The European Commission is taking action against several EU Member States that have failed to notify the Commission of measures they have adopted to transpose EU Directives into their national laws. The European Commission announced new measures
See MoreEU Parliament backs major tobacco tax reform to advance public health
The Briefing concludes that the reform aims to reduce tobacco use, curb cross-border distortions, and combat illicit trade through updated rates, harmonised rules for new nicotine products, and an automatic adjustment mechanism. The European
See MoreEU: Tax Working Party to review tobacco tax directive reforms
The indirect taxation subgroup addresses taxation issues, including VAT, excise duties, energy taxation, financial transaction tax, and administrative cooperation. The Working Party on Tax Questions (Indirect Taxation), a preparatory body of the
See MoreEU: Commission consults CBAM methodology, certificate adjustments, third-country carbon price deductions
Stakeholders are encouraged to provide feedback on this initiative until 25 September 2025. The European Commission initiated a consultation on 28 August 2025 to gather the opinions of all stakeholders on the rules on the methodology for
See MoreEU moves to cut tariffs under trade deal with US
These steps contribute to restoring stability and predictability in EU-US trade and investment relations, to the benefit of business, workers and citizens. On 28 August 2025, the European Commission presented two proposals to advance the
See MoreEU urges stricter customs oversight on non-compliant goods
The EU Commission’s report highlighted that customs authorities have improved in intercepting non-compliant goods; however, e-commerce growth has outpaced enforcement, with 13 items per million refused entry in 2024 due to safety or compliance
See MoreEU: Council adopts new rules simplifying tax collection for imports
The directive will be published in the EU Official Journal and take effect 20 days later, with rules applying from 1 July 2028. The EU Council has formally adopted new value added tax (VAT) rules for distance sales of imported goods on 18 July
See MoreEU consults on VAT framework for travel and tourism
The consultation will last 12 weeks and include targeted discussions with representatives from Member States and business groups. The European Commission has launched a 12-week public consultation on 24 July 2025, to gather input from
See MoreEuropean Commission adopts proposal for council decision on amending protocol to AEOI-CRS agreement with Andorra
The European Commission adopted a decision on 17 July 2025 to authorise signing a protocol with Andorra for automatic exchange of financial account information under the OECD's common reporting standard. The European Commission (EC) adopted
See MoreEC urges several nations to fully implement VAT rates, SME scheme directive
The European Commission has urged several EU countries, including Cyprus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Greece, Spain, and Romania, to fully implement VAT-related directives and new SME VAT rules. The European Commission, in its July 2025 infringements
See MoreEU urges Netherlands to align investment fund tax rules with EU law
The European Commission issued a reasoned opinion to the Netherlands for not aligning its tax levy reduction scheme with the free movement of capital under EU and EEA agreements. The European Commission issued a reasoned opinion to the
See MoreEU to shift VAT liability on imported distance sales to non-EU sellers, platforms
The change aims to promote the use of the VAT Import One-Stop-Shop (IOSS), enabling VAT registration in a single EU state for sales across the EU. The EU General Affairs Council adopted amendments to the VAT directive during a meeting on 18
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