New EU Directive and Regulation facilitating cross-border distribution of investment funds
On 20 June 2019, the European Parliament and the Council introduced a more harmonised framework on cross-border distribution of funds. The aim of the new Directive 2019/1160 and the Regulation 2019/1156 is to reduce regulatory roadblocks or barriers that hinder cross-border distribution of funds within the EU and to enhance fund managers’ ability to fully
Brexit Update – Mrs May sent back to Brussels Time to anticipate now!
Yesterday the House of Commons voted on the amendments which will shape the next steps of the Brexit. Members of the Parliament voted the amendment to scrap the most difficult part of the Withdrawal Agreement; being the Irish back stop and send Mrs May back to Brussels for further negotiations. In response to the vote,
Council agrees its position on hybrid mismatches with third countries
On 21 February 2017, the Council of the EU, meeting through its Economic and Financial Affairs (ECOFIN) Council, agreed its position on rules aimed at closing down ‘hybrid mismatches’ with the tax systems of third countries (so called ATAD II). Following to the European Commission’s proposal on amendments to the Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive (ATAD) as
Non-confidential version of the EC’s State aid opening decision in GDF Suez published
On 5 January 2017, the European Commission (“EC”) published its opening decision in the formal investigation into Luxembourg tax rulings obtained by entities of GDF Suez. The opening decision dated 19 September 2016 explains the reasons for the initiation of the formal investigation and the additional information requested from Luxembourg in order to reach a
Commission proposes new VAT rules to support e-commerce and online businesses in the EU
Yesterday, the EU Commission has introduced a series of proposals to simplify the VAT rules for e-commerce and reduce compliance on online sales of goods. The proposals include: Broadening of the One-Stop-Shop system to companies selling goods online (distance sales); Thresholds for cross-border sales of electronic services; Removal of the VAT exemption for small value
European Commission sets out next steps to boost tax transparency
On 5 July 2016, the European Commission (“Commission”) presented a Communication putting forward the priorities in their work towards a fairer, more transparent and more effective taxation system, together with a proposal to amend the Fourth Anti-Money Laundering Directive (“AMLD”). By means of these initiatives, the Commission wants to address the remaining gaps in the
Brexit: Financial Services Tax outlook
On Thursday 23 June 2016, a historic referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU was held, with the ‘Leave’ result announced the following day. The aftermath now requires careful consideration of the potential short and medium term scenarios the UK government could take in the following months and years and the potential effects each
MiFID II and MiFIR one-year delay published in EU Official Journal
The Directive[1] and Regulation[2] providing for a one-year delay for the date of applicability of MiFID II and MiFIR were published in the Official Journal of the EU on 30 June 2016. Published in the Official Journal of the EU on 15 May 2015, entered into force on 4 June of the same year,
