The European Commission has required the Netherlands to abolish a corporate tax exemption for six seaports, following an in-depth state aid investigation. Belgium and France are also requested to amend their legislation, granting similar exemptions for certain ports in those countries, so that all these countries can align their taxation of ports with EU state aid rules. EC commissioner Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: ‘Ports are key infrastructure for economic growth and regional development. I will soon present a proposal to facilitate unproblematic investments in ports that can create jobs, to exempt them from scrutiny under EU state aid rules. At the same time, the Commission’s decisions regarding the Netherlands, Belgium and France make clear that if port operators generate profits from economic activities, these should be taxed under the normal national tax laws to avoid distortions of competition.’ Each country now has two months to respond to the Commission. See www.bit.ly/1OOHtQd.
The European Commission has required the Netherlands to abolish a corporate tax exemption for six seaports, following an in-depth state aid investigation. Belgium and France are also requested to amend their legislation, granting similar exemptions for certain ports in those countries, so that all these countries can align their taxation of ports with EU state aid rules. EC commissioner Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: ‘Ports are key infrastructure for economic growth and regional development. I will soon present a proposal to facilitate unproblematic investments in ports that can create jobs, to exempt them from scrutiny under EU state aid rules. At the same time, the Commission’s decisions regarding the Netherlands, Belgium and France make clear that if port operators generate profits from economic activities, these should be taxed under the normal national tax laws to avoid distortions of competition.’ Each country now has two months to respond to the Commission. See www.bit.ly/1OOHtQd.
