Member States agree to update the EU list of non-cooperative tax jurisdictions

The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands were fully delisted because they successfully addressed deficiencies in their enforcement of economic substance requirements.

Belize and Seychelles were moved to Annex II pending the results of a supplementary review by the Global Forum on Tax Transparency and Exchange of Information. Today’s update is another step ahead in the EU’s continuous effort to promote tax transparency and fair taxation globally. It confirms a general positive trend for the majority of the jurisdictions concerned, whose engagement in the process continues to produce positive results.

Based on this update, Annex I of the EU list is now made up of 12 jurisdictions that have not improved their tax good governance standards or made insufficient progress in delivering on their previous commitments. Those countries are: American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Fiji, Guam, Palau, Panama, the Russian Federation, Samoa, Trinidad and Tobago, US Virgin Islands, and Vanuatu.

Additionally, 10 jurisdictions now feature in Annex II based on commitments they have taken to improve their tax good governance. The EU will closely monitor these commitments to make sure they are followed up on. Thanks to the EU listing process, many countries have already taken concrete steps and measures to comply with tax good governance standards.

As part of the EU listing process, the Commission provides considerable support to third countries in strengthening their tools against tax abuse, as well as technical assistance to those that need it. The Commission is also working with Member States to further strengthen the EU listing criteria to ensure more tax transparency, while promoting the global implementation of minimum effective taxation rules. Work on common or more coordinated tax defensive measures against listed jurisdictions also continues.

The EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes is part of the EU’s external strategy on taxation and aims to contribute to ongoing efforts to promote tax good governance worldwide. The EU listing exercise is based on a thorough process of screening, assessment, monitoring, and as an international cooperation exercise, dialogue and outreach. It has prompted unprecedented engagement between the EU and its international partners on important tax issues.

More on the EU list and the process

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