The European Commission says new rules are needed to align the tax laws in all 28 EU countries in order to fight aggressive tax practices by large companies efficiently and effectively.

The Commission today opened up a new chapter in its campaign for fair, efficient and growth-friendly taxation in the EU with new proposals to tackle corporate tax avoidance. The [Anti-Tax Avoidance Package](http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/taxation/company_tax/anti_tax_avoidance/index_en.htm) calls on Member States to take a stronger and more coordinated stance against companies that seek to avoid paying their fair share of tax and to implement the international standards against base erosion and profit shifting. Today’s proposals aim for a coordinated EU wide response to corporate tax avoidance, following global standards developed by the OECD last autumn.

**Background**

Today’s Package reflects the current global political and economic approach to corporate taxation. Last October, [OECD countries agreed on measures](http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-15-5773_en.htm) to limit tax base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS). The European Parliament has also developed recommendations on corporate tax avoidance.

The Commission is rapidly making good on President Juncker’s promise of delivering a comprehensive agenda to tackle corporate tax avoidance, ensuring a fairer Single Market and promoting jobs, growth and investment in Europe.

Major initiatives put forward by the Commission in 2015 to [boost tax transparency](http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-15-4610_en.htm) and [reform corporate taxation](http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-15-5188_en.htm) are already reaping results: the proposal for transparency on tax rulings was agreed by Member States in only seven months and a number of other substantial corporate tax reforms have been launched. The Commission will continue its campaign for corporate tax reform throughout 2016, with important proposals such as the [re-launch of the Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base](http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-15-5174_en.htm) (CCCTB).

For more information:

[Anti-Tax Avoidance Package](http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/taxation/company_tax/anti_tax_avoidance/index_en.htm)