European Commission Proposes Initiative on Tax Havens, Uncooperative Jurisdictions and Tax Evasion

On November 16, 2011, the European Commission issued a communication proposing an initiative against tax havens, uncooperative jurisdictions, tax avoidance and tax evasion.1  According to European Commission spokeswoman Emer Traynor, the approach will involve trying to coordinate better among EU members to close loopholes and obtain a definition of what is a tax haven.2                 1               European Commission Roadmap/Communication on strengthening good governance in the tax area (“tax havens, uncooperative jurisdictions and aggressive tax planning”), Oct. 2011.                 2               Joe Kirwin, European Commission Plans New Crackdown on Tax Havens in 2012, Daily Rep. For Exec., Nov. 17, 2011, at I-1.