(Special legislative procedure – consultation)

The European Parliament,

–  having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council (COM(2013)0814),

–  having regard to Article 115 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, pursuant to which the Council consulted Parliament (C7‑0464/2013),

–  having regard to Rule 55 of its Rules of Procedure,

–  having regard to the report of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and the opinion of the Committee on Legal Affairs (A7-0243/2014),

1.  Approves the Commission proposal as amended;

2.  Calls on the Commission to alter its proposal accordingly, in accordance with Article 293(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union;

3.  Calls on the Council to notify Parliament if it intends to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

4.  Asks the Council to consult Parliament again if it intends to substantially amend the Commission proposal;

5.  Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the national parliaments.

Text proposed by the Commission   Amendment Amendment 1 Proposal for a directive Recital -1 (new) (-1) An estimated EUR 1 trillion of potential tax revenue is lost to tax fraud, tax evasion, tax avoidance or aggressive tax planning in the Union every year, representing an approximate cost of EUR 2 000 per annum for each Union citizen. It is therefore vital to take appropriate measures against tax fraud and to amend Council Directive 2011/96/EU1a in order to ensure that the application of that directive does not prevent effective action against double non-taxation in the area of hybrid loan structures. ______________ 1a Council Directive 2011/96/EU of 30 November 2011 on the common system of taxation applicable in the case of parent companies and subsidiaries of different Member States (OJ L 345, 29.12.2011, p. 8). Amendment 2 Proposal for a directive Recital -1 a (new) (-1a) The Commission Communication of 6 December 2012 entitled 'An Action Plan to strengthen the fight against tax fraud and tax evasion' identifies tackling mismatches between tax systems as one of the actions to be undertaken in the short term and includes an amendment of Directive 2011/96/EU in order to ensure that the application of that directive does not inadvertently prevent effective action against double non-taxation in the area of hybrid loan structures. The Action Plan also announced a review of anti-abuse provisions in the corporate tax directives, including Directive 2011/96/EU, with a view to implement the principles underlying the Commission Recommendation of 6 December 2012 on aggressive tax-planning. In its resolution of 21 May 2013 on Fight against Tax Fraud, Tax Evasion and Tax Havens, the European Parliament called on the Commission to put forward a proposal in 2013 to amend Directive 2011/96/EU with a view to revising the anti-abuse provision and eliminating double non-taxation, as facilitated by hybrid entities and financial instruments in the Union. Amendment 3 Proposal for a directive Recital 2 (2)  The benefits of Directive 2011/96/EU should not lead to situations of double non-taxation and, therefore, generate unintended tax benefits for groups of parent companies and subsidiaries of different Member States in comparison with groups of companies of the same Member State. (2)  The benefits of Directive 2011/96/EU should not lead to situations of double non-taxation or extreme forms of under-taxation and, therefore, generate unintended tax benefits for groups of parent companies and subsidiaries of different Member States in comparison with groups of companies of the same Member State. Amendment 4 Proposal for a directive Recital 4 (4)  In order to prevent tax avoidance and abuse through artificial arrangements, a common anti-abuse provision tailored to the purpose and objectives of Directive 2011/96/EU should be inserted. (4)  In order to prevent tax avoidance and abuse through artificial arrangements, a common, compulsory anti-abuse provision tailored to the purpose and objectives of Directive 2011/96/EU should be inserted. Amendment 5 Proposal for a directive Recital 5 (5)  It is necessary to ensure that this Directive does not preclude the application of domestic or agreement-based provisions required for the prevention of tax evasion. (5)  It is necessary to ensure that this Directive does not preclude the application of domestic or agreement-based provisions required for the prevention of tax evasion, in so far as they are compatible with this Directive. Amendment 6 Proposal for a directive Article 1 – point 1 Directive 2011/96/EU Article 1 – paragraph 2 2.  This Directive shall not preclude the application of domestic or agreement-based provisions required for the prevention of tax evasion. 2.  This Directive shall not preclude the application of domestic or agreement-based provisions required in order to prevent tax evasion or to permit the taxation of activities at the place of production or consumption, in so far as they are compatible with this Directive. Amendment 7 Proposal for a directive Article 1 – point 2 Directive 2011/96/EU Article 1a – paragraph 1 1.  Member States shall withdraw the benefit of this directive in the case of an artificial arrangement or an artificial series of arrangements which has been put into place for the essential purpose of obtaining an improper tax advantage under this directive and which defeats the object, spirit and purpose of the tax provisions invoked. 1.  Member States shall withdraw the benefit of this directive in the case of an artificial arrangement or an artificial series of arrangements which has been put into place for the purpose of obtaining an improper tax advantage under this directive and which defeats the object, spirit and purpose of the tax provisions invoked. Amendment 8 Proposal for a directive Article 1 – point 2 Directive 2011/96/EU Article 1 a – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2 – introductory part In determining whether an arrangement or series of arrangements is artificial, Member States shall ascertain, in particular, whether they involve one or more of the following situations: In determining whether an arrangement or series of arrangements is artificial, Member States shall ascertain, in particular, but not exclusively, whether they involve one or more of the following situations: Amendment 9 Proposal for a directive Article 1 – point 2 a (new) Directive 2011/96/EU Article 3 – paragraph 2 – point a 2a.  In Article 3(2), point (a) is replaced by the following: (a)  replacing, by means of bilateral agreement, the criterion of a holding in the capital by that of a holding of voting rights; "(a) adding, by means of bilateral agreement, the criterion of a holding in the capital to that of a holding of voting rights;" Amendment 11 Proposal for a directive Article 1 a (new) Article 1a Review By 31 December 2016, the Commission shall report to the European Parliament and to the Council reviewing the operation of the amendments to Directive 2011/96/EU introduced by this Directive and in particular its effectiveness in preventing tax avoidance and abuse. That report shall be submitted together with a legislative proposal, if appropriate. Amendment 12 Proposal for a directive Article 3 This Directive shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. This Directive shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. It shall be published in consolidated form with the Directive which it amends within three months of its publication.