Luxembourg PM Xavier Bettel (seated, on right) managed to include a reference to OECD proposals in the EU council conclusions. SIP

Luxembourg PM Xavier Bettel (seated, on right) managed to include a reference to OECD proposals in the EU council conclusions. SIP

The taxation system was on the agenda of the meeting of EU member state heads on Thursday 19 October.

Bettel said before the meeting that “one should stop saying that Luxembourg blocks taxation. It is unacceptable that some companies don’t pay taxes.”

However, he added that:

“It cannot be that companies pay more taxes in Europe than in the USA or anywhere in the world.”

While earlier drafts did not include a reference to the OECD proposals which are underway, the final summit conclusion stated that:

“it is important to ensure that all companies pay their fair share of taxes and to ensure a global level-playing field in line with the work currently underway at the OECD. The European Council invites the council to pursue its examination of the commission communication on this issue and looks forward to appropriate commission proposals by early 2018.”