EU vote of confidence in Jersey after Chief Ministers visit

Thursday 14 January 2016

Jersey has been given a welcome endorsement for anti-tax avoidance measures by the EU Tax Commissioner Pierre Moscovici, after Chief Minister Ian Gorst spent two days in Brussels this week.

Mr Moscovici described Jersey and Guernsey as “co-operative jurisdictions” and welcomed their work on reporting standards and fighting profit-shifting in particular.

The statement comes just two weeks before the EU is set to publish an Anti-Tax Avoidance package.

Senator Gorst was at the meetings along with his Guernsey opposite number Jonathan Le Tocq – during the Brussels trip they also met MEPs and Ambassadors.

In a statement, Senator Gorst wrote: “I am pleased that the Commissioner has confirmed that Guernsey and Jersey are co-operative jurisdictions, and active partners of the EU in fight tax evasion, fraud and abusive tax avoidance.

"We have had a number of opportunities to discuss the future of the UK-EU relationship, which is of great importance. The Channel Islands need to be informed ahead of the UK referendum, as well as prepared for any developments after the UK referendum.”

In a similar statement, Deputy Le Tocq highlighted the islands’ commitment to clear and consistent European standards, and the potential for opening up EU markets to Channel Islands firms.

Mr Moscovici’s statement described the Islanders as “important partners” in international compliance.

He said: “I very much welcome the continued active engagement of Guernsey and Jersey in the key international initiatives for fighting tax evasion, fraud and abusive tax avoidance, in which they are important partners of the EU.

“Their implementation of the Common Reporting Standard on automatic exchange of information from the 1st January, and their support of the BEPS programme, alongside the EU Member States, are particularly noteworthy and reinforce their standing as cooperative jurisdictions.”