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Are you sure? I think that countries that benefit from such schemes (e.g. Ireland, Netherlands, Luxembourg) can veto, sink such proposals before they land, or

Are you sure? I think that countries that benefit from such schemes (e.g. Ireland, Netherlands, Luxembourg) can veto, sink such proposals before they land, or simply partially comply. For instance, the Netherlands announced a withholding tax on royalties for 2021 "for cases where abuse is involved" [1] after international pressure. The way I read this is that they are building a facade where it looks they are complying with other EU regulations, but in reality it's business as usual. This way other EU countries have no appeal to these schemes as the Netherlands can say "we looked into these allegations, but no abuse there" and do nothing. [1] https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/global/Documents/Tax/dttl-tax-netherlandshighlights-2019.pdf https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/global/Docume...

oblio 6y ago
There are countries that benefit from it, and they can veto. However, the reality is... realpolitik still exists. If Germany and France decide things should really change, what negotiating power do you think the Netherlands or Luxembourg or Ireland really have? For example the Dutch economy is basically hitched to the German one, Germany can find a lot of creative ways to inflict a lot of pain on the Netherlands if it really wants to ;-)
- alphadevx 6y ago
  Let me introduce you to the New Hanseatic League, you will be surprised what an aligned group of small countries within the EU can achieve: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Hanseatic_League https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Hanseatic_League
- stormdennis 6y ago
  Alliances vary according to the issue. Germany and France are often at loggerheads. France has a particular beef with with Ireland's 12% corporation tax rate but agrees with it on lots of other issues such as agriculture and the measures concerning the pandemic. Ireland passed up on a chance to join the Hanseatic league[1] because in some ways it is not as "Northern European" in outlook as he likes of Finland and the Netherlands. [1]Seems I was wrong about this

oblio 6y ago

There are countries that benefit from it, and they can veto. However, the reality is... realpolitik still exists. If Germany and France decide things should really change, what negotiating power do you think the Netherlands or Luxembourg or Ireland really have? For example the Dutch economy is basically hitched to the German one, Germany can find a lot of creative ways to inflict a lot of pain on the Netherlands if it really wants to ;-)

alphadevx 6y ago
Let me introduce you to the New Hanseatic League, you will be surprised what an aligned group of small countries within the EU can achieve: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Hanseatic_League https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Hanseatic_League
stormdennis 6y ago
Alliances vary according to the issue. Germany and France are often at loggerheads. France has a particular beef with with Ireland's 12% corporation tax rate but agrees with it on lots of other issues such as agriculture and the measures concerning the pandemic. Ireland passed up on a chance to join the Hanseatic league[1] because in some ways it is not as "Northern European" in outlook as he likes of Finland and the Netherlands. [1]Seems I was wrong about this