14 June 2019

Main results - Economic and Financial Affairs Council

The Council discussed the "Clean Planet for all" communication by the European Commission, the 2019 country specific recommendations. Ministers closed the excessive deficit procedure for Spain. They also took stock of the state of play on the financial transaction tax and the banking union.

Main results

Stability and growth pact

The Council closed the excessive deficit procedure for Spain, confirming that its deficit has dropped below the EU's 3% of GDP reference value.

As a consequence, all procedures that were open at the height of the euro crisis have now been closed.

From now on, Spain will be subject to the preventive arm of the EU's fiscal rulebook.

Excessive deficit: Spain exits procedure as deficit reduced below 3% (press release, 14/06/2019)

The Council also issued decisions on Hungary and Romania, which are already subject to a significant deviation procedure, confirming that effective actions have not been taken, and new recommendations on measures to take to correct the deviations.

Ministers also discussed relevant issues addressed in the country-specific recommendations presented by the Commission on 5 June, ahead of the European Council's discussion of 20-21 June.

Clean planet for all

Ministers discussed the Commission communication on a strategic long-term vision for a climate neutral economy.

The debate focused on investment and finance-related aspects of the Commission's communication, recognising that the transition will require important investments. Estimates suggest that the current annual investment volume of about 2% of GDP will have to increase to nearly 3%, or more than 500 billion euros, per year over the 2031-2050 period.

Commission's vision for a climate-neutral future, 28 November 2018

Financial transaction tax

The Council was updated by member states participating in the enhanced cooperation on the state of play regarding the financial transaction tax (FTT), on the basis of a note by Germany.

Participating member states indicated that they are discussing about an option of an FTT based on the French model of the tax and about the possible mutualisation of the revenues among the participating member states as a contribution to the EU budget.

While all member sates participate in deliberations, the adoption of the directive will require unanimous agreement of the participating countries within the Council, after consulting the European Parliament.

German note on the state of play on the FTT

Taxation

Without discussion, the Council decided to remove Dominica from the EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions.

Taxation: Dominica removed from the EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes (press release, 14/06/2019)

The Council also adopted a report for the European Council on tax issues, as well as a report and conclusions on the work carried out by the Code of Conduct group on business taxation.

ECOFIN report to the European council on tax issues

June 2019 report of the code of conduct group on business taxation

June 2019 conclusions on the code of conduct on business taxation

Financial services

The Council endorsed a progress report prepared by the Romanian presidency on the state of play of the banking union. The Commission also presented its report on the implementation of the action plan on non-performing loans.

Without discussion, the Council also adopted a regulation setting up a "pan-European personal pension product" and new rules facilitating the cross-border distribution of investment funds.

Presidency progress report on the banking union

Fourth Commission progress report on the reduction of non-performing loans in the Banking Union

Capital markets union: Council adopts new rules facilitating access to pension products and investment funds (press release, 14/06/2019)

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