L'Europe des paradis fiscaux

In a world of heterogeneous national interests, it is difficult to deal with tax optimization and tax avoidance without solidarity between states. The European Union is made up of member states with often divergent interests and less than exemplary behaviour. In 2017, Luxembourg, Switzerland, the Cayman Islands, the City of London, Ireland, Belgium and the Netherlands were considered among the 15 tax havens of the world by NGOs, while the European Commission had not retained any EU member in the 30 countries it had so qualified. It is undeniable, however, that the basis for the economic development of Switzerland, Ireland or Luxembourg has been the consequence of the very favourable tax conditions granted to foreign companies and the withholding of information in the banking sector. Most multinational companies use tax havens to optimize their profits. The tax war has not been declared yet, but it is threatening. Several actions have been taken in the last few years to reduce the disparities in taxation, banking secrecy and financial opacity. A significant European tax would reduce these injustices and restore democracy.