EU presses ahead with tax information sharing rules

Plans for an EU directive banning countries from refusing to supply taxation information on grounds of bank secrecy is to be put to the Economic and Financial Affairs Council in Brussels on Tuesday (10 November) when ministers will be asked to agree the general approach, including the extent to which it will apply to third countries like Liechtenstein and Switzerland.

Chancellor Alistair Darling said in a statement on ECOFIN's agenda in the Commons: "The UK supports the proposal and further work in this area, which links to the wider G20 agenda on good governance in taxation."