Outcome, conclusion of the meeting of the OECD Global Forum on Taxation in Berlin, 3-4 June 2004.

OUTCOME / CONCLUSION OF MEETING

On 3-4 June, Germany hosted a meeting of the OECD Global Forum on Taxation in Berlin.  The meeting was convened to further discuss the process of achieving the objective of a global level playing field based on high standards of transparency and effective exchange of information in tax matters. The meeting brought together over 100 representatives from 42 governments, both OECD and non-OECD, that are committed to that objective.  The meeting was chaired by Mr. Papali’i Tommy Scanlan, Governor of the Central Bank of Samoa and Mr. Bill McCloskey, Chair of the OECD’s Committee on Fiscal Affairs.  Mr. Hans Eichel, Germany’s Minister of Finance, opened the meeting. 

The meeting focused on specific proposals made by a sub-group of the Global Forum, established at the Ottawa Global Forum meeting in October 2003.  The proposals set forth a process for moving towards a global level playing field consistent with the objective of high standards of transparency and information exchange in tax matters in a way that is fair, equitable and permits fair competition between all countries, large and small, OECD and non-OECD.

The Global Forum participants broadly endorsed the proposals submitted by the sub-group and agreed the attached report. In addition, the Global Forum agreed that the sub-group should continue its work in the compilation of transparency and information exchange practices currently applied by all OECD countries, all non-OECD Participating Partners and significant financial centres that are outside these two groups.

The Global Forum looks forward to engaging in a dialogue with financial centres that up to now have not participated in the process.  It also looks forward to reviewing the outcome of the compilation of current practices in transparency and information exchange at a future Global Forum meeting.

Participants thanked the German government for hosting this meeting in Berlin.