EU Takes Panama Off Tax Haven Blacklist After Transparency Gains
The European Union has removed Panama from its tax-haven blacklist, citing progress in information sharing and reforms to its foreign-income exemption regime.
Panama was taken off the EU’s list of non-cooperative jurisdictions after it improved the exchange of tax data and altered a regime that exempted foreign-source income. Vietnam was also delisted following a series of reforms. The updated blacklist now includes eight territories: American Samoa, Anguilla, Guam, Palau, Russia, Turks and Caicos Islands, US Virgin Islands and Vanuatu. The EU said the change reflects a positive trend toward meeting international tax-governance standards. The list was originally created in 2017 after the Panama Papers exposed widespread offshore asset concealment.
Why it matters
Removing Panama signals EU confidence in its tax reforms and encourages other jurisdictions to improve transparency.
How the sides frame it
HIGH AGREEMENTBoth camps report the EU removing Panama and Vietnam from the tax-haven blacklist and cite their recent transparency reforms, while the centrist coverage additionally notes the EU’s new deficiency finding for Anguilla.
LEFT
Removal is portrayed as a reward for Panama’s and Vietnam’s transparency gains and a positive step toward international tax-governance standards.
CENTER
Removal is presented as a decision by EU finance ministers after the jurisdictions took significant measures, with a formal note on a new deficiency for Anguilla.
The left emphasises
- improved exchange of tax data
- altered a regime that exempted foreign-source income
- positive trend toward meeting international tax-governance standards
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