Germany opens door to deal on EU digital tax at December meeting
Berlin now says it wants to avoid talks lasting 100 years and will give proceeds to the EU
German finance minister Olaf Scholz said he favours getting a binding deal on an EU digital tax at a meeting of EU finance ministers in December, and that he supports the French model for the move. France has long been the main supporter of the tax, but has grown increasingly frustrated with German hesitation over the details after Berlin agreed in principle to the idea in June. “If the negotiations continue the way that they have been going, we'll still be in talks in 100 years. That is why I support the French model and want to offer the proceeds to the EU,” news weekly Der Spiegel quoted Scholz on Monday as saying. After months of tough lobbying, the French government has said that only Denmark, Sweden and Ireland remain opposed. Germany, meanwhile, had until now been wavering over the proposed EU plan to tax big internet firms such as Google and Facebook on their turnover, which EU officials say unfairly pay less tax than other companies. Germany called earlier in November for a...
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