Ondertekening verdragen tussen Nederland en Guernsey

Toespraak | 25-04-2008

Your excellency, ladies and gentlemen,

First of all I would like to thank you for receiving me and my delegation here today. It is an honour for me to be here and meet your, Mr. Torode, personally. And it is a great pleasure for me to have this chance to visit your island and learn more about it.

Today is a special moment, as we shall sign the Tax Information Exchange Agreement between our two countries. By signing this agreement, we shall put into force our wish to deepen our economic and trading relationship. Moreover we shall do so through the actual cooperation on greater transparency and exchange of information on tax matters.

Because of the increasing globalisation of the economy, taxpayers are generating more of their income abroad and are transferring more money across country borders. As a result, the importance of exchanging information has increased in order to levy accurate tax assessments. For that reason the Netherlands is a supporter of as broad as possible exchange of information.

Besides the exchange of information with respect to taxation, cooperation between countries is also very important to combat tax avoidance, fraud, money laundering and terrorist financing.

Both the Netherlands and Guernsey have long been active in this combat.

One of the results is the signing of this TIEA today!

The Netherlands would like to thank Guernsey for working constructive with the member states of the OECD. As a result of this working together the objective of a global level playing field in tax matters keeps on coming closer. Not only has Guernsey worked together with the OECD, but also with the EU by signing agreements on the taxation of Savings. We truly recognize and fully appreciate your commitment.

At the same time the Netherlands is aware that the global playing field is not yet level. By agreeing more than just the exchange of tax information, we are showing that countries can make progress one step at a time if they are willing to work for mutual benefits. The non-OECD partners on the one hand must give up the comforts of privacy, bank secrecy and isolation. On the other hand OECD countries must take a critical look at their assumptions and take a realistic look at achieving transparency in a level playing field. Hopefully our signing today will give an extra boost to the international process on exchange of information and may stimulate other countries still negotiating TIEA’s.

The broader package we are signing today consists, besides the TIEA, also of an agreement on access to mutual agreement procedures for transfer pricing corrections and the Netherlands participation exemption. And negotiations for a shipping and aviation agreement will follow soon.

As soon as the agreements enter into force the Netherlands and Guernsey will be able to exchange information on request to both criminal and civil tax matters. Also the competent authorities of both our countries will be able to consult directly with each other.

Furthermore, we state in the Memorandum of Understanding that the ultimate goal of our exchange of information in tax matters is the relief of any double taxation arising between our countries.

I believe that today our two countries are setting a step forward (1) to achieving Global transparency and exchange of information on tax matters and (2) to creating a level playing field in tax matters. This is the start of a new relationship between our countries. And will hopefully be an example for others.

Thank you

Dinner speech by State Secretary Jan Kees de Jager, on 25 April 2008 in Guernsey

Ladies and gentlemen, Chief Minister Torode,

On the mainland off the coast of the Channel Islands was, if we take the comic book stories for true, the village of Asterix. The village of the invincible Gauls, who single-handedly bravely withstood the Roman Empire.

In one of these books – ‘Asterix and the Soothsayer’, for the connoisseur – the villagers, to escape the Romans, made the crossing to one of the islands.

Jumping into the modern age, I like to think that at that occasion some of the invincible Gauls must have stayed behind on Guernsey. And today, their offspring still bravely withstand the United Kingdom and the EU.

Asterix’ village was a completely autarkic community. Nowadays, this way of life is no longer possible, nor necessary. So the comparison with Guernsey stops here of course. This is the 21st century. The age of globalisation. And Guernsey stands firmly, with both feet, in this age and takes part in the globalising economy.

Because of this globalisation of the economy, taxpayers generate more of their income abroad and they transfer more money across country borders.

As a result, exchanging information in order to levy accurate tax assessments has become more and more important. For that reason the Netherlands is a supporter of as broad as possible exchange of information.

Also, exchanging information is very important in combating tax avoidance, fraud, money laundering and terrorist financing. Increased transparency plays a major role in achieving these goals.

One of the results is the signing of this TIEA, earlier today.

I would like to thank Guernsey for working constructively with the OECD to improve transparency and the effective exchange of information for tax purposes.

Today, our two countries have made a step forward towards transparency and exchange of information on tax matters and towards creating a level playing field. This is the start of a new relationship between our countries.

I would especially like to thank you, Chief Minister Torode, for your effort in realising this agreement. As I understand, you will leave office in a few days. I am honoured that you have made the effort to get our agreement signed within your term of office.

Together we are strong, as the saying goes. So, if the people of Guernsey are indeed descendants of the invincible villagers of Asterix, then I am grateful that you, by signing our agreement, have graciously shared a bit of your invincibility with my country.

Thank you.