Where the law stands, Dossier 2023/0187(CNS)
Faster and Safer Relief of Excess Withholding Taxes
Consultation procedure (CNS): Parliament gives an opinion; the Council decides. · Parliament gives its opinion on a proposal. The Council decides, but must wait for Parliament’s opinion. · First reading
Parliament is consulted: it gives an opinion and can propose amendments, but the Council takes the decision and need not follow them.
Where it stands
Adopted by the Council
Completed: published in the Official Journal on 10 January 2025 and now EU law.
- Referred to committee(done) 16 September 2024
- Committee work(done) Report adopted 14 October 2024
- Tabled for plenary(done) 22 October 2024
- Plenary vote(done) Adopted 14 November 2024
- Adopted by the Council(done) 10 January 2025
Decided in plenary
14 November 2024 · decision 3
Economy & single market, New EU law
Faster and Safer Relief of Excess Withholding Taxes
Passed 555 for · 48 against · 42 abstained by an overwhelming majority
AI summary:The directive also sets reporting obligations for financial intermediaries and exempts member states with comprehensive relief-at-source systems and small financial markets from certain requirements.
What changed
Committee draft → Committee draft
AI summary:Parliament now approves the Council draft instead of proposing amendments, reflecting a shift to endorsement. The report removes earlier provisions on UNSHELL alignment, eTRC details, and data retention, and adds new review tasks for the Commission. The explanatory statement is rewritten to describe the Council's changes, including prolonged deadlines, a market size exemption, and a later entry into force.
Who works on it
- Lead committee
- Economic and Monetary Affairs
- The MEP who drafts the report and negotiates it on behalf of the committee.
- Herbert Dorfmann (EPP), Herbert Dorfmann (EPP)
- An MEP who follows a report on behalf of their own group when another group holds the rapporteur.
- Niels Fuglsang (S&D), Roberts Zīle (ECR), Mep #197541 (ECR), Gilles Boyer (Renew), Mep #197526 (Renew), Rasmus Andresen (Greens), Jussi Saramo (The Left), Mep #88715 (The Left), René Aust (ESN)
The text, version by version
Newest first.
Adopted by Parliament· 14 Nov 2024
AI summary:Parliament approves the Council draft on faster and safer relief of excess withholding taxes, and asks the Council to notify or consult it again if it departs from or substantially amends the approved text.
Adopted by Parliament· 28 Feb 2024
AI summary:Parliament's amended version of the proposed directive on faster and safer relief of excess withholding taxes sets common rules for EU member states to simplify and speed up procedures for investors, while strengthening anti-fraud measures.
Tabled for plenary· 22 Oct 2024
AI summary:Parliament approves the Council draft directive on Faster and Safer Relief of Excess Withholding Taxes, which introduces a common EU digital tax residence certificate and two fast-track procedures for tax relief.
Tabled for plenary· 26 Jan 2024
AI summary:Parliament's amended version of the proposed Council directive on Faster and Safer Relief of Excess Withholding Taxes sets common rules for withholding tax relief procedures on cross-border investments, including digital tax residence certificates, registration of financial intermediaries, and relief at source or quick refund procedures.
Committee draft· 9 Oct 2024
AI summary:The draft report concerns the Council directive on Faster and Safer Relief of Excess Withholding Taxes. The rapporteur proposes that Parliament approves the Council draft without amendments.
Committee draft· 9 Oct 2023
AI summary:The draft report approves the Commission proposal for a directive on Faster and Safer Relief of Excess Withholding Taxes, as amended. It sets out Parliament's amendments to the proposal.
Timeline
Newest first.
Outcome 1 step
10 January 2025
Published in the Official Journal
The act is now EU law.
Plenary stage 2 steps
14 November 2024
Plenary vote
Sitting of 14 Nov 2024 Adopted text TA10-0033/2024Report A10-0011/2024
22 October 2024
Report tabled for plenary
This is the text all MEPs vote on. Political groups can still table amendments to it.
Committee stage 3 steps
14 October 2024
Committee vote: report adopted
ECON (Economic and Monetary Affairs) voted on the amendments and adopted the report that goes to plenary.
9 October 2024
Draft report published
The rapporteur’s first text in ECON (Economic and Monetary Affairs). Members can table amendments before the committee votes.
16 September 2024
Referred to the ECON (Economic and Monetary Affairs) committee
The lead committee prepares Parliament’s report.
Plenary stage 2 steps
28 February 2024
Plenary vote
Sitting of 28 Feb 2024 Adopted text TA9-0102/2024Report A9-0007/2024
26 January 2024
Report tabled for plenary
This is the text all MEPs vote on. Political groups can still table amendments to it.
Committee stage 3 steps
23 January 2024
Committee vote: report adopted
ECON (Economic and Monetary Affairs) voted on the amendments and adopted the report that goes to plenary.
9 October 2023
Draft report published
The rapporteur’s first text in ECON (Economic and Monetary Affairs). Members can table amendments before the committee votes.
11 September 2023
Referred to the ECON (Economic and Monetary Affairs) committee
The lead committee prepares Parliament’s report.
Official record: Legislative Observatory, 2023/0187(CNS)