The EU welcomes the OECD agreement on the global minimum tax and promises consistent implementation in the EU.

The European Commission welcomed the OECD agreement on simplifying the global minimum tax rules, considering it a key step for international fiscal stability and for the predictability of the European business environment.

The European Union welcomed the agreement reached within the OECD regarding the coordinated functioning of the global minimum tax, emphasizing that it strengthens tax equity and reduces uncertainty for companies operating in multiple markets.

In short:

The OECD agreed on a package to simplify the global minimum tax rules.

The agreement aims for the coherent application of Pillar II (GloBE).

The EU states that the measure increases predictability for companies.

The Commission will oversee uniform implementation in member states.

In an official statement, the European Commission announced that it welcomes the agreement reached at the OECD level regarding a comprehensive package for the coordinated application of the global minimum tax in the digitalized and globalized economy. The understanding, agreed upon on January 5, aims to simplify Pillar II and introduce a "side-by-side" system within the GloBE rules.

According to the Commission, the agreement represents an important step towards stabilizing the international tax system, at a time when major economies are trying to limit the artificial transfer of profits and the erosion of the tax base. Brussels emphasizes that the new arrangements increase legal certainty and predictability for European businesses, while maintaining a fair competitive framework globally.

The European executive specified that, based on the progress already made in the European Union in implementing Pillar II, it will oversee the effective and coherent application of the rules in all member states. In parallel, the Commission intends to continue working on simplifying and streamlining the administrative obligations related to the global minimum tax, without affecting the integrity of the mechanism.

Brussels' political message is that fiscal multilateralism remains functional, and cooperation within the OECD can yield concrete results even in a fragmented geopolitical context. For the EU, the agreement strengthens the already adopted tax architecture and reduces the risk of divergent regimes that could fragment the internal market.

The global minimum tax, known as Pillar II, aims to ensure a minimum effective tax rate for large multinational groups, regardless of the jurisdiction in which they report their profits. The European Union has already transposed this framework into its legislation, and the OECD agreement from January 2026 is seen by Brussels as a tool for strengthening and simplifying, aimed at reducing the administrative burden and ensuring uniform application at the international level.

Context:

The agreement welcomed by the European Union is based on the understanding reached within the OECD and the Inclusive Framework on BEPS, which brings together 147 states and jurisdictions. After months of negotiations, participants agreed on a political and technical package aimed at ensuring the coordinated functioning of the global minimum tax in a digitalized and globalized economy.

The agreed package introduces a "side-by-side" system and includes measures to simplify compliance obligations for multinational groups and tax administrations, new safe harbors for certain jurisdictions, as well as an assessment mechanism to maintain a level playing field among states. The agreement also reaffirms the role of the complementary national minimum tax as a key tool for protecting tax bases, especially in developing economies.

According to the OECD, the objective is to increase tax certainty, reduce administrative complexity, and strengthen the stability of the international tax system, with additional implementation tools and technical assistance to be published in the coming period.

https://2eu.brussels/ro/stiri/ue-saluta-acordul-oecd-privind-impozitul-minim-global-si-promite-aplicare-coerenta-in-ue