EU investigates Netherlands sweetheart tax deals

A delegation from the European Parliament will be visiting the Netherlands in May for an investigation into the so-called sweetheart tax deals with multinationals like Starbucks. The delegation wants to speak to State Secretary Eric Wiebes and members of the Tweede Kamer, lower house of parliament, on May 29th, NRC reports. The delegation will also visit Belgium, Ireland, Luxembourg and Britain. The European parliamentarians want more information on the tax agreements made between Tax Authorities and major international companies. The Netherlands is under investigation because of the tax advantages offered to, among others, Starbucks. The European Commission has made tax evasion a priority and is investigating these type of tax structures. In March the Commission proposed that EU Member States must share information about their tax deals with large enterprises each quarter. This should take effect in 2016.