- The Second Committee approved nine draft resolutions and two draft decisions on various topics.
- The Committee voted on a draft resolution on international tax cooperation, which was approved by a recorded vote of 125 in favour to 48 against, with 9 abstentions.
- The draft resolution emphasizes the need for universal and inclusive international tax cooperation, particularly for developing countries and countries in special situations.
- The African Group sees the resolution as a beacon of hope for developing nations and a reinforcement of their commitment to strengthening tax systems and fostering tax equity.
- An amendment proposed by the United Kingdom was rejected by a recorded vote of 55 in favour to 107 against, with 16 abstentions.
- Delegates had differing opinions on the amendment and the draft resolution, reflecting divisions throughout the Committee’s session.
- Some delegates called for urgent action on aggressive tax avoidance and evasion, illicit financial flows, and recovery of stolen assets.
- The Russian Federation supported the transfer of tax discussions to the UN platform and a step-by-step approach to a UN framework convention on taxes.
- The Bahamas representative sees the resolution as an important step towards an inclusive and equitable global tax system, addressing challenges faced by the Global South.
- The Republic of Korea expressed regret that common ground was not found on the resolution and called for open-ended intergovernmental discussions involving tax experts.
- Switzerland believes that a legally binding framework convention will not achieve effective and inclusive international fiscal cooperation and that consensus-based processes are necessary.
- Türkiye abstained from the vote due to concerns over the draft resolution and the lack of consensus, but expressed regret that the United Kingdom’s amendment was not approved.
Source: press.un.org
Note that this post was (partially) written with the help of AI. It is always useful to review the original source material, and where needed to obtain (local) advice from a specialist.
