State aid: Commission opens in-depth investigation into Luxembourg’s tax treatment of GDF Suez (now Engie)

The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation into Luxembourg’s tax treatment of the GDF Suez group (now Engie). The Commission has concerns that several tax rulings issued by Luxembourg may have given GDF Suez an unfair advantage over other companies, in breach of EU state aid rules. The Commission will assess in particular whether Luxembourg tax authorities selectively derogated from provisions of national tax law in tax rulings issued to GDF Suez. They appear to treat the same financial transaction between companies of GDF Suez in an inconsistent way, both as debt and as equity. The Commission considers at this stage that the treatment endorsed in the tax rulings resulted in tax benefits in favour of GDF Suez, which are not available to other companies subject to the same national taxation rules in Luxembourg. Margrethe Vestager, Commissioner in charge of Competition Policy, said: “Financial transactions can be taxed differently depending on the type of transaction, equity or debt – but a single company cannot have the best of two worlds for one and the same transaction. Therefore, we will look carefully at tax rulings issued by Luxembourg to GDF Suez. They seem to contradict national taxation rules and allow GDF Suez to pay less tax than other companies.” The Commission’s preliminary assessment is that GDF Suez is able to avoid paying taxes on such transactions as a result of the tax rulings. It appears to be obtaining a considerable economic advantage not available to other companies subject to the same national tax rules. If confirmed, this would amount to illegal state aid. The investigation does not call into question the general tax regime of Luxembourg. The opening of an in-depth investigation gives interested third parties and the Member States concerned an opportunity to submit comments. It does not prejudge the outcome of the investigation.