BRUSSELS, CMC – The European Union (EU) Council says it has removed Trinidad and Tobago from the list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes, while adding the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The EU said that the list is part of the EU’s efforts to promote tax good governance worldwide and comprises countries which ”fail to comply with agreed international tax standards or did not fulfil their commitments on tax good governance within a specific timeframe”.
It said that as a result, the list now contains 10 countries, including Anguilla, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and that “this update features both positive and negative developments, reflecting the dynamic character of the process, which involves the constant monitoring of the tax practices in other jurisdictions.
The EU said that the Turks and Caicos Islands were included in Annex I of the EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes following concerns raised by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) forum on harmful tax practices regarding the enforcement of economic substance requirements in the jurisdiction.
In addition to the list of non-cooperative tax jurisdictions, the Council approved the usual state-of-play document, which reflects ongoing EU cooperation with international partners and the commitments of these countries to reform their legislation to comply with agreed tax governance standards.
“Antigua and Barbuda and Seychelles have both received a positive rating from the Global Forum regarding their systems for exchanging tax information on request. As a result, both jurisdictions have fulfilled their commitments and will be removed from the state of play document.”
The EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes was established in December 2017. It is part of the EU’s external strategy on taxation and aims to contribute to ongoing efforts to promote tax good governance worldwide.
Jurisdictions are assessed based on a set of criteria laid down by the Council. These criteria cover tax transparency, fair taxation, and implementation of international standards designed to prevent tax base erosion and profit shifting. The Council updates the list twice a year. The next revision of the list is scheduled for October 2026.
Meanwhile, Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, in welcoming the decision to remove the twin island republic from the list, said it represents a major step forward in restoring international confidence and credibility.
“Trinidad and Tobago is no longer blocked. Our country has officially been removed from the European Union’s list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes, a designation applied to countries that fail to meet international standards for tax transparency. This is a major step forward,” she said in a statement posted on X.
She said that since her administration came to office last April, the government, “through legislative reform, sustained international engagement, and stronger institutions, restored credibility and rebuilt trust,
” Blocklisting had constrained investment, limited opportunities, and weakened confidence in our financial system. In less than a year, we strengthened our laws, enhanced transparency, and put Trinidad and Tobago back on the right track.
“Removal from the list signals clearly to the world: we have met our commitments and reclaimed our standing on the global stage. We promised action, and we are delivering. Investor interest is rising. Confidence is returning. Momentum is building. Trinidad and Tobago is open for business, compliant, and ready for sustainable growth,” Persad-Bissessar added.
and then  Council says it has removed Trinidad and Tobago from the list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes){kind=link}