The European and International Booksellers Federation today announced its strong support to the decision by DG Competition in the European Commission to declare illegal the tax rulings that allowed big companies to avoid taxes in certain countries of the European Union.
Dr. Kyra Dreher, EIBF Co-President and Managing Director of the Retail Booksellers Committee, Boersenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels, commented:
“I am delighted by this totally unprecedented decision. Local retailers who pay their taxes properly and therefore add value to their municipalities and the local communities can hardly compete with major international retailers practicing tax avoidance. Consumers and societies benefit when retailers are operating on a level playing field and there is healthy competition among them.”
“The European and International Booksellers Federation strongly believes that public policies should promote a competitive and fair business environment so that consumers can have access to a broad array of retailers and a wide range of books in all formats.”
“The more bookshops there are, the richer is the offering to consumers, who benefit from a variety of shopping opportunities and sales channels. In a robust, diverse retail landscape, consumers can choose to buy their books locally or online, in the high street or in specialized bookshops, and in the format of their choice. Clearly this is only possible when fair competition is guaranteed. The decision of Commissioner Vestager is a strong and very positive signal for the bookselling industry. EIBF dares hope that this will be the end of the privileged tax rates some multinationals have benefited from in the past.”