PARIS, October 21 (.) – French President Emmanuel Macron announced this Monday in a meeting on the Elysée street with his Panamanian compatriot José Raul Mulino that Panama will be withdrawn from the European Union’s list of tax havens. expressed support for. .
A joint statement issued by the French Presidency said: “France welcomes the reforms undertaken by Panama together with the OECD World Forum and the European Commission and supports the process, with a view to expediting its exit from the European tax haven list. We will support it.” After the meeting.
Mulino, who was sworn in as chief executive on July 1 for a five-year term from 2024 to 2029, will visit France’s capital before visiting Panama, a country deeply affected by a corporate scandal known as extraterritoriality. His main goal was to protect his reputation. 2016 Panama Papers.
In a separate document released by the Panamanian government at the end of the meeting, the Central American countries recognized Mr Macron’s recognition of the country’s “legitimate efforts” to comply with “international requirements on fiscal matters”.
According to the Panamanian government, the French president “committed to cooperating to ensure that the country is not included in the European Union’s list.”
Panama was removed from the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF) gray list in October 2023, but remains on the European Union’s list of tax havens.
A statement from Panama’s presidential palace said President Macron accepted Mulino’s invitation to visit the country in late 2025, “a visit that demonstrates the historic relations between our two countries.”
Meanwhile, the Elysée newspaper thanked Panama for its “bilateral cooperation in exchanging information on tax matters” and said it had met “all expectations” which led to a “positive evaluation” in the final examination this year.
The French presidency also welcomed “Panama’s determined support in the fight against drug trafficking” and “commitment to judicial issues” in the fight against corruption and money laundering.
In the international field, President Macron explained to Mulino the “importance” of international cooperation to “combat the evasion of sanctions against Russia” and said that in the face of the “unprecedented crisis” facing the Panama region, “all expressed support and solidarity. It passes through Darien, the border with Colombia, and is one of the main crossing points for immigrants to the United States.
The Panamanian president, who will return home on Wednesday after his trip to Germany did not materialize, will be joining Alstom (EPA:) (railways), Veolia (EPA:) (processed waste), Suez Group (water) and Thales (EPA:) this Monday. ) (Aerospace and Information Technology).
This Tuesday, Mr. Mulinot will continue his agenda in Paris with a meeting with Medeff, France’s main employers’ association, which brings together the country’s major companies.
