OECD blacklist goes grey

The Philippines, Uruguay, Costa Rica and Malaysia been moved to a tax haven "grey list" by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

They join Switzerland, which could have figured on the more serious blacklist that the four countries had until Tuesday occupied.

Switzerland promised cooperation with major powers including the United States and the European Union in the days leading up to the G20 summit in London last week but on Tuesday, politicians in Switzerland’s parliament were still smarting from the OECD’s tough line on tax havens.

Dominique de Buman, a Christian Democratic representative on the economic affairs and taxation committee, echoed similar criticism of the OECD made three weeks ago by Economics Minister Doris Leuthard.

He said: “The commission accuses the OECD of having negotiated behind the backs of Switzerland, while we are members of the organisation and make our financial contribution.”

Parliament has invited OECD secretary-general Angel Gurria for a meeting. He has yet to respond.

At a media conference on Tuesday afternoon, Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey branded Switzerland’s place on the lighter shade of list politically motivated.

She said that even though Switzerland had skirted the register of uncooperative tax havens, it was unclear what next steps the OECD would take relating to monitoring.

She said Switzerland would coordinate with other alleged European tax havens including Luxembourg and Austria.

swissinfo with agencies