The European Commission has published its 2020 Work Programme which sets out key initiatives for the year ahead. There are 43 new initiatives, 34 proposals for withdrawal and repeals, 126 ongoing files, and 44 initiatives for regulatory simplification. Further documents can be found here.

Although the UK is set to leave the European Union on 31 January, it will still be subject to its rules until the end of the transition period (currently written in law to end on 31 December 2020). As such, the following will be of interest to keep track of:

• White Paper on an Instrument on Foreign Subsidies (non-legislative) – expected Q2 2020
• Business Taxation for the 21st century (focusing on the taxation aspects relevant in the Single Market) (non-legislative) – expected Q2 2020
• Action Plan to fight tax evasion and to make taxation simple and easy (legislative and non-legislative, including an impact assessment) – expected Q2 2020.

The Commission also indicated two relevant priorities:

• Proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 2006/112/EC regarding rates of VAT
• Proposal for a Council Directive on a Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base AND on a Common Corporate Tax Base.