Juncker postpones EU parliament hearing

(CS/dv) In light of the Greek bailout crisis, European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker has postponed a hearing with MEPs of the TAXE special committee investigating tax rulings in the EU.

The TAXE committee was found in the wake of the LuxLeaks scandal and its uncovering of the widepsread use of tax rulings to draw business to Luxembourg by helping multinationals save taxes. The committee earlier this year was on a fact-finding mission in the Grand Duchy. However, it is not only investigating Luxembourg but the practice of tax rulings in the 28-member state bloc.

Former Luxembourg Premier Jean-Claude Juncker, who was vying for the nomination as European Commission president at the time the LuxLeaks scandal broke, came under particular scrutiny as the use of tax rulings blossomed during his time as Finance Minister and later Prime Minister.

Juncker was set to meet MEPs on Thursday together with economic and financial affairs commissioner Pierre Moscovici. Both have now postponed their hearings with the search for alternative date ongoing, an EU source said.

However, it is worth noting that Juncker reportedly agreed to speak in his role as European Commission president. This would mean he will not testify as former Luxembourg Finance Minister or PM.