The European Commission has begun an ‘in-depth’ investigation into the fiscal benefits accorded to five Dutch ports, the Financieele Dagblad reports on Wednesday.

The ports in Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Zeeland, Groningen and Moerdijk are exempt from corporation tax and EU competition commissioner Joaquin Almunia says this creates an uneven playing field for other European ports.

‘Fair competition is crucial for everyone,’ Almunia said. ‘The commission needs to see that public companies in the Netherlands, such as ports, are not being given an advantage to the detriment of private companies.’

The commission is also looking into the fiscal arrangements of ports in France, Belgium and Germany, the FD says.

Complaints

Last May, following complaints, Almunia asked the Netherlands to stop the tax benefits for certain public companies. The Dutch government said it had the ‘intention’ of doing so but with exceptions, among them the five ports.

‘The commission has begun an in-depth investigation with an eye on the fact that the Dutch authorities have not fully accepted the measures imposed to comply with the EU’s competition law,’ Almunia said.