The decision to establish a new expert group was taken as a result of the ‘importance of transfer pricing tax matters as an internal market issue’, according to the Commission, and to achieve a more uniform application of transfer pricing rules across the 28 member states.

The Commission also published a Call for applications for the selection of organisations for the EU Joint Transfer Pricing Forum.

Member states will be also be asked to nominate experts to represent their national tax administrations on the JTPF but this will occur after the expert group has been established.

The Commission is calling for applications from organisations with a view to selecting members of the forum. Applying organisations must demonstrate their interest in participating in the forum and indicate a suitably qualified expert, either to represent them or for the position of chairperson, or both.

Applying organisations may also indicate an alternate representative who may attend the meetings when the appointed expert is unable to attend. The individuals designated for a chairperson shall be internationally renowned transfer pricing specialists with significant experience.

The Director-General of DG Taxation and Customs Union will appoint the organisations and the chairperson for a two-year term.

Further information on the work of the JTPF may be found on the following website http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/taxation/company_tax/transfer_pricing/forum/index_en.htm.

The deadline for applications for the expert group is 25 February 2015. Email applications should be sent to [email protected]