Vietnam and Panama removed from EU tax blacklist

The European Union has removed Vietnam and Panama from its list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes. The decision was announced by the EU Council following a meeting of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (Ecofin) in Luxembourg.

Vietnam, which was added to the blacklist in February 2026, has been moved to Annex II. This transition follows a series of domestic reforms aimed at improving tax transparency and meeting international standards for the exchange of information on request, as assessed by the OECD Global Forum. Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the decision, stating it recognizes the country’s efforts to build a transparent and stable investment environment.

Panama was also removed from the blacklist after reforming its foreign-source income exemption regime. Both nations are now considered to be in a state of cooperation with the EU while awaiting final conclusions from international assessments. The EU's list of non-cooperative jurisdictions remains in place to combat tax evasion and promote global tax governance, currently including eight jurisdictions such as Russia, American Samoa, and Guam.