According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ online portal, in response to a reporter’s question seeking Viet Nam’s comments on the EU’s decision, Pham Thu Hang stated: “Viet Nam welcomes the EU’s decision to remove Viet Nam from the list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes.

Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang. (Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

“This decision recognizes Viet Nam’s efforts in recent years to improve its legal and policy frameworks and enhance the effectiveness of their implementation in practice, with a view to creating a favorable, transparent and stable business and investment environment in line with international standards and practices. These efforts help ensure the legitimate rights and interests of businesses and investors, promote international economic cooperation and enhance the competitiveness of the economy.

“Viet Nam stands ready to continue exchanges and cooperation with international partners, including the EU, in a constructive, equal and mutually beneficial spirit, with a view to promoting tax transparency, improving corporate governance and building a fair, favorable and sustainable international business environment.”

Previously, on October 9, the Council of the EU decided to remove Viet Nam from its list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes, commonly known as the EU’s tax “blacklist”, following its recognition of Viet Nam’s reforms in this area.

According to a press release published on the Council of the EU’s official website, Viet Nam and Panama were the two jurisdictions removed from the list in the latest update. Following the decision, the list contains eight jurisdictions.

The Council of the EU said Viet Nam had been added to the list in February 2026 after an assessment by the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes, under the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), found that Viet Nam did not meet the required standards for the exchange of tax information on request.

Following a series of reforms, Viet Nam underwent a reassessment. The Council of the EU subsequently decided to move Viet Nam to Annex II, which provides an update on cooperation with international partners and records reform commitments aimed at meeting the standards of good tax governance.

The move to Annex II means that Viet Nam is no longer included in Annex I, the list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes. However, Viet Nam remains subject to monitoring pending the results of a new assessment by the Global Forum on transparency and exchange of information for tax purposes.

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