Panama seeks Swedish support to exit EU tax blacklist

Panama is actively pursuing its removal from the European Union's fiscal blacklist, a move that significantly impacts its international image and investment appeal. Foreign Minister Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez is leading this diplomatic offensive during an official visit to Sweden.

During his meetings with Swedish authorities, including Parliament President Andreas Norlén, Vásquez presented the reforms Panama has implemented to bolster fiscal transparency. These efforts aim to reposition the country as a secure destination for foreign investment and a strategic partner for Europe in Latin America, emphasizing its legal certainty and economic stability.

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The exclusion of Panama from the list of non-cooperative jurisdictions in tax matters by the European Union has become one of the main objectives of the agenda that Chancellor Javier Martínez-Acha Vásquez is developing during his official visit to Sweden.

The diplomatic push is crucial for Panama's economic competitiveness. The EU's designation as a non-cooperative jurisdiction in tax matters can deter investors and affect the country's financial standing. Panama's engagement with Sweden, a key EU member, seeks to garner support for its exclusion from the list.

As part of the visit, the Panamanian delegation also paid respects at the tomb of former Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme. Palme had supported the treaties in the 1970s that facilitated the transfer of the Panama Canal to Panamanian control, a historical gesture underscoring the deep ties between the two nations.

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Panama reiterates its interest in consolidating itself as a strategic partner for Sweden and the rest of Europe in Latin America, highlighting aspects such as legal certainty, economic stability, and the actions adopted in tax compliance.