The European Economic Interest Grouping (EEIG) A Portuguese Experience

May 2015

Abstract

Presently, Portugal is one of the countries where several multinational companies have decided to base their pooled, back-office or shared services. Natural, cultural and economic reasons are behind such decisions, once Portugal has a highly skilled and relatively cheap English-speaking working force, no security issues, sound infrastructures, an excellent health system and an excellent climate. One of the structures elected for the performance of those shared services, namely on the financial sector, is the European Economic Interest Grouping (EEIG). The authors briefly describe one of such successful experiences in which development they had the opportunity to participate, with special emphasis on the tax issues.

Authors

João Espanha

Partner, Espanha & Associados, Portugal

Tax Expert Lawyer recognized by the Portuguese Bar Association; Founding Partner of Espanha e Associados, General Coordination and Finance Team Admitted to the Portuguese Bar Association – Professional Card n.º 9374-L; Member of the Lisbon Council of the Portuguese Bar Association (2002/2007). Education Law degree, Law School, University of Lisbon (1989) Attended postgraduated studies in Advanced Taxation by Instituto de Direito Económico, Financeiro e Fiscal, Law School, University of Lisbon (2007-2008) Membership IFA - International Fiscal Association; IBA – International Bar Association AFP - Associação Fiscal Portuguesa; APCF - Associação Portuguesa de Consultores Fiscais IBA – International Bar Association Practice areas Tax Finance Insurance

Companies

Cardif (BNPParibas insurance company)

Espanha & Associados

ESPANHA E ASSOCIADOS, civil law partnership incorporated in November 2004, has its head office in central Lisbon. It is the result of a Corporate & Tax department spin-off from a law firm where João Espanha was the founding partner. The firm provides counselling, assistance and legal representation services before all jurisdictions, presently composed by three partners and nine associates (lawyers and probationer lawyer). All of them maintain a very intense professional activity, namely in Tax, Corporate, Financial and Labour law. The partners and all the co-workers at ESPANHA E ASSOCIADOS have based their activity on a high specialization of their knowledge, being frequently asked to render their legal services to public entities, other law firms and to lawyers with general legal practice. ESPANHA E ASSOCIADOS understands that the compliance of a certain situation or operation with the legal rules in force should be assessed before its completion - preventive advocacy is our moto. Our work stands on a partnership basis with our clients and we try to be quite active in providing information regarding any tax and legal situations to be dealt with, in order to maximize our client’s performances, which is done also by optimizing and monitoring the client's organization and its tax, corporate and labour law issues.

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