Report of Foreign Issuer (6-k)
April 27 2017 - 12:58PM
Edgar (US Regulatory)
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the
month of April
2017
RYANAIR HOLDINGS PLC
(Translation
of registrant's name into English)
c/o Ryanair Ltd Corporate Head Office
Dublin
Airport
County Dublin Ireland
(Address
of principal executive offices)
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant files or will file
annual
reports
under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form
20-F..X.. Form 40-F
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the
information
contained
in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to
the
Commission
pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities
Exchange
Act of
1934.
Yes
No ..X..
If
"Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the
registrant
in
connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- ________
EUROPEAN COURT OF JUSTICE RULING IN THE "A ROSA" CASE UPHOLDS EU
RULES ON SOCIAL INSURANCE PAYMENTS BY INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT
WORKERS
RYANAIR TO SEEK REFUND OF €15M IN TAXES/FINES FROM THE FRENCH
SOCIAL SECURITY AUTHORITIES WHO MUST NOW ACCEPT IRISH A1
CERTIFICATES
Ryanair,
Europe's No. 1 airline today (27 April) welcomed the decision of
the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in the "A Rosa" case which has
upheld the EU rules on social insurance payments for international
transport workers. The ECJ has determined that A1 certificates
issued by one EU member state (Ireland in the case of Ryanair)
which confirms the social insurance status of an international
transport worker, must be accepted by all other EU member states
(including France who to date have refused to accept them).
This
ECJ ruling confirms that the French Social Insurance Authorities
have acted unlawfully over the past 10 years by double charging
Ryanair, and its people, who were based temporarily in Marseille,
but who had already fully paid their social insurance in Ireland in
accordance with EU regulations. Following this ruling Ryanair will
now pursue a full refund of the €10m (plus interest) it has
paid in double taxes to the French State between 2006 to 2010
following French Court rulings which completely ignored these EU
rules and Irish A1 certificates.
The "A
Rosa" ruling also renders null and void the 2017 attempt by the
French State to pursue Ryanair for social insurance payments for
its pilots and cabin crews who were operating on temporary summer
schedules from Marseille between 2011 and 2014. Yet again in this
case the French Authorities have ignored the EU rules and ordered
Ryanair to double pay €5m of social insurance taxes - that
have already been validly paid in Ireland - even before the Court
case had been heard. Ryanair's lawyers will be calling on the
Marseille investigating magistrate to abandon this investigation
which flies in the face of EU social insurance rules, and this ECJ
ruling in the "A Rosa" case.
A
similar double tax situation also exists in Italy where there are
several outstanding claims from 2006 to 2011 being pursued by the
Italian Authorities for payment of Italian social insurance when
these social contributions have already been paid by Ryanair's
pilots and cabin crew in Ireland. Ryanair's lawyers will be writing
to the Italian authorities to withdraw these claims as they now
have no prospect of success given the clear ruling of the European
Courts.
Ryanair's Chief People Officer Eddie Wilson said:
"We
welcome this ruling in the "A Rosa" case which upholds the existing
EU rules on social insurance payments for international transport
workers, and exposes the unlawful attempt by the French (and to a
lesser extent the Italian) Authorities, to threaten and blackmail
Ryanair for the double payment of social insurance in the case of
pilots and cabin crew who have already paid their social insurance
contributions in Ireland, in full compliance with EU
rules.
Ryanair will now be pursuing a full refund of €15m (plus
interest) from the French Authorities who have repeatedly and
unlawfully pursued Ryanair, its pilots and cabin crew in Marseille,
by ignoring EU regulations, and the validly issued Irish A1
certificates. We will also be pursuing the French Authorities for
interest on these payments which were demanded illegally by the
French Authorities who were aware of, but ignored, both EU rules
and the Irish A1 certificates despite being warned by the European
Commission that they cannot do so.
We expect the
French Authorities will now process these refunds expeditiously
given that their attempts to force Ryanair to double pay social
insurance in breach of EU rules have now been struck down by this
very welcome ECJ ruling".
ENDS
For further information
please
contact:
Robin
Kiely
Piaras Kelly
Ryanair
DAC
Edelman Ireland
Tel:
+353-1-9451949
Tel:
+353-1-6789333
press@ryanair.com
ryanair@edelman.com
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.
Date:
27
April,
2017
|
By:___/s/
Juliusz Komorek____
|
|
|
|
Juliusz
Komorek
|
|
Company
Secretary
|
Ryanair (NASDAQ:RYAAY)
Historical Stock Chart
From Feb 2024 to Mar 2024
Ryanair (NASDAQ:RYAAY)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2023 to Mar 2024