About: Algirdas Šemeta
Old Commissioners, new revolving doors
Only three months after the Barroso II Commission left office, some prominent members have already made moves in their professional careers which are putting to test the EU executive’s policy on revolving doors, writes Vicky Cann.Commission moves to tighten customs security
A new strategy to plug gaps in the EU’s customs security safeguards was adopted by the European Commission yesterday (21 August).Report: Italy ‘overzealous’ in reporting EU farm fraud cases
Member states show a mixed record when it comes to reporting irregularities in how EU funds for agriculture and regional policy are being spent. While Italy has been "overzealous" in its reporting, others hardly report any fraud at all, according to a new EU report. EURACTIV France reports.Hybrid loans tax loophole worth billions of euros closed
EU finance ministers meeting today (20 June) have closed loophole exploited by multinationals to pay little or no tax worth billions of euros, after Malta dropped its objections to a compromise deal on hybrid loan arrangements.EU warns Ireland it could expand tax probe beyond Apple
The European Commission has told Ireland it may investigate more companies as part of a probe into the country's tax practices, after announcing a formal probe into Apple's Irish subsidiaries, a person familiar with the matter said on Friday (20 June).Commission warns member states against labour tax cash cow
Eurostat has published its annual report on taxation trends in 2012, a year that saw tax burdens increase across the European Union. Brussels has warned member states against high taxation, especially on labour. EURACTIV France reports.Malta keeping tax loophole open after Sweden drops opposition
Malta is the only member state stopping a tax loophole costing billions of euros being closed, after Sweden dropped its opposition to a EU finance ministers' agreement to stop multinational companies exploiting hybrid loan arrangements to pay little or no tax.Experts reject Google Tax, back VAT move against Amazon
There should no specific tax regime for online companies, experts Wednesday (28 May) told the European Commission, dealing a blow to supporters of an EU-wide “Google Tax,” targeted at the digital sector.Sweden slammed for keeping EU tax loophole open
Sweden came under fire Wednesday (7 May) for blocking a political agreement among EU finance ministers that would allow the closing of a loophole costing European taxpayers millions of euros.EU finance ministers to close parent-subsidiary tax loophole
National finance ministers meeting on Tuesday (6 May) will move to close a loophole exploited by companies with European subsidiaries to avoid paying tax on profits from hybrid loan arrangements. VideoPromoted content
Commission proposes standard VAT declaration for EU companies
The European Commission presented on Wednesday a new proposal to standarise VAT return for business and companies across Europe. Aiming at slashing red-tape for businesses, ease tax compliance and make tax administrations across the Union more efficient, this new regulation can cut costs for EU businesses by up to €15 billion a year, according to the EU's executive. VideoPromoted content
Economic and Financial Affairs press conference – April 2013
European Union finance ministers approved a €7.3-billion increase in the bloc's spending for 2013 on Tuesday (14 May), as part of a deal to unblock talks on the EU's next long-term budget. EU ministers also negotiated agreements on updated EU-wide rules on the taxation of savings. VideoPromoted content
FTT deal ignites debate on how to allocate funds
EU finance ministers on Tuesday gave the green light for the 11 countries to move forward with a harmonised FTT, opening a tricky debate on how the money should be used. VideoPromoted content