About: Taxation
Smart taxation should consider national and consumption realities
States need to be prepared and equipped to tax what cannot be seen, but also to increase the fairness and effectiveness of the collection of tax revenues, a panel of experts has agreed. The Focus Group ‘Smart taxation in a...
Watered-down Tobin tax could enter into force in 2021
EU finance ministers will discuss on Friday (14 June) a new draft proposal for a financial transaction tax (FTT), which will significantly lower expected revenues once participating member states adopt it, according to details of the text seen by EURACTIV.
In Fukuoka, EU to focus on trade tensions at G20, seek tax on digital firms
Resolving global trade tensions must be a top priority to preserve an expected modest rebound in global growth, European Union finance ministers will tell G20 counterparts this week amid an escalating US-Chinese trade conflict.
EU elections 2019: This is what the parties want for our economy
A new industrial policy for Europe, more support for small-and-medium sized enterprises (SMEs), and improved tax policy are common priorities of the European political families for the next mandate, while a review of the ECB mandate is also included in the manifestos of many parties for the EU elections.
Romania torpedoes EU deal on alcohol excise duties over moonshine
Member states clashed on the reform of the directive on alcohol excise duties during a meeting of EU financial ministers last Friday (17 May), as the Romanian Presidency of the EU tried to raise the maximum limit on home distillation, in pursuit of its own national interest.
LEAK: Commission ramps up pressure on minimum corporate tax
European Commission will urge finance ministers on Friday (17 May) to agree on a floor to corporate taxation, as part of a strategy to shape the ongoing global debate on tax matters, according to documents seen by EURACTIV.com
First clashes liven up last EU Spitzenkandidat debate ahead of election
The six lead candidates of the main political parties laid out their visions of Europe on Wednesday evening (15 May), clashing over jobs and climate change in their last televised debate before the EU elections.
EU’s ‘Tobin tax’ now expected to collect only €3.5 billon
The latest proposal for an EU financial transaction tax (FTT) received lukewarm support earlier this week, with expected revenues brought down tenfold, to €3.45 billion annually, under a watered-down version tabled by France and Germany, according to documents seen by EURACTIV.
The EU’s digital tax is dead, long live the OECD’s plans
Ireland, Sweden and Denmark are set to maintain their opposition to the EU’s digital tax next Tuesday, forcing finance ministers to kill the European solution and focus instead on the OECD’s ongoing work to levy digital companies.
Time to get rid of EU’s unanimity rule on green fiscal matters
Taxation is the last EU policy area where decision-making exclusively relies on unanimity. A gradual shift to qualified majority voting would help reach environmental objectives more effectively at a time when action on climate change is more urgent than ever, argue Eero Yrjö-Koskinen, Patrick ten Brink and Emma Watkins.
Member states shield national vetoes on tax matters
A large majority of EU governments opposed on Tuesday (12 February) the European Commission’s proposal to end the unanimity required to pass legislation on taxation, saying they want to protect national sovereignty and avoid having decisions forced on reluctant countries.
French finance chief wants to tax expatriate business leaders
French Minister of Economy and Finance Bruno Le Maire wants to introduce legislation to ensure that heads of large French businesses living abroad pay more taxes in France. EURACTIV France’s partner La Tribune reports.
Le Maire renews push for EU-wide digital services tax
Renewed plans to roll out an EU-wide digital services tax may be back on the cards and could be agreed by the end of March, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said in an interview published on Sunday (20 January).
EU digital tax: MEPs call for higher rates
The European Commission should consider increasing the proposed rates in the controversial digital tax plans, MEPs from the European Parliament's Economic and Monetary Affairs committee suggested on Tuesday (9 October).
Member states approve reduced tax for e-books and digital press
EU finance ministers reached an agreement on Tuesday (2 October) to allow willing member states to apply reduced VAT rates or even scrap taxes on electronic books and digital press.
Progress remains slow in bridging Africa’s tax divide
Increasing the tax take in African countries lies at the heart of the global development goals agreed by world leaders in 2014 and 2015. But progress towards meeting that goal has been slow.
Austrian Presidency on the road towards new markets
Austria's Federal Economic Chamber represents the interests of the country's economic operators but is also a cornerstone of the social partnership enshrined in the constitution. Its president, Harald Mahrer, spoke to EURACTIV Germany about Austria's economic goals in a changing global economy.
No more memoranda for Greece
In an interview with Dimitris Rapidis, coordinator of the European Progressive Forum, Commissioner Pierre Moscovici talks about EU reforms, Greece, taxation, the surge of the far-right in Europe, and the challenge for the European Socialists ahead of the European Parliament elections in 2019.
The misguided logic of digital taxation
The European Commission’s proposal on digital taxation demonstrates a completely new logic of taxation. It contains all the wrongs you can achieve in one proposal, writes Gunnar Hökmark.
Trump temporarily excludes EU from higher tariffs, announces measures to ‘punish’ China
US President Donald Trump yesterday (22 March) temporarily excluded six countries and the European Union from higher import duties on steel and aluminium due to come into effect today.
Commission passes the ball on sovereign debt rules
European Commission Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis said on Wednesday (7 March) that he does not intend to amend the regulatory treatment of sovereign debt held by banks following inconclusive discussions at international level.
US tax reform could have ‘major’ negative impact on global trade, Europeans warn
Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the UK have expressed their concerns to the US authorities about a draft tax reform that is in the process of being finalised by Congress.
‘Paradise Papers’ embarrass US trade chief, Queen Elizabeth, and counting
The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists on Sunday (5 November) released The Paradise Papers, a global investigation that reveals the offshore activities of some of the world’s most powerful people and companies.