tAX HARMONISATION: this is the opposite to what we were told during the Nice Referendum
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news report 
Tuesday January 28, 2003 22:11
by usery
A survey of 1000 top executives call for greater EU tax harmoinisation. We were not told this during the recent referendum.
EU companies favour tax harmony
By Larry Schlesinger [24-01-2003]
European companies believe that tax harmonisation across the European Union will benefit them more than any other measure imposed on the single market.
Link: EU needs greater tax harmonisation
Currently VAT regimes and other tax rates vary from 15% to 25% across the various member states, despite efforts made by the European Commission dating back more than 30 years.
But a third of company executives polled by US delivery company UPS said tax harmonistion would be the most significant improvement to be made across the region.
Setting a uniform tax rate would allow companies to charge the same price for their goods across the region, executives claimed.
However, the Confederation of British Industy continued its opposition to harmonisation, saying the UK had the lowest tax rate in the EU, and changes to this would erode its competitive position.
The UK government is also opposed to EU tax harmonisation.
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Comments (4 of 4)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4EU needs greater tax harmonisation
By David Rae [23-10-2002]
An economics working group, preparing the way for a future EU constitution, has concluded that the European Union should have greater tax harmonisation.
A majority of the group called for an end to member states vetoes over VAT as well as more power for the European Commission in enforcing the growth and stability pact.
Changes suggested by the group include 'sufficient approximation of rates, minimum standards and tax bases in the area of indirect tax and company taxation to ensure the proper functioning of the single market,' reported the Financial Times.
Accountancy Age reported last week how the government had decided not to adopt lower VAT rates on offer from an EC experiment for labour-intensive services. The majority of member states did.
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EC reforms aimed at combating fraud [07-01-2003]
Accountants reject EU tax harmonisation [19-11-2001]
EC's hand forced on single tobacco tax [23-10-2001]
EU corporation tax on the cards [22-10-2001]
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Mary Harney and co are strongly against tax harmonisation. I suppose this means Bertie is too.
Joe raises an interesting point, if most of european businessmen are in favour of tax harmonisation, where does that leave the PD's the party of business? and all the other big parties in this country who keep thumping their chests and bleat about how they are such good europeans!
I wonder how those other 'good' europeans IBEC feel about it? as for mates in ICTU who cares
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