EU taxation policy

Latest news from the European Union about EU taxation policy.

The European Commission in its Communication of 23 May 2001 on "Tax policy in the European Union - Priorities for the years ahead" reiterated its belief that there is no need for an across the board harmonisation of EU Member States' tax systems. Provided that they respect Community rules, Member States are free to choose the tax systems that they consider most appropriate and according to their preferences.

Sweden warns against new bank tax, citing experience — 07 September 2010, 16:06 CET

Sweden came out against calls for Europe to tax banks more heavily on Tuesday, warning from experience that companies will simply move to friendlier regimes elsewhere.

Bank levies for bank problems, not hard-up governments: EU — 06 September 2010, 22:19 CET

Levies on banks across Europe should be designed to avoid costly bills for ordinary taxpayers if debts go bad again in future, and not to prop up short-changed governments, the EU said on Monday.

EU experts sceptical of financial transactions tax — 31 August 2010, 20:24 CET

European Union experts reached a gloomy prognosis on Tuesday for a tax on the financial sector championed by France and Germany.

Commissioner backs mooted German nuclear tax — 21 August 2010, 17:25 CET

European Union Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger said German energy companies should hand over to the state at least half their profits accrued from extending the life of nuclear power stations.

Belgium backs EU-wide tax: minister — 10 August 2010, 18:07 CET

Belgium's budget minister spoke in favour on Tuesday of a Europe-wide tax that could directly target citizens, after Britain, France and Germany all opposed the EU plans.

France rejects EU-wide tax plan — 11 August 2010, 10:32 CET

France on Tuesday rejected as "ill-timed" EU authorities' proposal for new bloc-wide direct taxes to finance the EU budget, adding its voice to protests from London and Berlin.

Britain opposed to any EU-wide taxes — 10 August 2010, 11:20 CET

Britain will block any attempts by the European Union to introduce new bloc-wide direct taxes to finance the EU budget, a minister said on Tuesday.

EU will attack 'budget sacred cows' next month — 09 August 2010, 15:49 CET

Europe will next month attack budget sacred cows including cuts to farm spending and national rebates, and the introduction of new bloc-wide taxes, says the EU's budget spokesman.

EU safeguards taxpayers' right to VAT refunds — 16 July 2010, 11:47 CET

The European Commission is to postpone the deadline for the submission of VAT refund requests related to 2009, to give more time to taxpayers to apply for VAT refunds.

Financial transactions tax to happen... one day: Belgian PM — 03 July 2010, 00:51 CET

The idea of a global tax on financial transactions has failed to gain traction around the world but it will become a reality in Europe "one day or another," the Belgium EU presidency said on Friday.

New figures show European tax rates far above US, Japan — 28 June 2010, 19:34 CET

New figures released on Monday showed that European Union citizens are taxed far more heavily than US or Japanese counterparts.

Euro-MPs: Bombard Canadian PM with tax 'tweets' — 22 June 2010, 18:01 CET

The European Parliament's Socialist MEPs want micro-bloggers to unleash a "Twitterstorm" on the G20 summit host to demand a global tax on financial transactions.

Europe should tax banks whatever G20 decides: commissioner — 22 June 2010, 16:43 CET

Europe should tax its banks in order to build up an emergency bail-out fund whatever other major economies decide at this weekend's G20 summit, EU finance commissioner Michel Barnier said on Tuesday.

EU agrees to introduce bank taxes — 17 June 2010, 21:13 CET

European leaders tackled the thorny question of how to tax the financial sector on Thursday, deciding to introduce national bank levies but leaving global transactions tax plans for the G20 to consider.

Taxing questions occupy EU leaders at summit — 17 June 2010, 14:30 CET

European leaders tackled the thorny question of how to tax the financial sector on Thursday, distilling ideas to put to next weekend's G20 summit in Canada.

France and Germany to float a financial transactions tax — 15 June 2010, 18:36 CET

France and Germany are to propose a tax on banks and financial transactions at the next G20 summit, but many countries oppose as yet undefined projects aimed more at public opinion.

EU leaders to press ahead on bank tax: document — 12 June 2010, 13:13 CET

EU leaders are to throw their support behind proposals for a European tax on banks to help bear the huge costs of financial crises, according to a document obtained by AFP on Saturday.

Hungary Mining Act violates EU state aid rules: EC — 09 June 2010, 17:13 CET

The European Commission has concluded that a 2005 agreement between the Hungarian government and the Oil and Gas Company MOL conferred a financial advantage on the company that cannot be exempted under EU State aid rules.

EU to strengthen cross-border cooperation on VAT fraud — 08 June 2010, 20:15 CET

EU Finance Ministers today reached an agreement on a draft regulation which will enable EU member states to combine efforts in combating fraud with regard to value-added taxation (VAT).

Swiss retain 534.8 million francs in European taxes — 08 June 2010, 13:06 CET

Swiss authorities said on Tuesday that they had paid to EU states about 401.1 million francs (290.6 million euros, 346.1 million dollars) in taxes retained on interest payments on assets held by Europeans here.

EU's Barroso stresses support for bank tax ahead of G20 meet — 02 June 2010, 20:15 CET

EU Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso spoke out Wednesday for a financial transaction or bank profit tax but admitted it will be "extremely difficult" to get global agreement on such a levy.

Europe moves to levy bank failure tax — 27 May 2010, 12:15 CET

Banks will never again be allowed to call on taxpayers to clean up their mess under plans for a new Europe-wide crisis insurance levy unveiled on Wednesday by the EU's financial services chief.

EU bank levy plans have to retain national scope: UK — 25 May 2010, 23:49 CET

Plans for an EU-wide levy on banks, due to be unveiled on Wednesday, will be resisted if they seek to deliver a continental bailout fund, Britain's new business minister said on Tuesday.

Merkel to campaign for markets tax at G20 — 20 May 2010, 16:37 CET

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Thursday she would lead a campaign for a tax on financial markets at the next summit of the Group of 20 major economies in June and called for international support.

Germany steps up battle for financial market regulation — 19 May 2010, 15:48 CET

Germany is stepping up its fight against financial market speculation. After outlawing certain kinds of trading, Berlin wants to rally European partners to a united stance on financial market taxation before the next G20 summit.