Britain opposed to any EU-wide taxes
(LONDON) - Britain will block any attempts by the European Union to introduce new bloc-wide direct taxes to finance the EU budget, a minister said Tuesday.
The EU hopes the plan, expected to be unveiled next month, will give it more independence and help finance the 27-country bloc's expansion proposals.
James Sassoon, the Commercial Secretary, said Britain insists that it retain full control over its own tax policy.
"The government is opposed to direct taxes financing the EU budget," he said.
"The UK believes that taxation is a matter for member states to determine at a national level and would have a veto over any plans for such taxes."
EU budget commissioner Janusz Lewandowski told the Financial Times Deutschland newspaper Monday that he was considering four options such as a direct levy on national taxpayers and a tax on air transport in a bid to raise revenue.
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