The European Taxpayers’ Association rejects EU taxes!

The European Taxpayers’ Association firmly rejects the current proposal by European Commission President Barroso to levy the EU’s own taxes to finance the EU budget.

It is untenable that the EU should demand its own taxes year after year, thereby opening the door to debt. An EU budget based on EU taxes automatically implies the ‘right to incur debt’. The introduction of an EU value-added tax and an EU tax on financial transactions is ultimately just another way of reaching into EU citizens’ pockets, according to Rolf von Hohenhau, President of the European Taxpayers’ Association.

Even today, the member states’ debt is placing an enormous burden on the European Union and the euro. The EU’s ability to take on debt would massively weaken Europe’s competitiveness. Rather than considering the introduction of EU taxes, Commission President Barroso should instead focus on reforming EU spending.

The European Taxpayers’ Association will fight the introduction of EU taxes with all means at its disposal and is therefore planning an EU referendum against the introduction of such taxes, as well as a protest campaign in Brussels, said President von Hohenhau.

Munich/Brussels, 30 June 2011