We must fend off the European Commission’s tax offensive!

The European Commission is planning to tackle tax competition in Europe.
TAE demands: Do not abolish the principle of unanimity on tax matters!
Preserve tax competition!

The Taxpayers’ Association of Europe (TAE) firmly rejects the European Commission’s proposal to abolish the principle of unanimity in tax matters. 

Under the European Commission’s proposal, EU Member States would in future decide on tax policy issues not by unanimous consent but by qualified majority.

Under the pretext of fairer tax competition and with the aim of simplifying the implementation of Europe-wide taxes, the European Commission is calling for a review of ‘traditional notions of national sovereignty’. Until now, the principle of unanimity has protected citizens from the European Commission’s tax proposals. The President of the Taxpayers’ Association, Rolf von Hohenhau, said: “The European Commission is solely interested in strengthening its position of power, eliminating tax competition in Europe and being able to impose new taxes without facing national resistance.”

A wave of large-scale harmonisation is sweeping across the EU. The first step is the harmonisation of taxes, followed by social security systems, and finally the standardisation of all other areas of life in Europe. This not only contradicts the fundamental EU principles of subsidiarity and autonomy, but also the reality on the ground. People in Europe are diverse, have different cultures and traditions, and wish to preserve this diversity.

The European Taxpayers’ Association is committed to preserving tax competition. It therefore rejects the European Commission’s proposal! Only competition protects citizens and businesses from a rising tax burden! The formation of a tax cartel must therefore be prevented at all costs, says Rolf von Hohenhau. It is the Commission’s duty to ensure competition – including in the tax sphere – and under no circumstances to abolish it.

Brussels/Munich, 15 January 2019