New EU tax harmony plan
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.THE GOVERNMENT was thrown on to the defensive last night as evidence emerged that it was willing to agree to harmonise taxes throughout Europe.
A senior European Commission official said EU states were now ready to co-ordinate taxation policies, and a common tax policy was necessary to complete the single market.
Tony Blair has ruled out common rates of income tax, but optimism in Brussels suggested Britain may give ground as EU countries seek to bring company tax levels into line. That would alarm business leaders in Britain, where corporation tax rates are amongst the lowest in Europe.
Vanden Abelee, a senior Commission official, said : "The need for an increased level of tax co-ordination, and the willingness of member states to go down that road, is now clear."
He said such co-ordination would need to "strike a balance" between the fiscal sovereignty of member states and "the removal of all distortions of competition and the remaining barriers to a fully functioning single market". Mr Abelee denied that the Commission was trying to seize tax powers from national goverments.
Eddie George, page 8
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments