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Tackling double taxation in the single market – Vincent Farrugia’s report adopted as EESC Opinion
01 April 2012
EESC employers representative and GRTU Director General Vincent Farrugia has this week participated in the 479th EESC Plenary session, where the Opinion which he drafted as rapporteur on Tackling double taxation in the single market was approved and adopted as official EESC Opinion to the Commission Communication COM (2011) 712 final.
The issue of double taxation affects most especially individuals and SMEs who cannot afford the lengthy and costly legal and administrative procedures to seek a positive remedy.
The Commission is proposing an EU Forum on Double Taxation to deal with this issue. The EESC on through a previous opinion on the removal of cross border tax obstacles recommended the establishment of a Tax Observatory, that would be more effective as it doesn't simply discuss but observes and acts. It is essential for the single market that the Commission moves as fast as possible from discussion to action. The EESC is therefore recommending for the proposed Forum to be only a first step leading to a full fledged Observatory. The Commission is doing very well in identifying the cross border tax obstacles but citizens and small business owners especially seek determined action to remove these obstacles. Double taxation should be a top priority.
The EESC will be using all possible media presentation and seek the support of associations representing business and civil society together with direct pressure on MEPs to ensure that the tax obstacles hampering the fulfillment of the single market objectives are tackled through a coherent and comprehensive action programme. The EESC is committed to this aim.
