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The Brussels Tax Forum took place under the motto “Tax Policies for a Post-Crisis World”. The participants agreed that taxes were not part of the problem, but had to be part of the solution. As in previous years, academics, policy-makers, experts and stakeholders from a wide range of organisations across Europe met in Brussels to talk formally and informally about tax issues.

The Forum also provided the opportunity to meet the new EU Commissioner for Taxation and Customs Union, Algirdas Šemeta. His words were uplifting and he emphasised his readiness to examine all proposals discussed during the Forum in more detail.

He named among others the creation of an environment, where citizens would perceive the tax system as fair and efficient as one of the main emphasises for his period in office. He would also like to see a tax system, which is “smart”, “green” and “inclusive”, whereby he did not only refer to environmental taxation but also the taxation of the financial markets. He also emphasised the significance of the Single Market and the continuation of the negotiations to harmonise the Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base (CCCTB) associated with it. In addition, Šemeta attached importance to coordinating measures and initiatives for an integrated economy and for combating tax fraud and evasion. As Sharon Bowles, Chair of the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee pointed out, the unanimity rule in tax issues, however, will remain a challenge.

The speakers of the Tax Forum addressed these issues in their lectures: Mario Monti concentrated on the Single Market, Ruud de Mooij on environmental taxes and Geoff Lloyd on the taxation of financial markets.

In her introductory lecture, Anna Demelenne, General Secretary of the Belgian trade union ABVV-FGTB, expressly emphasised the demands of workers. These include among others the taxation of financial markets, the drying up of tax oases and the implementation of automatic information exchange between the countries.

The Directive strengthening co-operation to combat fraud between Member States and associated with it, the Savings Tax Directive will remain on the European agenda. Value Added Tax and considerations regarding the Country of Origin resp. Destination Principle will also keep the EU busy for quite some time.

However, as the new EU Commissioner Algirdas Šemeta pointed out, the best project cannot become reality if the political will is not there. Excitement is guaranteed for some time to come.

Further information:

European Commission: The Brussels Tax Forum 2010