News
BackThis week, important steps have been made towards a European Financial Transaction Tax (EU-FTT). At the annual German-French Ministerial Council, which took place on 19.2.2014, the government representatives of both states agreed to negotiate a concrete proposal for implementing the EU-FTT even before the European Elections in May this year. For years, political parties, trade unions and NGOs have fought with strong support of AK & ÖGB for the FTT! It is vital to maintain the pressure on politicians!
Significant political developments
At the beginning of February, EU Commissioner Algirdas Šemeta (taxation and customs union) demanded before the European Parliament an agreement concerning the FTT even before the European Elections in May 2014. A week later, on 12.2.2014, French and German MEPs, NGOs and trade unions insisted in a joint press conference that the responsible governments of the 11 pro FTT states should implement the tax without any further delay.
This week at last, things have started to move again. On Tuesday, the EU Finance Ministers met in Brussels, where at the fringe of the discussions the 11 pro FTT states also debated how the Financial Transaction Tax could be implemented.
The annual German-French Ministerial Council took place a day later. Germany and France agreed in principle to draw up a concrete proposal, which shall at least be supported by all 11 pro FTT states and reach agreement before the European Elections in May 2014.
Our campaign www.financialtransactiontax.eu/
For years political parties, trade unions and NGOs have fought with strong support of AK & ÖGB for the Financial Transaction Tax. Within the scope of our online campaign, more than 165,000 petitions have been sent to the politicians responsible since November 2013. The campaign webpage is now available in 9 different languages.
Also new is the video featuring TUC (British Trades Union Congress) General Secretary Frances O´Grady, in which she explains the huge importance of the FTT for the trade union movement.
What is happening now?
It is important that we do not become complacent! The pressure on the financial lobby must be maintained! It is true that this week the two largest states within the group of 11 pro FTT member countries have come out in favour of implementing the Financial Transaction Tax, but we have to continue keeping a sharp eye on them. They must not be allowed just to make empty election promises in the run up to the European Elections in May 2014. The FTT must be implemented at last!
Our campaign can still be supported under www.financialtransactiontax.eu/!
At the beginning of February, EU Commissioner Algirdas Šemeta (taxation and customs union) demanded before the European Parliament an agreement concerning the FTT even before the European Elections in May 2014. A week later, on 12.2.2014, French and German MEPs, NGOs and trade unions insisted in a joint press conference that the responsible governments of the 11 pro FTT states should implement the tax without any further delay.
This week at last, things have started to move again. On Tuesday, the EU Finance Ministers met in Brussels, where at the fringe of the discussions the 11 pro FTT states also debated how the Financial Transaction Tax could be implemented.
The annual German-French Ministerial Council took place a day later. Germany and France agreed in principle to draw up a concrete proposal, which shall at least be supported by all 11 pro FTT states and reach agreement before the European Elections in May 2014.
Our campaign www.financialtransactiontax.eu/
For years political parties, trade unions and NGOs have fought with strong support of AK & ÖGB for the Financial Transaction Tax. Within the scope of our online campaign, more than 165,000 petitions have been sent to the politicians responsible since November 2013. The campaign webpage is now available in 9 different languages.
Also new is the video featuring TUC (British Trades Union Congress) General Secretary Frances O´Grady, in which she explains the huge importance of the FTT for the trade union movement.
What is happening now?
It is important that we do not become complacent! The pressure on the financial lobby must be maintained! It is true that this week the two largest states within the group of 11 pro FTT member countries have come out in favour of implementing the Financial Transaction Tax, but we have to continue keeping a sharp eye on them. They must not be allowed just to make empty election promises in the run up to the European Elections in May 2014. The FTT must be implemented at last!
Our campaign can still be supported under www.financialtransactiontax.eu/!