Europe will need to raise taxes in harmony

[TradCat]

Europe will need to raise taxes in harmony according to the Prime Minister of Finland Matti Vanhanen.

The overall tax rate will have to rise as well over the longer term. In some areas that can be done without much consultation between the countries. For example, property taxes or inheritance taxes can largely be determined at the national level without adverse economic consequences. But such taxes will not raise significant amounts of revenue. Only changes in value added tax, various excise taxes or taxes on earned and capital income can make a real difference.

However, raising such taxes can have detrimental effects on economic activity. This is especially so when a country acts on its own: capital and people can respond by migrating to jurisdictions with lower rates. Deeper co-operation is therefore necessary if tax revenues are to be increased in a way that truly helps fiscal consolidation.

We can see the Finn but the Sharkosy is just under the water. Vote No.

[TommyO'Brien]

Europe will need to raise taxes in harmony according to the Prime Minister of Finland Matti Vanhanen.



We can see the Finn but the Sharkosy is just under the water. Vote No.

Oh look. The guarantees aren't even agreed yet and already the No side are starting their spoofing and lying.

Ireland has a veto on tax harmonisation and will use it. Period. Even if by some miracle we didn't 15 other countries have made it clear that they would. It is a dead issue. But when has that stopped the No side flogging a dead horse?

[wysiwyg]

Oh look. The guarantees aren't even agreed yet and already the No side are starting their spoofing and lying.

Ireland has a veto on tax harmonisation and will use it. Period. Even if by some miracle we didn't 15 other countries have made it clear that they would. It is a dead issue. But when has that stopped the No side flogging a dead horse?

True, but no matter what you say, it is an economic fact that if the Union is to carry on acting as an economic bloc, then taxes will have to be harmonised.. that's the kind of honesty that people need to be told and allowed debate

Or what do the Yes side plan this time.. another full scale scaremongering of the IFA about the 2013 CAP negotiations???

[seenitallb4]

Another step towards statehood.

[factual]

True, but no matter what you say, it is an economic fact that if the Union is to carry on acting as an economic bloc, then taxes will have to be harmonised.. that's the kind of honesty that people need to be told and allowed debate

Or what do the Yes side plan this time.. another full scale scaremongering of the IFA about the 2013 CAP negotiations???

I agree. Tax harmonisation is something that has to be accepted in a single market. European countries will have to cooperate and coordinate to quite an extent on various taxes.

Otherwise tax on anything that moves across frontiers falls to zero. And that isn't necessarily the best, most efficient, or fairest way to tax.

[athlonedub]

Oh look. The guarantees aren't even agreed yet and already the No side are starting their spoofing and lying.

Ireland has a veto on tax harmonisation and will use it. Period. Even if by some miracle we didn't 15 other countries have made it clear that they would. It is a dead issue. But when has that stopped the No side flogging a dead horse?

Spot on post. They have been trying to harmonise VAT rates for decades and have got nowhere on rates.

CCCTB ( a backdoor to a harmonised tax system) is now dead since the Germans have finally woken up to it.

Harmonisation of Corporate Tax rates is up there with world peace as an aspiratrion!

[TradCat]

Tommy

You may think it's a dead issue but Mr. Vanhanen is clearly of a different point of view. I'm sure he would not have wasted his time writing such an article for the FT if he thought it was an impossible proposition.

I understand that the Yes side hope to scream down the opposition in this debate but It is hardly a lie to post a link to the thinking of a European Prime Minister.

[setanta]

LM fVcking AO - yet another spoof claim by the NO side. Youse guys really are in trouble if this is the best that you can come up with. What's gonna be the next spoof claim about Lisbon - Lizard-overlords?

[athlonedub]

Tommy

You may think it's a dead issue but Mr. Vanhanen is clearly of a different point of view. I'm sure he would not have wasted his time writing such an article for the FT if he thought it was an impossible proposition.

I understand that the Yes side hope to scream down the opposition in this debate but It is hardly a lie to post a link to the thinking of a European Prime Minister.

Yes, he is of a different point of view. He is one of those who would love to harmonise tax but there are more against it. its not impossible - nothing is! However it is highly highly unlikely in my lifetime (and I hope to live a while yet!).

On tax, the Yes side might be inclined to scream given the absolute garbage put out the last time by the No campaign! Just need to get the mantra right. "Lisbon has absolutely nothing to do with tax harmonisation". Repeat after me......

[Mr.De-Regulation]

If anything, the Lisbon treaty not bringing in tax harmonisation, is a reason to vote no.