Does the Lisbon Treaty give the EU the power to raise its own taxes?

[NapperTandy]

Anyone know anything about this? Is there any restriction on what percentage taxes they can levy? Let's say they start off small at a 1% levy per year. This could potentially bring in €90 billion a year across the EU, this assumes a €300 a year contribution from 300 million EU taxpayers (educated guess).

What will they spend the money on? What happens if Irish government taxes and EU taxes start rising at the same time? What happens if some of the taxes raised are unjust taxes, can anything be done about it?

[Wakeupcall]

They like to spend it on pro-european propoganda according to official sources.

[Iwasfrozen]

The EU can't raise it's own taxes and won't be able to either under Lisbon.
So don't worry be happy.

[NapperTandy]

The EU can't raise it's own taxes and won't be able to either under Lisbon.
So don't worry be happy.

Are you a 100% sure on that?

[Iwasfrozen]

Are you a 100% sure on that?

Yep, have you got a link to the offending article ?

[myk]

No

[Free to Prosper]

THE EU WILL TAX YOU.

Under the Treaty of Lisbon the EU has power to raise taxes to finance itself:

Treaty of Lisbon Article 311

THE UNION’S OWN RESOURCES
Article 311

The Union shall provide itself with the means necessary to attain its objectives and carry through its policies.

Without prejudice to other revenue, the budget shall be financed wholly from own resources.

The Council, acting in accordance with a special legislative procedure, shall unanimously and after consulting the European Parliament adopt a decision laying down the provisions relating to the system of own resources of the Union.

In this context it may establish new categories of own resources or abolish an existing category. That decision shall not enter into force until it is approved by the Member States in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements.

The Council, acting by means of regulations in accordance with a special legislative procedure, shall lay down implementing measures for the Union’s own resources system insofar as this is provided for in the decision adopted on the basis of the third paragraph.

The Council shall act after obtaining the consent of the European Parliament.

[Free to Prosper]

There is an interesting letter about this matter in today's SBPost:

There has been much talk in recent days about the Irish government proposing new taxes - property taxes, water charges etc. It is right that these things are rigorously debated in public before they are implemented.

However, The Treaty of Lisbon gives the EU power to impose taxes to raise money (art 311). Given that Ireland is now set to become a net contributor to the EU before 2013, this is a dangerous power to give over to the EU just as we undergo recession?

What percentage of tax will they be able to impose: 1%, 2%, 5%, 10%? There is no stated limit in Lisbon.

Nor can we democratically change all the personel in the EU institutions if we are unhappy with their decisions.

I certainly think this fact will engender much debate among the highly pressured taxpayers. This needs a good public airing before it is voted on and possibly implemented.

Yours etc
Brian McDermott

[myk]

Is that that guy Brio who used to post on here? Its clear that his understand of EU law hasn't improved since the last referendum.

[Iwasfrozen]

THE EU WILL TAX YOU.

Oh look, they got in.

Under the Treaty of Lisbon the EU has power to raise taxes to finance itself:

Treaty of Lisbon Article 311

The Union shall provide itself with the means necessary to attain its objectives and carry through its policies.

Without prejudice to other revenue, the budget shall be financed wholly from own resources.

The Council, acting in accordance with a special legislative procedure, shall unanimously and after consulting the European Parliament adopt a decision laying down the provisions relating to the system of own resources of the Union.

In this context it may establish new categories of own resources or abolish an existing category. That decision shall not enter into force until it is approved by the Member States in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements.

The Council, acting by means of regulations in accordance with a special legislative procedure, shall lay down implementing measures for the Union’s own resources system insofar as this is provided for in the decision adopted on the basis of the third paragraph.

The Council shall act after obtaining the consent of the European Parliament.

No where in there does it say that Europe has the right to raise Taxes only that it's budget must be raised only from it's own resources.
Futher to that all changes must be ratified by your elected representitives in the European Parlimant.

P.SAlso highlighting the pieces you want people to read is very misleading.