European Report on the Fight Against Tax Fraud, Tax Evasioin and Tax Havens

[Sharon Hanson-Cooper]

On 22nd May 2013,  MEP's will vote on a report on the fight against tax fraud, tax evasion and tax havens (see attached). The text of the report outlines the EU's role in helping to stamp out tax evasion and calls for a common EU approach towards tax havens, including a European blacklist. The goal behind the plans is to halve losses due to tax fraud and evasion - estimated to cost the EU €1 trillion a year (€2,000 for every European) - by 2020

[John Short]

It is a pity that on 17/30 it says "Tax avoidance represents the other side of the problem and is legal but improper utilization
of the tax regime to one’s own advantage to reduce or avoid tax liabilities and thus requires a different set of actions" but does not address tax policy at all!  Addressing that element of the reasons for the difficult-to-estimate tax gap across the EU might help to remove "the legal but improper utilization of the tax regime".