Laszlo Kovacs (EU Tax Commissioner)European Voice New Report -László Kovács, the commissioner for taxation, told MEPs on Tuesday (11 December [2007]) that a CCCTB proposal would still be published, but after the summer break. He said that two-thirds of member states supported a CCCTB. He expressed readiness to introduce proposals through enhanced co-operation if there was no unanimity among member states. Under the 1999 Treaty of Amsterdam, member states may use enhanced co-operation to proceed in adopting laws in areas like taxation which would normally require unanimity. -
Mr Kovacs and EU President, José Manuel Barroso talk of harmonising the Corporation Tax Base even the in face of strong opposition from Ireland, the UK and Slovakia.
EU Commissioner on Tax, Mr Kovacs said in January 2006: ‘If it [the CCCTB issue] does not reach a consensus, we can go for a second round under enhanced cooperation with 18 countries.’
'But it is no secret that the issue is being considered in Brussels. Laszlo Kovacs, EU tax commissioner, on Monday (7/4/08) said "there is a real need for the member states to act together in certain tax policy areas" to increase competitiveness.
EU Observer
--Taxation Commissioner László Kovács confirmed that he will issue proposals on a common method for calculating corporate tax in September 2008.
He expressed confidence that the initiative would receive strong backing from the French government, which takes the helm of the EU presidency in the second half of the year.
“I have some high expectations of the French presidency both on direct and indirect taxation,” he said. France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Austria and the Benelux countries were, he said, “fully and actively” supportive.-- [European Voice 3/4/08]
At high level conference at Berlin on 15/16th May 2007 organised by German Federal Ministry of Finance, it was reported that:
'Mr. Peer Steinbrück, the German Minister of Finance opened the conference outlining the German position towards the proposal of a CCCTB. He made it very clear that Germany will intensify its efforts to restrict “unfair” tax competition, in particular by some of the new EU Member States.
Commissioner Kovács... emphasized once more that the Commission is determined to submit a legislative proposal (i.e. a draft directive) by the end of 2008. Should this proposal not find the necessary unanimous support from all 27 Member States the Commission will encourage a smaller group of 8 or more member states to introduce CCCTB by way of “enhanced cooperation."'
When could the introduction of CCCTB by enhanced cooperation come about? 2010.
'Kováks indicated that a new plan, scheduled to appear in mid-May at an EU conference on taxation in Berlin, would push towards the production of a harmonized common consolidated corporate tax base as early as next year. "If we manage to get a decision on enhanced cooperation, [another] two years would be enough for implementation. So it could start working in 2010," he said.'
Watch video of both Ms Lagarde and Commissioner Kovacs speak on this issue.
RTE Website on ccctb with explanation and videos of EU players:
