Brussels, 18/04/2012 (Agence Europe) - A majority of MEPs have highlighted the need for concrete measures to be taken against fraud and tax evasion. They expressed this wish on Wednesday 18 April during a plenary session debate at the European Parliament. Speaking on behalf of the Presidency of the Council of the EU, Danish Minister for European Affairs Nicolai Wammen promised to speed up the work on savings tax and carry out negotiations for a review of the specific agreements signed between the EU and Switzerland and other third countries. At the next Ecofin Council on 15 May, the adoption of a mandate that will allow the European Commission to begin negotiations on these agreements will be proposed, at the same time as ongoing work on a review of the savings tax directive. European finance ministers are also expected to ratify the new directive on administrative cooperation with regard to excise taxes. They will also look at the future of value added tax, in light of the Commission proposals to tackle VAT fraud. (FG/transl.fl)