Brussels, 24/05/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 24 May, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) welcomed the adoption by the European Parliament of the Podimata report (see EUROPE 10619) on introducing a financial transaction tax (FTT).
“The vote sends a strong signal to governments to move ahead with the FTT. It has the backing not only of Europe's workers and citizens but of political parties across Europe”, said Veronica Nilsson, Confederal Secretary of the ETUC.
The ETUC has long called for the introduction of an FTT not least in order to curb financial speculation, ensure that the financial sector contributes to covering the costs of the crisis and raise much needed revenue to governments. The ETUC believes that the scope of the tax should be broad and cover all financial transactions, and does not share the idea of making exemptions for certain funds. The European Parliament “has shown that it has listened to the voice of the European people. It is now high time for the member states to do the same”, the ETUC concludes. (LC/transl.jl)