Brussels, 08/06/2016 (Agence Europe) - Belgium and Slovenia are reported to be the only two delegations not to agree on the core engine of a financial transactions tax, according to two sources close to the discussions, on Wednesday 8 June.
According to these sources, the eight other countries agree on these elements, but Belgium is blocking the agreement over concerns for the real economy and pension funds. Slovenia still fears that it would not generate enough income compared to the cost of implementing the tax.
Within the group, the pressure is particularly high on Belgium, largely because the other countries feel that they have made enough concessions, and that Brussels has not. Other sources, however, deny that there is convergence on the core elements of the tax. The Commission is prepared to change the parameters of the proposal in the event that the discussions break down, the ministers having set a deadline of June to finish. No alternative scenario is currently being looked into. The time is instead being used for reflection, but it appears that any alternative would have to remain in the framework of the current reinforced cooperation, so that it can be kept afloat.
Although an announcement is expected at the Ecofin Council of 17 June - neither source would be drawn on this possibility - it is expected to be minimalistic, partly due to the referendum on the United Kingdom's membership of the EU and the Spanish elections. In any event, it is highly likely that Austria and Portugal will decide to step down from their chairmanship of the ministerial and technical discussions respectively.
At the meeting of the Permanent Representatives on Wednesday 8 July, none of the member states took the floor on the matter, the point having been included on the agenda. (Original version in French by Élodie Lamer)