20/03/2017 (Agence Europe) – Belgium, Slovakia and Slovenia have been urged by their opposite numbers in the negotiations for a financial transactions tax (FTT) to agree to a compromise based around an exemption strictly limited to pension funds. The Belgian government's agreement requires insurance companies to be protected as well, but this option did not receive the agreement of the ten participating countries. For its part, Slovenia has taken position in favour of the first option (taxing funds whilst setting in place compensation for individuals affected), according to the Austrian finance minister, Hans Jörg Schelling. The three countries must therefore each consult their governments and come back with a response by May. If no consensus can be reached around option two (exemption for pension funds only), it will be the end of the work on the FTT, he said. (EL)