The European Parliament’s Committee on Budgets debated a second package of new own resources for the EU budget on Tuesday 31 January.
José Manuel Fernandes (EPP, Portuguese) and Valérie Hayer (Renew Europe, French) presented their draft report which includes a fair border tax, European taxation of cryptocurrencies, the use of part of the revenues from the future harmonisation of corporate tax in Europe (BEFIT), a digital contribution and additional statistical resources (gender pay gap, bio-waste recycling rate). The draft report is expected to be adopted on 1 March in the European Parliament’s Committee on Budgets.
Mr Fernandes spoke of revenues that do not penalise the European taxpayer, introduce a certain level of tax justice and contribute to the fight against climate change. “The debt resulting from the European Economic Recovery Plan must be repaid”, he said.
Ms Hayer said that those who do not pay their fair share of taxes should contribute (see EUROPE 13099/8).
Eider Gardiazabal Rubial (S&D, Spanish) said that the options presented were sometimes “too innovative”.
She expressed doubts about the fair border tax (quasi-slavery in some third countries) and the taxation of cryptocurrencies. She supported the financial transaction tax. “There is a lack of a wealth tax”, she said.
David Cormand (Greens/EFA, French) said that there is not enough money to go around and that many other resources should be proposed, such as a financial transaction tax, taxing the richest, taxing excessive profits and a tax on kerosene.
The Commission already presented a proposal, at the end of 2021, for three own resources based on the Emissions Trading System (ETS), the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and the first pillar of the OECD Convention on the international taxation of companies. But the EU Council has still not approved this first basket. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)