Brussels, 16/06/2003 (Agence Europe) - Taxes and social security contributions stood at 41.1% of the EU's gross domestic product in 2001; according to the Commission and Eurostat, in the most recent edition of a study on "The structure of tax systems in the EU". The overall tax burden is highest in Sweden (54.1%), Denmark (49.8%), Finland and Belgium (46%). It is lowest in Ireland (31.2%), Spain (35.6%), Portugal (35.9%), and Greece (36.8%).
The ratio between tax revenue and GDP has increased...