Brussels, 14/07/2004 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday the European Commission adopted a report by Michaele Schreyer on the EU's own resources system (budget revenue section) in which she postpones the creation of a news European tax to 2014 at the earliest. There will therefore be no new sources of funding for the next financial perspectives 2007-13.
In its report, the Commission writes that it will propose to the Council that it reflects at the introduction in 2014 on a new EU funding system. This will involve a major resource inspired by three already known options: the energy tax; genuine VAT resource or a corporate tax on profits.
The Commission's view is that this new source would improve the citizens' understanding of EU resources. Another advantage is that the decision would make political decision-makers more accountable. The Commission adds that this new resource would replace some of the existing ones, and that it remains neutral in terms of overall EU funding.
The Commission notes that 73% of the European budget is paid for by contributions from national treasuries, and that other resources, primarily customs duties and VAT-based resources, are falling constantly. To buck the trend, the Commission will launch a debate around the three options put forward.