EU ramps up plans to centralise taxes

New plans announced last week will mean tax rates imposed from Brussels

The EU’s “4 Steps to taxation without representation”

Almost unreported by the majority pro-EU British media, last week the EU Commission announced its proprosals to continue the harmonisation of taxes across the EU, to the detriment of British businesses and consumers.

Not only that, but it proposes that these should be agreed under the ‘Qualified Majority Voting’ system, which means that individual member states such as the UK would no longer have a veto.

Here is what the unelected EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker had to say:

“Our increasingly globalised economies need modern and ambitious tax systems. I remain strongly in favour of moving to qualified majority voting and a stronger voice for the European Parliament on the common future of taxation in our Union.”
- Jean-Claude Juncker, EU Commission President, 15 Jan 2019

The EU’s “4 Steps to taxation without representation”

Step 1
“Member States would agree to move to qualified majority voting decision-making when it comes to measures that improve cooperation and mutual assistance between Member States in fighting tax fraud, tax evasion, as well as for administrative initiatives for EU businesses, e.g. harmonised reporting obligations. These measures are usually welcomed by all Member States but are prone to being blocked for reasons unrelated to the issues at hand.”
Step 2
“Would introduce qualified majority voting as a useful tool to progress measures in which taxation supports other policy goals, e.g. fighting climate change, protecting the environment or improving public health.”
Step 3
“The use of qualified majority voting under Step 3 would help to modernise already harmonised EU rules such as VAT and excise duty rules. Faster decision-making in these areas would allow Member States to keep up with the latest technological developments and market changes to the advantage of EU countries and businesses alike.”
Step 4
“Step 4 would allow a shift to qualified majority voting for major tax projects, such as the Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base and a new system for the taxation of the digital economy, that are urgently needed to ensure fair and competitive taxation in the EU. In particular, the Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base is still progressing very slowly as a result of unanimity.”
“Today's Communication suggests that Member States consider developing Steps 3 and 4 by the end of 2025.”

Observations

Which EU do Remainer MPs want to Remain in?

As Brexit Facts4EU.Org has reported many times, there is no status quo when it comes to the EU. They are forever wishing to expand their power over member states, and this is yet another example.

We have previously asked “Which EU do Remainer MPs want to Remain in?” The Commission’s latest proposals are a classic demonstration of why this question is so important.

We have yet to hear a single Remainer MP say one word about the EU’s plans to transform itself and take yet more power from its member states.

Please note that the Commission wants all four steps in place by 2025, meaning member states will no longer have a veto over taxation policies which they need in their own countries.

We have also previously reported on the Commission’s plans for a ‘financial transaction tax’. Given that the bulk of financial transactions in the EU take place in the City of London, this would in effect be a tax on the UK.

The level of ignorance and apparent unwillingness to want to inform themselves, is astonishing amongst Remainer MPs.

It’s one thing making arguments to Remain in the EU on the basis of knowledge of the facts. It’s quite another to continue to mislead the British public on an epic scale, without knowing what you’re talking about.

Something to say about this? Scroll down for reader comments

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Reader Comments 7

1. Mandy, Sheffield , Sunday, January 20, 2019, 09:15:

So infuriating! On top of being ignorant, Remainer MPs use most of their time and energy on trying to drag us into their narrow-minded and twisted thinking and expect us to believe what they say. They seem to have completely forgotten that it's us who voted for them. They have a duty and responsibility to fulfill the job of delivering on the Referendum result, rather than just playing their dirty political games.They're just clinging on the power, without a higher purpose - just like May.

2. Christine, Lancashire , Sunday, January 20, 2019, 10:21:

All the commonwealth countries followed the road to independence. The economic risk they faced was far greater than what we are facing today but none of them turned back because it was too difficult. I can’t understand why the majority of our politicians and media want to be ruled by a bunch of unelected bureaucrats. The problem with the Brexiteers is that they have allowed the Remainers to keep the discussion about trade. People didn’t vote for Brexit because of trade. They wanted an independent sovereign nation where they could elect politicians and hold them to account. Look at where the EU wants us by 2025: EU army, control of taxation, control of foreign policy, removal of vetos, removal of rebates. Once they have all this in place and control the money and the laws there will be no need for national parliaments, as they won’t have any powers. Do people really want to live in a world where they cannot influence how their country is run?

3. barbara Jell , Sunday, January 20, 2019, 10:38:

To understand the full horrors of remaining in the EU, you will need to familiarise yourself with the contents of the LISBON TREATY, signed by the odious Gordon Brown in the dead of night, behind our backs - and this comes into force AS SOON AS 2020!
Item 15 states: THE UK LOSES FULL CONTROL OF ITS TAXATION POLICY
The 26 directives of this Treaty state that we will lose full control of EVERYTHING, and I mean EVERYTHING; trade deals, trade tariffs, trade quotas, fishing rights, oil and gas rights, borders, (compulsorily entered into Schenghen by 2022), planning legislation, judicial system, laws, 'sovereignty'. our rebate, ad infinitum... You think things can't get any worse? Think again. Our Stock Exchange will move to Frankfurt, all member nations 'will become states of the new FEDERAL nation by 2022,' the EU Parliament and ECJ will become SUPREME over ALL legislative bodies in the UK, the UK will lose control over our armed forces (THE EU ARMY), our contribution to the EU to increase by an average of 1.2 billion pa and then by 2.3 billion pa by 2020 - ALL OF THIS, AND MORE, WHILST HAVING OUR VOCAL CHORDS RIPPED OUT WITH 'NO RIGHT OF ABSTENTIONS OR VETOs'.
WHY is no one talking about this??
This Treaty should be COMPULSORY reading for Brexiteers and Remainers alike, but PARTICULARLY for the dangerously ignorant, uninformed Remainers.

4. Concerned Expat , Tuesday, January 22, 2019, 14:50:

Barbara Jell, thank you very much for pointing these very frightening points out.
No one in their right mind would sign up to such garbage.
No wonder it was imperitive for the UK to leave the day after the referendum in 2016.
You are right no one talks about this. The remonians are probably not even aware of the treaty or its contents. If thery were no one in their right mind would sign up to such garbage.
Yet one person did! God help Great Britain with a political class like him.

5. Rachel , Friday, January 25, 2019, 20:16:

So what will be done about this. And when will it be shown to everyone.

6. Alan , Saturday, January 26, 2019, 12:20:

I have been copying the link to the Commission’s paper to prominent Brexiteers, MP’s etc - it was published on their website on 15th Jan (the day of May’s epic defeat on the Withdrawal deal). My MP is now aware , and I had an acknowledgement from John Redwood MP, though I’m not a constituent of his. This article on FactsforEU is the first public discussion I’ve seen - so at least there is info now out in the public realm. I know from experience (retired now, used to be a civil servant) that there will at some stage be a public report from the Scrutiny Committee of the House of Commons, so perhaps it will get some more public traction then. Meanwhile, those of us who are interested should follow the principle I’ve seen attributed to Richard Nixon - to get a new political message out into the public arena you have to repeat it over and over until you are sick to death of repeating it!

7. Barry , Sunday, January 27, 2019, 15:31:

This is still in discussion and as a member state the UK could veto the change to the taxation regulations. It is only because we have voted to leave that this can now be proposed with a possibility of succeeding. If we remain we could veto to prevent the change. But not if we re-enter at a later stage.
You are raising a mute point that needs no discussion.

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