The controversy on the unanimity on the introduction of tax harmonisation among EU member states is expected to be highlighted this year in the European institutions, Maltese MEP Alfred Sant said. Dr Sant said that for the EU to decide on company tax and personal taxes there needs to be an unanimous decision because this matter is not provided for in the treaties. Nevertheless, some argue that the treaties include a clause which allows that there is no need for a unanimous decision on tax. This argument was launched last year, remarked the Maltese MEP.
Dr Sant said pressure is mounting within the European institutions in favour of tax harmonisation. The European Commission and the European Parliament have already expressed themselves in favour of tax harmonisation while there are different ideas in the European Council.
Specifically asked whether consensus between the two local political parties on taxation has failed after PN MEPs voted in favour of a report which claims that taxation decisions should not be taken by unanmous agreement between EU member states, Dr Sant said this question should be answered by the PN itself.
“The PN MEPs voted in favour of a report that states that EU taxation policies should not be unanimously agreed between EU member states. With their votes PN MEPs agreed that taxation should not remain the prerogative of sovereign EU states. PN MEPs also agreed that double taxation agreements should not remain the prerogative of EU member states, but should be agreed and decided directly by Brussels. It is indeed worrying that the PN has changed its position and is not supporting positions which the previous Nationalist Government had emphasised when Malta joined the EU. This is very dangerous.” observed the Maltese MEP.
Dr Sant remarked that nothwithstanding that the economy is recovering well in Europe, more jobs must be created for young people, more attention should be given to those facing poverty, Europe must be stronger and merciful towards immigration. The same applies to Malta.
“ All of us – Labour and Nationalists – must continue to improve what is good and understand that in the future we will face different and perhaps difficult times. It is important to do our utmost to rectify what needs to be improved keeping in mind our loyalty to Malta and to Europe, because in the end we are Europeans.” said the Maltese MEP.

You may follow the whole interview on this link:

Maltese Version – IL-KONTROVERSJA DWAR L-ARMONIZZAZZJONI TAT-TAXXI FL-UE TKOMPLI DIS-SENA

Din is-sena u fis-sena ta’ warajha fl-istituzzjonijiet Ewropej se tqum il-kontroversja dwar l-unanimita` bejn l-istati membri tal-UE biex tkun introdotta l-armonizzazzjoni fit-taxxa. Dan qalu Alfred Sant waqt programm televisiv dwar Malta u l-Unjoni Ewropea. Dr Sant qal li biex l-UE tiddeċiedi dwar taxxi tal-kumpaniji u dwar taxxi personali, hemm bżonn ta’ unanimita` għax din materja li taqa’ barra milli jgħidu t-trattati. Imma hemm min qed jargumenta li klawsola tat-trattati tippermetti li f’ċerti ċirkostanzi ma hemmx bżonn ta’ unanimita` anke dwar taxxa. Dan l-argument infetaħ is-sena li għaddiet.
Dr Sant qal li qed issir pressjoni fl-istituzzjonijiet Ewropej favur l-armonizzazzjoni tat-taxxa. Fil-Kummissjoni Ewropea u fil-Parlament Ewropew hemm qbil li jkunu armonizzati t-taxxi fl-UE waqt li hemm ideat differenti fil-Kunsill Ewropew.
Mistoqsi minn Stefan Borg jekk spiċċax il-konsensus bejn iż-żewġ partiti politiċi f’Malta dwar il-politika ta’ tassazzjoni wara li l-MEPs tal-PN ivvotaw favur rapport li jgħid li deċiżjonijiet dwar taxxa ma għandhomx jiġu deċiżi minn vot unanimu, Alfred Sant wieġeb li jrid ikun il-PN li jrid iwieġeb din il-mistoqsija.
“Il-vot li ħadu d-deputati nazzjonalisti fuq ir-Rapport tal-Panama fil-Parlament Ewropew kien jgħid li l-unanimita` dwar it-tassazzjoni trid tispiċċa. Jekk ivvotaw favur ir-rapport, ivvotaw favur dan il-punt. Bil-vot tagħhom l-MEPs tal-PN qablu li t-tassazzjoni m’għandhiex tibqa’ prerogattiva tal-pajjiżi membri. Bl-istess mod, punt ieħor li qiegħed fir-rapport li vvotaw favur tiegħu jgħid illi kull ftehim dwar taxxa doppja bejn pajjiżi membri tal-UE u pajjiżi oħra, għandu jittieħed u jsir minn Brussell. Li hemm inkwetanti f’din il-ħaġa hi li donnu l-PN bidel il-pożizzjoni tiegħu, ma għadux jappoġġja ċertu pożizzjonijiet li kien hu wara kollox li kien għafas fuqhom meta Malta daħlet fl-UE. Din hija xi ħaġa perikoluża ħafna.”
Dr Sant qal li hemm affarijiet fl-UE li jeħtieġ li jitjiebu pereżempju żgur li hemm bżonn li għalkemm l-ekonomiji qed jirrankaw, hemm bżonn aktar ħsieb u inizjattiva kif noħolqu aktar xogħol għaż-żgħażagħ, iktar kura għal persuni li jinsabu qrib il-faqar. Fil-qasam tal-immigrazzjoni jeħtieġ li l-Ewropa tkun aktar soda iżda aktar ħanina. L-istess ħaġa tgħodd għal Malta.
“Għal futur – laburisti, nazzjonalisti – aħna minn aħna- irridu l-ewwel nett dak li sejjer tajjeb inkomplu nsostnuh, nifhmu li għad iridu jiġu żminijiet differenti u diffiċli għax dejjem hekk jiġri. Il-ħajja rota u fejn naraw li l-affarijiet mhumiex sejrin tajjeb biżżejjed irridu nagħmlu l-almu tagħna biex insewwuhom b’sens ta’ lealta` lejn il-pajjiż u anki lejn l-Ewropa għax wara kollox aħna Ewropej.”

Tista’ ssegwi l-intervent kollu ta’ Alfred Sant fuq din il-link:

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