EU one-size-fits all policy does not ensure gender equality

Tax policies need to be at the discretion of EU Member States and no one-size-fits-all policy may properly ensure gender equality as it needs to suit a country’s social and family structures, Maltese MEP Alfred Sant told the European in an explanation of vote on the report ‘Gender equality and taxation policies in the EU’.
Dr Sant voted in favour of the report promoting gender equality but expressed his reservations on the fact that the same report suggests certain measures impinging upon the Member States’ sovereignty on taxation.
“I have voted in favour of this report for its progressive social stance, despite disagreeing with a number of considerations on tax. Tax policies may constitute important tools for social equity and consequently for ensuring gender equality. They may play a role in women’s rights and poverty alleviation, by encouraging women’s employment and their economic independence.”
The report also tackles the issue of the gender pay gap. In 2019 in the EU, crude pay discrimination, while illegal, continued to contribute to the gender pay gap.
“Ending such practices should be at the forefront of the fight for social justice. Each Member State should however remain free to introduce reforms of their taxation systems that reflect their national specificities, while ensuring that all financial and other benefits linked to parenthood are preserved.”
The Maltese MEP expressed his disagreement to the reference in the report to the Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base (CCCTB). The CCCTB envisages a common set of rules for computing taxable income and the consolidation of tax bases across EU Member States.
“The reference to CCCTB is irrelevant to gender equality, as it is dealing with legal persons and not individuals.” remarked the Maltese MEP.
The report was adopted with 313 votes in favour, 276 votes against and 88 abstentions.

Maltese Version – POLITIKA TA’ ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL FIT-TASSAZZJONI MA TIŻGURAX L-UGWALJANZA BEJN IS-SESSI

Politika ta’ one-size-fits-all fit-tassazzjoni fl-istati membri tal-UE ma tista’ qatt tiżgura l-ugwaljanza bejn is-sessi għax il-politika ta’ tassazzjoni trid taqbel mal-istrutturi soċjali u familjari ta’ kull stat membru tal-UE. Dan qalu Alfred Sant fil-Parlament Ewropew f’intervent dwar ir-rapport ‘Ugwaljanza bejn is-sessi u l-politika ta’ tassazzjoni fl-UE’. Sant saħaq li l-politika ta’ tassazzjoni għandha tibqa’ prerogattiva tal-Istati Membri tal-UE.
L-Ewroparlamentari vvota favur dan ir-rapport li jippromwovi l-ugwaljanza bejn is-sessi iżda esprima r-riżervi tiegħu fuq il-fatt li l-istess rapport jissuġġerixxi ċertu miżuri li jimminaw is-sovranita` tal-istati membri fuq it-tassazzjoni.
“Ivvotajt favur dan ir-rapport għax iħaddan pożizzjoni soċjali progressiva, minkejja li ma naqbilx ma’ numru ta’ punti fuq it-taxxa. Il-politika tat-tassazzjoni tista’ tkun għodda importanti li tintuża għal ekwita` soċjali u konsegwentement biex tiġi żgurata l-ugwaljanza bejn is-sessi. Tista’ taqdi rwol importanti għad-drittijiet taċ-ċittadini u fit-tnaqqis tal-faqar, billi tinkoraġġixxi l-impjieg għan-nisa u l-indipendenza ekonomika tagħhom.”
Ir-rapport jindirizza wkoll il-kwistjoni tad-differenza fil-pagi bejn is-sessi. Id-diskriminazzjoni sfaċċata fil-pagi, filwaqt li kienet illegali, kompliet tikkontribwixxi għal differenza tal-pagi bejn is-sessi fl-2019 fl-UE.
“It-tmiem ta’ dan l-aġir diskriminatorju huwa l-qofol tal-ġlieda għall-ġustizzja soċjali. Kull Stat Membru għandu madankollu jibqa’ liberu li jintroduċi riformi tas-sistemi ta’ tassazzjoni tiegħu li jirriflettu l-bżonnijiet nazzjonali tiegħu, filwaqt li jħares il-benefiċċji finanzjarji u benefiċċji oħra marbuta mal-ġenituri.”
Alfred Sant ma qabilx mar-riferenza għall-Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base (CCCTB) fir-rapport ippreżentat lill-Parlament Ewropew. Is-CCCTB hija favur sett komuni ta’ regoli għall-kalkolu tad-dħul taxxabbli u l-konsolidazzjoni tal-bażi tat-taxxa madwar l-Istati Membri tal-UE.
“Ir-riferenza għas-CCCTB hija irrilevanti għall-ugwaljanza bejn is-sessi, għax jitratta persuni fil-qasam legali u mhux individwi.” saħaq l-Ewroparlamentari Malti.
Ir-rapport għadda b’313 voti favur, 276 kontra u 88 astenzjoni.