Former Prime Minister Alfred Sant told the European Parliament in Strasbourg that transparency measures should not serve as a pretext to introduce tax harmonisation or to reduce the sovereignty of EU member states in organizing their taxation systems in line with their endowments. Dr. Sant emphasised that the latter point is especially crucial for smaller, peripheral economies in the EU system which have seen their flexibility eroded over the years by rules applied in a one-size-fits-all mode on a continental basis.
Dr. Sant, making an explanation of vote on a resolution on mandatory automatic exchange of information in the field of taxation, said he supports all measures meant to ensure this transparency. “Such measures must fully respect the need to allow a wide legitimate space for the financial services industry to function effectively, as well as the need for European corporations to compete on global markets against players which do not play by European rules. I am sure that robust systems that combat tax evasion, aggressive tax planning, money laundering and related issues can be set up on a European basis, and globally, while respecting the above principles,” explained the Maltese MEP.
Dr Sant voted in favour of the Resolution which passed with 567 votes in favour, 30 against, and 53 abstentions. He abstained on references to ‘public country-by-country reporting’ while voting against references to lower down the scope of the Directive for companies with a turnover of €40 million from the established one of €750 million.
Maltese Version – IS-SOVRANITA` TAL-ISTATI MEMBRI TAL-UE FIT-TASSAZZJONI GĦANDHA TKUN IMĦARSA
Is-sovranita` tal-istati membri fil-ġbir tat-taxxi f’pajjiżhom għandha tkun imħarsa, speċjalment għall-ekonomiji ż-żgħar u ż-żoni li qegħdin fil-periferija tal-Ewropa. Dan qalu l-Kap tad-Delegazzjoni Laburista fil-Parlament Ewropew Alfred Sant fi Strasburgu meta għamel spjega tal-vot tiegħu dwar riżoluzzjoni dwar kontrolli ġodda fuq l-evażjoni tat-taxxa. Dr. Sant qal li wara l-iskandli tal-‘Luxleaks’ u tal-karti tal-Panama, għandhom jittieħdu miżuri dejjem aktar qawwija li jiżguraw trasparenza kif jiġu trasferiti l-fondi u kif jitħallsu t-taxxi.
Dr. Sant qal li l-miżuri tal-Kummissjoni Ewropea għal aktar trasparenza ma għandhomx iservu ta’ skuża biex jiġu stradikati s-servizzi finanzjarji jew biex il-pajjiżi tal-UE jkollhom idaħħlu l-istess strutturi ta’ taxxi. “Dawn il-miżuri m’għandhomx iwasslu għall-armonizzazzjoni tat-taxxi jew biex titnaqqas is-sovranita` tal-istati membri tal-Unjoni Ewropea fil-mod kif jorganizzaw is-sistemi tat-tassazzjoni skont il-bżonnijiet tagħhom. Dawn l-inħawi diġa` raw il-flessibilita` tagħhom titnaqqar tul iż-żmien minħabba regoli ta’ ‘one-size-fits-all’ maħduma fuq bażi kontinentali”. Dr. Sant qal li l-flessibilita` fl-organizzazzjoni tat-tassazzjoni hija kruċjali għall-ekonomiji ż-żgħar u ż-żoni li qegħdin fil-periferija tal-Ewropa.
Alfred Sant qal li jappoġġja kull miżura tal-Kummissjoni Ewropea li għandha l-għan li tassigura t-trasparenza. “Miżuri ta’ dan it-tip iridu jirrispettaw il-ħtieġa li l-industrija tas-servizzi teħtieġ l-ispazju biex tkun tista’ taħdem sew. Il-miżuri jridu jirrispettaw ukoll il-ħtieġa li l-korporazzjonijiet Ewropej iridu jikkompetu fi swieq globali kontra parteċipanti li mhux jilagħbu bir-regoli tal-UE. Jien ċert li sistemi b’saħħithom kontra l-evażjoni tat-taxxa, ippjanar aggressiv fit-tassazzjoni, ħasil ta’ flus u oqsma relatati oħra jistgħu jitwaqqfu fuq bażi Ewropea, u anki globalment. Fl-istess ħin jistgħu jirrispettaw dawn il-prinċipji,” spjega l-Ewroparlamentari Malti.
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