Taxation In The European Community

This book considers the tax provisions of the Treaty of Rome with its late modifications. Particular attention is given to fiscal discrimination, harmonization of VAT, excise duties and other indirect taxes, taxes and the capital market.

The results of the work of the Conference on Tax Coordination in the European Community appear at a time when the Community has undertaken, as a priority task, the completion of the internal market. The Commission's programme and proposed timetable for the achievement of that goal are spelt out in the White Paper, which was endorsed by the European Council at Milan in June 1985, an endorsement which was repeated at the Council's subsequent meeting in Luxemburg in December 1985. The Commission wholly endorses the views of the Conference as regards the need for urgent action to remove the grave restrictions on the free movement of the factors of production which continue to exist within the Community. It is the Commission's firm view that only a true dismantling of fiscal frontiers can permit the creation of an area without internal frontiers for which the Single European Act provides. To that end a certain approximation of rates of indirect taxation is indispensable if unacceptable distortion of competition is to be avoided. It is noteworthy that the Conference attaches great importance to the Community's problems in the field of direct taxation. This work will be particularly useful to the Commission, which intends to produce a further White Paper on company taxation in the near future. As the Conference rightly notes, action in this field is important for equalisation of the conditions of competition necessary for the completion of the internal market.

This book provides a comprehensive and systematic overview of the main topics of taxation in European law. The sequence of arguments follows an institutional logic, respecting the academic tradition of tax law. It first outlines the general framework of EU institutions, with a particular focus on the set of regulations regarding taxation with reference to the stage of formation of EU rules and the potential contrast with national legal systems. It then explores the general principles emerging from the European treaties that typically involve the taxation system, and examines in detail the fiscal importance of European freedoms, the principle of tax non-discrimination, the balance between national interest and EU values, tax harmonization, state aids and other general principles applicable in tax jurisdiction. Lastly, it offers an overall assessment of the development of the European integration process, with particular regard to the nexus between taxation power and sovereignty, in order to highlight the possible and desirable next stages of the evolution of “European tax law”.

Offering a comprehensive exploration of EU taxation law, this engaging Research Handbook investigates the associated legal principles in the context of both direct and indirect taxation. The important issues and debates arising from these general principles are expertly unpicked, with leading scholars examining the status quo as well as setting out a clear agenda for future research.

The 2014 edition of Taxation Trends in the European Union is the eighth issue of the report in its current form. The objective of the report remains unchanged: to present a complete view of the structure, level and trends of taxation in the Union over a medium- to long-term period. Taxation is at the heart of citizens' relationship with the State. It is not only government experts and academics, but also many citizens that ask the European Commission questions about tax levels in the EU and on how Member States compare with each other; this report, published annually, is one way of answering them. Much work has gone into making sure that the data it contains are accurate and comparable across countries. The methodology to ensure this was developed jointly by statisticians from Eurostat and economists from the Directorate-General for Taxation and the Customs Union, who have drafted the report. In addition, experts from national Statistical Offices and from the Ministries of Finance of all countries covered have actively contributed by supplying data and comments; we would like to express our thanks for their valuable suggestions and help. The report provides data and analysis for the European Semester, as the proper functioning of tax systems is a key prerequisite for economic growth. The data on the tax burden in the various Member States can thus be used as an input for the formulation of the Country-Specific Recommendations on tax reforms that are announced at the end of the European Semester. In addition to the analysis of Europe-wide trends in Part I, the report also includes a Part II with Country Chapters, covering each EU Member State plus Iceland and Norway. The Country Chapters contain a discussion of tax revenue trends, as well as a description of the main characteristics of each country's tax system. -- EU Bookshop.

Tax integration within the European Union can take place in many ways. In this book, various instruments which the Member States and the European Union have available to attain tax integration are discussed and their mutual relationship is studied. The book includes a general report drafted by the editor and is divided into seven parts focusing on (i) Sources of EU law for integration in direct and indirect taxation, (ii) Soft law: Solution or disillusion? Limits?, (iii) Infringement procedures: Another way to move things further?, (iv) Comitology, (v) Relationship between primary and secondary EU law, (vi) VAT Directive tested against primary law, and (vii) Direct tax directives tested against primary law. The book is the outcome of the fourth annual conference of the GREIT (Group for Research on European and International Taxation).

How does EU law affect Member State corporate tax systems and the cross-border activities of companies? This unique study traces the historical development of EU corporate tax law and provides an in-depth analysis of a number of issues affecting companies, groups of companies and permanent establishments. Existing legislation, soft-law and the case-law of the Court of Justice are examined. The proposed CCCTB Directive and its potential application through enhanced co-operation are also considered. In addition to the tax issues pertaining to direct investment, the author examines the taxation of passive investment income, corporate reorganisations, exit taxes and the restrictive effect of domestic anti-abuse regimes. By doing so, the convergences and divergences arising from the interplay of EU corporate tax law and international tax law, especially the OECD model, are uncovered and highlighted.

In order to develop a suitable framework for the analysis of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) case law, it is first analysed what significance, if any, the concept of 'sovereignty' has in the contemporary supranational environment of the European Union. All too often, tax scholars equate 'sovereignty' with the concepts of 'competence' or 'jurisdiction'. It will be established in this thesis that a much more specific and higher-level meaning is to be attributed to the 'sovereignty' concept, which goes beyond the strictly legal concepts of 'competence' or 'jurisdiction'. The cornerstone of this thesis, however, is an extensive analysis of the case law of the ECJ in direct tax matters, including a comparison with its non-tax case law. A new kind of methodology is used in discussing the cases: they are categorized according to whether a discrimination - or a restriction - based analysis was applied by the ECJ.