BRUSSELS/BRATISLAVA, October 27, (WEBNOVINY) — Tax harmonization in the EU in the future may have support from Slovakia. According to Prime Minister of Slovakia’s caretaker Cabinet Iveta Radicova, deeper integration of tax policies in some areas could even be beneficial, for example in the area of indirect taxes. She, however, admitted also a debate on gradual harmonization of tax bases.
„We are open to negotiations on indirect taxes. I am even convinced that for an open market and Europe’s competitive strength, coordination in indirect taxes would be a big advantage for eurozone and EU members,” Radicova said following Wednesday’s night summit of European leaders at a press conference in Brussels. Indirect taxes are value-added tax and excise taxes.
Slovakia does not principally oppose a discussion on harmonization of tax bases, which Slovak politicians have rejected until now. She added that such harmonization would have to be gradual.
On the other hand, Slovakia should not agree to harmonization of direct taxes, or income taxes, the prime minister added. A wider integration of policies within the EU and the eurozone, including in the area of taxes has become a vividly discussed topic in connection with searching for strategies to fight the debt crisis. According to some, eurozone without a wider integration of member states does not have many chances to survive in the future.
SITA