6 Amendments of Joe HIGGINS related to 2010/2102(INI)
Amendment 1 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that the objective of liberalising trade with the developing countries must be to promote the sustainable economic growth and the socially, environmentally and economically responsible development of these countries; notes that the elimination of customs duties will inevitably entails a loss of customs revenue and must therefore be under better control, be more gradualreviewed and go hand in hand with the implementation of tax reforms mobilising alternative forms of revenue to make up the shortfall (VAT, property tax, income tax)in the interest of the majority of the population in the developing countries, including the progressive taxation of income and a tax on corporate profits;
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Calls for systematic implementation, in the framework of Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), of measures to support tax reforms, in the form of both material assistance (IT systems) and organisational assistance (legal and tax training for tax authority staff), if requested by any developing country; underlines the need to make a special effort with African countries which still do not receive long-term assistance on taxation matters;
Amendment 8 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Reaffirms the need to enhance the coherence between the European Union's development policy and its trade policy; recalls that the crisis has exacerbated the volatility of commodities prices and has caused capital and aid flows to developing countries to dry up; stresses that, in this context, it is a priority to put in place an efficient tax system that exempts people with low incomes and does not discriminate against people with medium incomes so as to reduce developing countries' dependence on foreign aidinternational financial institutions and other, unpredictable external financial flows;
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Considers that a system of low-rate taxation for low and medium incomes founded on a broader tax basis and excluding all discretionary tax exemptions and preferences, including for the extractive industries, is indispensable; emphasises the need for incentive measures to involve investors more closely of public investment into projects with a positive local impact in economic, social and environmental terms;
Amendment 18 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Considers that the development of an efficient tax system that does not discriminate against low and medium incomes and therefore introduces progressive taxation and taxes on corporate profits that must be paid in the country where profits were accumulated must be one of the objectives of the new EU investment policy in developing countries in order to establish an environment more favourable to foreign and domestic privateublic investment and to create the conditions for more effective international assistance; recalls that the EU's investment policy must encourage innovation, public service efficiency, public-private partnerships and knowledge transfer to promote growthin the interest of sustainable development, knowledge transfer and poverty eradication and to create the conditions for more effective international assistance;
Amendment 25 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Calls for the creation, in the EPA framework, of an independent monitoring mechanism to assess the net tax impact of removing customs duties and at the same time progress being made in the area of tax reform in each country; calls for a clause to be introduced providing for a mandatory overall review of all EPAs after fivthree years and for the provisions of each agreement to be amended, where necessary, in line with the requirements identified therein. in the interest of poverty eradication, sustainable development and regional integration;