Activities of Rolandas PAKSAS related to 2011/2082(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
The future of VAT (debate)
Amendments (9)
Amendment 3 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Welcomes the Commission’s aim to achieve a comprehensive VAT system that is solid enough to resist attacks of fraud, of which the estimated annual cost for the EU27 is around 80 to 100 billion euro; emphasises that VAT evasion and fraud are detrimental both to the budgets of the Member States and to the overall balance of the EU system of own resources;
Amendment 9 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Underlines the need, given the impact of ageing societies on labour markets, savings and consumption patterns and public expenditure in the years to come, to shift from direct taxation further to indirect taxation, but considers that VAT rates should nonetheless not be raised.
Amendment 11 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Calls for a harmonised standard or reduced VAT rate for all intra-EU cross- border travel regardless of the mode of transport, and for harmonised regulation and monitoring of VAT deductability;
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on the Commission to ensure that the recently (Nov.2010) established EUROFISC functions as a practical added value to Member States cross border VAT fraud investigations, to report regularly to the Parliament on its functioning, and to make these reports publicby giving the officials in this network the power to initiate, accept and coordinate targeted multilateral checks, to report regularly to the Parliament on its functioning, and to make these reports public; takes the view that it should be compulsory for the Member States to participate in the activities of EUROFISC;
Amendment 14 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Supports, however, a lower or zero rate for public transport for public-interest, social and environmental reasons; considers that a reduction in the VAT rate would guarantee people’s mobility, help reduce urban congestion, increase environmental performance and reduce the accident rate;
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Is concerned about the current rule whereby, where VAT is applied, the supply of passenger transport is taxed in accordance with where the transport actually takes place, proportionately to the distance covered in each Member State. Considers that passenger transport should be taxed at the place of departure in order to reduce complexity and, improve enforceability and reduce the administrative burden on enterprises, and especially on SMEs;
Amendment 22 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses that, as a result of the complexity of rules and administrative constraints, businesses often see the current VAT system as an obstacle to the completion of the internal market; notes that the current VAT arrangements for intra-EU trade tend to reflect negatively on SMEs; observes that the public and private sectors should be subject to the same rates of VAT for the same action.
Amendment 38 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Observes that the establishment of an overall VAT system should reduce the operating costs of users and the administrative costs of the authorities and that this should make it possible to prevent fraud, tax evasion, crime and the associated money laundering, which are a serious threat to society on an international scale.
Amendment 52 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Notes that according to the subsidiarity principle Member States should keep their possibility to decide on reduced levels of VAT in certain sectors in order to better implement European and national policies or on the basis of national historical, economic, social or environmental factors; points out that VAT exemptions applied in sectors of general interest and in other sectors help to improve national policy on growth and employment.