EPP Group to lead Special Committee on Tax Fairness with Alain Lamassoure MEP

Balz: "Tax Policy must not be a wellness programme for national egoisms"

The EPP Group welcomes today's formal setting-up of the Special Committee on unfair tax practices in several Member States. "The Committee will get a comprehensive mandate for six months. We want to fight unfair tax practices, but we are in favour of tax competition", said Burkhard Balz MEP, EPP Group Spokesman in Parliament's Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs.

The EPP Group proposes Alain Lamassoure MEP as candidate for the Chair of the new Special Committee. Lamassoure is a senior MEP and former Minister of European Affairs and Budget Minister of France.

"Tax policy must not be a wellness programme for national egoisms, but must be enhanced and upgraded on a European level", Balz said.

We want to fight unfair tax practices, but we are in favour of tax competition. Burkhard Balz MEP

"As much as we need well-functioning tax authorities in every Member State, we also need concrete steps against tax evasion and tax loopholes", Balz continued.

While the Special Committee will investigate current practices, the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee will - based on the findings of the Special Committee - put forward proposals on how to tackle the problems.