If you were to start counting out loud ‘One, two, three, four, five….’, it would take more than 31 thousand years to count to one trillion. This is the number of euros lost due to tax evasion and avoidance each year in the European Union.
I spoke to the Finnish MEP Satu Hassi about the social consequences of this non-payment of taxes.
A Joint press conference took place on 25th February with Martin Schulz, European Parliament President, Antonis Samaras, Greek Prime Minister, José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, and Mario Monti, the former Italian Prime Minister.
The objective was to set up a high-level group to study new and simpler ways to finance the European Union budget. Mario Monti accepted to be the chairman of the group. The Commissions proposals include a financial transaction tax and the simplification of the politically sensitive issue of rebate mechanisms for Member States.
Mario Monti, Antonis Samaras, Martin Schulz, José Manuel Barroso Photo: Graham Waghorn
Europe from the Centre 