WRITTEN QUESTION No. 3545/98 by Friedrich WOLF to the Commission. Tax harmonization
21. 7. 1999 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 207/87 (1999/C 207/115) WRITTEN QUESTION P-3545/98 by Friedrich Wolf (V) to the Commission (18 November 1998) Subject: Tax harmonization What action does the Commission intend to take in the field of tax harmonization and tax coordination as a result of the changes within the Council following the Bundestag elections in Germany? Does the fact that Germany, like other influential Member States, now has Greens and Social Democrats in its government mean that there are renewed prospects of a reduction in competitive tax dumping in Europe? Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (14 January 1999) Measures to combat harmful tax competition received the unanimous support of the Ecofin Council on 1 December 1997. This objective was clearly reaffirmed by the Ecofin Council on 1 December 1998. With a view to reducing the distortions that still exist within the single market, preventing substantial losses of tax receipts and rearranging tax structures in a manner more conducive to employment, the need for coordinated action at European level led to the adoption of a code of conduct for business taxation designed to curb harmful tax measures. This political undertaking has been unanimously endorsed. The Honourable Member will agree with the Commission that it represents a positive step that should be pursued and encouraged. (1999/C 207/116) WRITTEN QUESTION E-3548/98 by Ursula Stenzel (PPE) to the Commission (1 December 1998) Subject: European Central Bank According to a recent study by the independent Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR), the governors of the Member States’ central banks have too much power in the ECB compared with the Executive Board and there is a risk that the governors might let themselves be guided too much by the needs of their own countries. This might arise particularly when decisions have to be taken quickly. What are the Commission’s views on this study, which also criticises the inadequate bank supervision and lack of clear structures for crisis management? Answer given by Mr de Silguy on behalf of the Commission (5 February 1999) The study in question is indeed, like other recent studies on the same subject, a valuable contribution to the public debate about the making of monetary policy in economic and monetary union (EMU). The Commission is of the opinion that the provisions of the Treaty and the European system of central banks (ESCB) statute on the structure, tasks and instruments are adequate for the conduct of an efficient, stability-oriented single monetary policy in the euro area