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The Federation of European Accountants (FEE) organised its second tax day, a high level conference aimed at stimulating debate amongst all stakeholders: business, both SMEs and large enterprises, national and EU top policymakers, professional accountants and taxpayers. The conference challenged participants asking whether, in the current climate, taxation is on a highway to hell or heaven.
In opening the conference, Didier Reynders, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Institutional Reforms, Belgium, answered that if we are to reach heaven we can only do so together through an open, inclusive, respectful and mutually trustful relationship. He outlined the need for further cooperation amongst Member States and for reform ensuring a shift from labour tax to green tax, alleviating tax obstacles to growth and investment and securing tax revenues enabling to cope with the challenges of investing in innovation and education and an ageing society.
Algirdas Semeta, EU Commissioner, Taxation and Customs Union, Audit and Anti-Fraud, declared that tax policy is back on the EU agenda. He outlined the importance of taxation as a policy instrument aimed at supporting sustainable growth and employment.