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"We can note that the financial transactions tax as proposed by the European Commission has no unanimous support by Member States", Danish economy minister, Margrethe Vestager, said after chairing a public debate with finance ministers from all EU countries.
During the discussions, more than 10 countries spoke in favour of a so-called enhanced cooperation which would allow a minimum of nine states to go forward with legislation when there is no consensus at 27. But less than nine were definitely on board the splinter group, while the others, including the UK, said they had nothing against enhanced cooperation as long as it does not affect the internal market.
Austrian minister, Maria Fekter, meanwhile stressed it was important for her parliament to get a signal that enhanced cooperation on the financial transactions tax was possible, otherwise it would not ratify the treaty establishing the European Stability Mechanism, the permanent bailout fund.
Following a meeting with his Italian, German and Spanish counterparts in Rome, French president, François Hollande, pledged to get the FTT off the ground as soon as possible.