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Brussels wants to take control of our tax policy.

Presumably Nick Clegg and Danny Alexander, representing half of the "Sofa Quad" (Cameron, Osborne, Clegg and Alexander) will be only too happy to go along with this. B&A

http://money.aol.co.uk/2012/02/18/eu-outlines-dream-of-single-tax-policy/?icid=money%7CDL_1_link

EU outlines dream of single tax policy -

By Chris Wheal, Feb 18, 2012

Algirdas SemetaA top EU official has demanded Britain give up its right to set its own tax rates to stop one country have an advantage over another. And the cheeky EU commissioner, Algirdas Semeta, had the nerve to come to London to demand it at a meeting hosted by foreigners living in the capital. He was speaking at the Lithuanian City of London Club.

Semeta is the EU commissioner for taxation and customs union, audit and anti-fraud, and was pontificating on the subject of "EU tax coordination and the financial sector"

"He said the financial crisis had changed the tax landscape. "Gone are the days when taxation could be regarded purely as a money collecting tool. Gone too are the days when each Member State could go off in its own direction, implementing its tax policies in isolation, without a thought to what its neighbours were doing," he said.

"The crisis has highlighted the inter-dependence of Member States, and the need for a strong and coordinated approach in all areas of fiscal policy." He said the single market had brought great benefits to all European countries but now had to be extended to include a single tax regime. "If we want a strong Single Market, we must work together in taxation. Coordinated tax policies mean more certainty and less red tape - a better environment in which businesses can grow," he argued.

Semeta is on a mission to bring about a single taxation policy with how much tax we pay set in Brussels. "It is my duty to ensure that the measures taken do not create new obstacles to the Single Market, and that taxation helps, rather than hinders, our collective return to growth and prosperity," he said. At the least the interfering busy-body gets the idea that not everyone is enamoured with his proposals. He said: "I am well aware that misunderstandings about EU tax policy sometimes generate fear and resistance. I want to tackle some of those misperceptions head-on today.

"European tax policy is not a threat to national sovereignty. On the contrary, it safeguards Member States' ability to apply successful national tax policies, without being undermined by their neighbour's approach.

"European tax policy is not a chain around the legs of our businesses. In fact, it helps create a simpler and more stable market for businesses, by addressing mismatches and tearing down tax barriers.

"Most importantly, EU tax policy is not a tool to be used to isolate one Member State from the rest. Instead, it is an opportunity to join forces and to be stronger on the global scene.

"To put it simply, a coordinated approach to tax offers every single Member State the opportunity to have better quality revenues, a more attractive environment for business and a more acceptable tax system to citizens." He went on to outline specific EU-wide taxes he wanted to impose on countries. He ended by saying: "We need to dedramatise the debate surrounding EU tax policy. Instead, let's concentrate on how tax coordination can contribute to the renewed impetus we need to exit the severe crisis Europe is facing.

"And lets also look beyond the crisis, difficult as this may be at the moment. Lets reach for gold standard in European tax policy. We can aspire to a Single Market strengthened by taxation that is simple, fair, business-friendly and attractive to investors."

He couldn't have been much more emphatic. Brussels wants to take control of our tax policy.