Combating harmful tax competition in the European Union

Adopting the report by Mr Carlo SECCHI (PPE, I), the European Parliament felt that the package of measures presented by the Commission was the minimum needed in order to counter the consequences of harmful tax competition and fight unemployment. It welcomed beneficial tax competition among Member States as a tool to increase the competitiveness of the European economy confronted with the challenges of globalisation. Finally, it called on the Commission to put forward proposals which could strengthen and complete the existing package, including in the field of indirect taxation, to monitor more closely the issue of fiscal state aids in the Member States and to involve Parliament formally and more closely in discussions for the implementation of its strategy on taxation policy. �