Quote of the Week: Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be
looking for it." - Henry David Thoreau
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ESBA WEEKLY of Friday 13 July 2001 - VOL 3 - N° 31
Headlines of WEEK 28:
- HEALTH & SAFETY: Input for the 2002 H&S strategy at work
- TAXATION: Heated European tax debates
- TAXATION: EC to investigate tax break schemes
- SINGLE MARKET: Bank charges on cross-border payments still too high
- EMPLOYMENT: EU to open labour markets for non-EU nationals
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EU / HEALTH & SAFETY
Bilbao 04/07/2001: Input for the 2002 H&S strategy at work
The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (OSHA) published the
results of a recently organised European workshop which should contribute
to the formulation of a new Community strategy for safety and health at
work, to be developed in 2002 on the basis of a European Commission
Communication. OSHA also published a guide for organisations on how to run
effective promotional health and safety campaigns.
More info:
http://agency.osha.eu.int/publications/forum/forum1/forum1_en.pdf
http://agency.osha.eu.int/publications/reports/campaigns/
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EU / TAXATION
Brussels 10/07/2001: Heated European tax debates
The discussions on the idea of introducing a European tax (to be paid by
citizens, linking individuals directly with the EU, however not increasing
the general level of taxation but replacing a current complex system), as
presented by the Belgium Presidency (and supported by the EC and EP), have
been postponed for a while following the Council of Finance Ministers
meeting of this week. The Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, the United
Kingdom, Ireland and Spain are clearly against the idea (comparisons to
wars were made), whereas Luxembourg, Belgium and to a far lesser extend,
France and Germany were more in favour.
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EU / TAXATION
Brussels 11/07/2001: EC to investigate tax break schemes
The European Commission will launch aid investigations into 11 tax break
schemes in 8 Member States, suspecting these to constitute state aid
incompatible with the EC Treaty. The investigations concern mainly focuses
on preferential tax arrangements granted to multinational companies or to
companies active in the insurance and financial sector (resulting in lower
tax burdens only for the concerned beneficiaries). The outcome of the
investigation should clarify whether the schemes can or can not continue
to be implemented, or are only able to continue provided certain
conditions are met.
The Commission furthermore has proposed 4 other states to put certain
business tax advantages in conformity with the EC rules following recent
economic changes of the EU single market. If Member States refuse, the
Commission will then have to open, also for these four tax provisions, the
formal investigation procedure.
The current launch of investigations should be the beginning of a
longer-term exercise by the Commission to ensure that no tax measures in
the EU are being used to support companies (mainly multinationals) in a
way that is incompatible with the single market.
ESBA WELCOMES THE COMMISSION'S INVESTIGATION AS IT OPPOSES UNFAIR
COMPETITION AND MARKET DISTORTION.
More info (copy/paste full link):
http://www.europa.eu.int/rapid/start/cgi/guesten.ksh?p_action.gettxt=gt&do
c=IP/01/982|0|RAPID&lg=EN
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EU / SINGLE MARKET
Brussels 11/07/2001: Excessive charges on cross-border payments
A new study published by the European Commission shows that banks in the
euro zone charge an average of 17.36 euro for cross-border transactions, a
slight increase compared to the situation in 1999. The study also showed
that 38% of transfers made by the researchers were charged double,
something which is not allowed anymore since August 1999.
After several unsuccessful appeals by the EC and the EP to lower the
charges, the Commission is now likely to come up with new regulation,
making it compulsory for banks to fix similar tariffs for internal and
cross-border transfers after the changeover of the euro. The proposal
would have to be adopted by both Parliament and the Council under the
co-decision procedure.
Survey results:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/health_consumer/index_en.htm
ESBA WELCOMES THE COMMISSION'S INTIATIVE AS EXCESSIVE CHARGES ON
CROSS-BORDER TRANSACTIONS AFFECTS MOSTLY AND MAINLY SMES, WHO MAKE MOST
SMALLER TRANSACTIONS, AND THEREFORE THE ACTIVITIES OF SMES IN THE INTERNAL
MARKET. THE REGULATION SHOULD, HOWEVER, NOT RESULT IN AN INCREASE IN THE
LEVEL OF DOMESTIC CHARGES (IN MANY COUNTRIES NATIONAL PAYMENTS ARE FOR
FREE) NORE IMPOSE FIXED TERMS OF PAYMENTS BUT SHOULD CREATE A TRUE
COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT TO ENTERPRISES AND CONSUMERS, SOMETHING WHICH
EXISTS LESS AND LESS BETWEEN BANKS. FINALLY, ESBA DEMANDS FOR A QUICK
CO-DECISION PROCEDURE.
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EU / EMPLOYMENT
Brussels 11/07/2001: EU to open labour markets for non-EU nationals
The Commission has proposed common criteria and a single procedure in all
Member States for managing immigration flows, and sets out rights for
third-country nationals, including giving non-EU nationals access to jobs
in the EU. The proposals on immigration come as several EU countries
launched debates and initiatives on immigration, with the prospect of an
ageing workforce and already existing labour shortages.
Employers would still have to verify whether there are any suitable
applicants on the Community labour market (including applicant countries).
Member States are left with the decision on how many foreigners to accept
and for what types of work they are needed. They could for example
undertake special programmes for meeting sectoral deficits and non-EU
nationals can be provided greater access at national level to certain jobs
requiring a high level of specialisation. The proposal is scheduled to be
adopted by EU leaders during the Laeken summit in December.
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The ESBA Weekly is now sent to an increasing amount of persons with a
direct interest in SMEs.
This bulletin is made in cooperation with LOGOS (http://www.logos-eu.com).
