natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
According to this proposal, some Member States were to benefit, between 2007-2013, from reduced rates of call of VAT or from gross reductions in their annual GNI contributions.
According to this proposal, some Member States were to benefit, between 2007-2013, from reduced rates of call of VAT or from gross reductions in their annual GNI contributions.
These gross reductions would be financed by all Member States, including the two beneficiaries themselves.
These gross reductions would be financed by all Member States, including the two beneficiaries themselves.
The proposal, in principle, leaves the UK correction, the "British rebate", intact except for expenditure in the new Member States (which will be excluded from total allocated expenditure for the purpose of calculating the UK correction).
The proposal, in principle, leaves the UK correction, the "British rebate", intact except for expenditure in the new Member States (which will be excluded from total allocated expenditure for the purpose of calculating the UK correction).
However, CAP market expenditure in the new Member States shall be excluded from this exception, i.e. be part of the total allocated expenditure that is used for calculating the UK rebate.
However, CAP market expenditure in the new Member States shall be excluded from this exception, i.e. be part of the total allocated expenditure that is used for calculating the UK rebate.
Parliament's opinion - Lamassoure report 2006
Parliament's opinion - Lamassoure report 2006
Because this latest Commission proposal does anything but meet the criteria set out by Parliament in its 1999 resolution and is running against his own personal conviction on the need for a profound reform towards more simplicity, equity and transparency, your rapporteur in his report adopted on 4 July 2006
Because this latest Commission proposal does anything but meet the criteria set out by Parliament in its 1999 resolution and is running against his own personal conviction on the need for a profound reform towards more simplicity, equity and transparency, your rapporteur in his report adopted on 4 July 2006
T6-0292/2006 has limited himself to additions to the text stressing the importance of the review process to come.
T6-0292/2006 has limited himself to additions to the text stressing the importance of the review process to come.
His amendments have simply indicated the conditions for the review and Parliament's involvement, as laid down in the new Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 on budgetary discipline and sound financial management.
His amendments have simply indicated the conditions for the review and Parliament's involvement, as laid down in the new Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 on budgetary discipline and sound financial management.
Special provisions for certain Member States may be unavoidable in the current system.
Special provisions for certain Member States may be unavoidable in the current system.
They are, however, anything but desirable and should only be considered a necessary evil until a new, genuinely fair system has been devised in the review process.
They are, however, anything but desirable and should only be considered a necessary evil until a new, genuinely fair system has been devised in the review process.
In his report your rapporteur also pointed out that the conclusions of the dialogue on the own resources topic that has been led between the national parliaments and the European Parliament for some time now should be duly taken into account for the review.
In his report your rapporteur also pointed out that the conclusions of the dialogue on the own resources topic that has been led between the national parliaments and the European Parliament for some time now should be duly taken into account for the review.
He concluded that he intended to present the results of the work conducted jointly by the national parliaments and the European Parliament in a comprehensive own initiative report on the future of the EU's own resources in the months to come.
He concluded that he intended to present the results of the work conducted jointly by the national parliaments and the European Parliament in a comprehensive own initiative report on the future of the EU's own resources in the months to come.
5 ON THE FUTURE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION'S OWN RESOURCES
5 ON THE FUTURE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION'S OWN RESOURCES
13 November 2006
13 November 2006
Towards the review
Towards the review
"If we, as parliamentarians, want a say on the finances of the Union, as to both revenue and expenditure, the review process 2008 - 2009, will be our opportunity, but the formulation of that [ our ] input needs to begin right away."
"If we, as parliamentarians, want a say on the finances of the Union, as to both revenue and expenditure, the review process 2008 - 2009, will be our opportunity, but the formulation of that [ our ] input needs to begin right away."
Lord Grenfell in his summary of Working Group 4 of the
Lord Grenfell in his summary of Working Group 4 of the
Joint Parliamentary Meeting on the Future of Europe, 8-9 May 2005
Joint Parliamentary Meeting on the Future of Europe , 8-9 May 2005
The need for reform
The need for reform
The negotiations for the new Financial Framework 2007-2013 have shown that the current system of own resources does not provide the European Union of 25 (27) Member States with a solid and coherent financial basis for implementing its political choices.
The negotiations for the new Financial Framework 2007-2013 have shown that the current system of own resources does not provide the European Union of 25 (27) Member States with a solid and coherent financial basis for implementing its political choices.
The Member States' contributions still come out of the national budgets.
The Member States' contributions still come out of the national budgets.
They are calculated according to a method that has become increasingly obscure, unfair and impossible for the citizens to understand.
They are calculated according to a method that has become increasingly obscure, unfair and impossible for the citizens to understand.
Besides, the modalities of the current system are decided behind closed doors without any parliamentary control.
Besides, the modalities of the current system are decided behind closed doors without any parliamentary control.
Your rapporteur is deeply convinced that EU revenue needs to be thoroughly reformed in a way which prevents Member States from only wanting to spend Community funds in those areas where they themselves profit most instead of concentrating the money available on those policies beneficial to Europe as a whole and most important for its future.
Your rapporteur is deeply convinced that EU revenue needs to be thoroughly reformed in a way which prevents Member States from only wanting to spend Community funds in those areas where they themselves profit most instead of concentrating the money available on those policies beneficial to Europe as a whole and most important for its future.
The "full and wide-ranging review of all areas of EU expenditure and revenue, including the British rebate"
The "full and wide-ranging review of all areas of EU expenditure and revenue, including the British rebate"
Revision clause included in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 - see ANNEX. , which the Commission has been invited to undertake by the Brussels European Council of last December, with a view to reporting in 2008 / 2009, may offer a last chance in the foreseeable future, to create such a new and truly European system which could then become operational at the beginning of the next financial framework starting in 2014.
Revision clause included in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 17 May 2006 - see ANNEX. , which the Commission has been invited to undertake by the Brussels European Council of last December, with a view to reporting in 2008 / 2009, may offer a last chance in the foreseeable future, to create such a new and truly European system which could then become operational at the beginning of the next financial framework starting in 2014.
For all past efforts to steer the Union towards a more transparent system that is fair by its own virtue have failed so far.
For all past efforts to steer the Union towards a more transparent system that is fair by its own virtue have failed so far.
Cooperation with the national parliaments
Cooperation with the national parliaments
When studying the proposals made by the Commission in 2004
When studying the proposals made by the Commission in 2004
"Schreyer proposals", COM(2004)505 and COM(2004)501 , your rapporteur came to the conclusion that any work of the European Parliament on the own resources topic with an aim to finding an equitable, simple and transparent solution would need to be done in close cooperation with the parliaments of the Member States because it was them, that in the end, would need to agree on any proposal made.
"Schreyer proposals", COM(2004)505 and COM(2004)501 , your rapporteur came to the conclusion that any work of the European Parliament on the own resources topic with an aim to finding an equitable, simple and transparent solution would need to be done in close cooperation with the parliaments of the Member States because it was them, that in the end, would need to agree on any proposal made.
This was why the own resources topic was put on the agenda of the June 2005 meeting of the EP Committee on Budgets with the national parliaments' budget committees.
This was why the own resources topic was put on the agenda of the June 2005 meeting of the EP Committee on Budgets with the national parliaments' budget committees.
The positive reaction of the representatives of the national parliaments to having the own resources item on the agenda and the interesting and open discussions led on this occasion encouraged your rapporteur to proceed in this direction.
The positive reaction of the representatives of the national parliaments to having the own resources item on the agenda and the interesting and open discussions led on this occasion encouraged your rapporteur to proceed in this direction.
In November 2005, a questionnaire drafted by the rapporteur was sent to all budget committees of the national parliaments.
In November 2005, a questionnaire drafted by the rapporteur was sent to all budget committees of the national parliaments.
The objective of this questionnaire was to begin to explore whether some central basic principles for a reform of the own resources system could be established which could be supported by the European Parliament and a representative majority of the parliaments of the Member States ("old" and "new" ones, "net-payers" and "net-contributors", Southern and Northern ones, etc.).
The objective of this questionnaire was to begin to explore whether some central basic principles for a reform of the own resources system could be established which could be supported by the European Parliament and a representative majority of the parliaments of the Member States ("old" and "new" ones, "net-payers" and "net-contributors", Southern and Northern ones, etc.).
The reactions to this questionnaire were manifold: Some parliaments, for one reason or another, chose not to reply at all, some parliaments replied in writing and some parliaments invited the rapporteur for a personal exchange of views.
The reactions to this questionnaire were manifold: Some parliaments, for one reason or another, chose not to reply at all, some parliaments replied in writing and some parliaments invited the rapporteur for a personal exchange of views.
So far, the rapporteur has been given the opportunity to speak to the budget committees, or their representatives, of Luxembourg, Portugal, Finland, France, Germany, Spain, Belgium and Hungary.
So far, the rapporteur has been given the opportunity to speak to the budget committees, or their representatives, of Luxembourg, Portugal, Finland, France, Germany, Spain, Belgium and Hungary.
In analysing the written replies to the questionnaire as well as the results of the bilateral meetings, some general points of possible agreement have slowly begun to emerge.
In analysing the written replies to the questionnaire as well as the results of the bilateral meetings, some general points of possible agreement have slowly begun to emerge.
These were further developed by the Working Group on Own Resources of the Interparliamentary meeting of 8 – 9 May 2006, jointly organised by the European Parliament and the Austrian Parliament in Brussels.
These were further developed by the Working Group on Own Resources of the Interparliamentary meeting of 8 – 9 May 2006, jointly organised by the European Parliament and the Austrian Parliament in Brussels.
Many participants of this meeting considered the idea of supporting a future informal working group of parliamentarians to feed suggestions into the review planned for 2008 / 2009 as a good way to ensure that parliaments were fully involved in the process
Many participants of this meeting considered the idea of supporting a future informal working group of parliamentarians to feed suggestions into the review planned for 2008 / 2009 as a good way to ensure that parliaments were fully involved in the process
Summary of Working Group 4 as presented to the plenary of the JPM on 9 May 2006 .
Summary of Working Group 4 as presented to the plenary of the JPM on 9 May 2006 .
This positive assessment on establishing a working group was also shared by the participants of the annual meeting between the chairs of the national parliaments' committees on budget and the EP's Committee on Budgets which took place on 21 June 2006 in Brussels and which provided an excellent opportunity for another round of talks.
This positive assessment on establishing a working group was also shared by the participants of the annual meeting between the chairs of the national parliaments' committees on budget and the EP's Committee on Budgets which took place on 21 June 2006 in Brussels and which provided an excellent opportunity for another round of talks.
In your rapporteur's view, the next Joint Parliamentary Meeting of 4 - 5 December 2006 will offer the opportunity to promote the involvement of the European Parliament and the national parliaments in the review process and steer the dialogue into a more structured phase.
In your rapporteur's view, the next Joint Parliamentary Meeting of 4 - 5 December 2006 will offer the opportunity to promote the involvement of the European Parliament and the national parliaments in the review process and steer the dialogue into a more structured phase.
"The future financing of the Union" will again be the topic of one Working Group.
"The future financing of the Union" will again be the topic of one Working Group.
Interesting and productive discussions on the basis of the work already done jointly will certainly follow.
Interesting and productive discussions on the basis of the work already done jointly will certainly follow.
If parliamentary contacts, be they on a multilateral or bilateral level, continue in the spirit of mutual trust and openness they have started in, your rapporteur is convinced that some common understanding on basic principles how the own resources system of the future should look like could be achieved between the European Parliament and the parliaments of the Member States.
If parliamentary contacts, be they on a multilateral or bilateral level, continue in the spirit of mutual trust and openness they have started in, your rapporteur is convinced that some common understanding on basic principles how the own resources system of the future should look like could be achieved between the European Parliament and the parliaments of the Member States.
Own initiative report on the future of the EU's own resources
Own initiative report on the future of the EU's own resources
Your rapporteur intends to include the results of the work conducted jointly by the national parliaments and the European Parliament in his own initiative report on the future of the EU's own resources, to be debated and voted in plenary in spring of 2007.
Your rapporteur intends to include the results of the work conducted jointly by the national parliaments and the European Parliament in his own initiative report on the future of the EU's own resources, to be debated and voted in plenary in spring of 2007.
This report could then provide some common guidelines for the Commission's review work, thus giving a clear signal to the Heads of State and government of what their parliaments' concepts for the future may be.
This report could then provide some common guidelines for the Commission's review work, thus giving a clear signal to the Heads of State and government of what their parliaments' concepts for the future may be.
Basic principles for any new system
Basic principles for any new system
With the Schreyer proposals of 2004 as a starting point and the study on own resources commissioned by Parliament in 2005
With the Schreyer proposals of 2004 as a starting point and the study on own resources commissioned by Parliament in 2005
Study Group for European Policies (SEP), 30 June 2005: Own resources: Evolution of the system in a EU of 25.
Study Group for European Policies (SEP), 30 June 2005: Own resources: Evolution of the system in a EU of 25.
Study for the European Parliament . as some further food for thought, your rapporteur, in his numerous discussions with representatives of the national parliaments, would hope for a consensus emerging on the following cornerstones for a reform:
Study for the European Parliament . as some further food for thought, your rapporteur, in his numerous discussions with representatives of the national parliaments, would hope for a consensus emerging on the following cornerstones for a reform:
· Full respect of the fiscal sovereignty of the Member States
· Full respect of the fiscal sovereignty of the Member States
Under no circumstances shall a new system grant the European Union the right to levy taxes.
Under no circumstances shall a new system grant the European Union the right to levy taxes.
Fiscal sovereignty will remain with the Member States alone who might authorise the Union for a limited period of time to directly benefit from a certain share of a tax.
Fiscal sovereignty will remain with the Member States alone who might authorise the Union for a limited period of time to directly benefit from a certain share of a tax.
This decision by the Member States can be revoked at any time.
This decision by the Member States can be revoked at any time.
· Fiscal neutrality
· Fiscal neutrality
All other things equal, the transfer of a policy to the European level must not increase overall public expenditure nor the tax burden for the citizens.
All other things equal, the transfer of a policy to the European level must not increase overall public expenditure nor the tax burden for the citizens.
Should a new system directly allocate part of a tax to the European Union, an equivalent reduction will have to take place elsewhere.
Should a new system directly allocate part of a tax to the European Union, an equivalent reduction will have to take place elsewhere.
· No changes to the order of magnitude of the EU budget
· No changes to the order of magnitude of the EU budget
The ceiling of 1,24% of GNI will be taken for granted.
The ceiling of 1,24% of GNI will be taken for granted.
Reforming the own resources of the Union shall not result in any increase in the level of magnitude of the budget, which is a different issue.
Reforming the own resources of the Union shall not result in any increase in the level of magnitude of the budget, which is a different issue.
· Progressive phasing-in of the new system
· Progressive phasing-in of the new system
Transition periods for a gradual introduction of the new system have to be foreseen.
Transition periods for a gradual introduction of the new system have to be foreseen.
If political agreement could be achieved, a first phase of the reform could start from 2009.
If political agreement could be achieved, a first phase of the reform could start from 2009.
While keeping the system of national contributions as such, it could be modified to become more simple, transparent and absolutely in proportion with the relative wealth of each Member State.
While keeping the system of national contributions as such, it could be modified to become more simple, transparent and absolutely in proportion with the relative wealth of each Member State.
· Establishment of a clear political link between a reform of revenue and a reform of expenditure
· Establishment of a clear political link between a reform of revenue and a reform of expenditure
A reform of the structure of EU revenue and a reform of the structure of EU expenditure have to go hand in hand, as foreseen in Declaration 3 of the new Interinstitutional agreement.
A reform of the structure of EU revenue and a reform of the structure of EU expenditure have to go hand in hand, as foreseen in Declaration 3 of the new Interinstitutional agreement.
Changing from a system of Member States’ contributions to a system of genuine own resources directly allocated to the Union will also free EU expenditure from having to comply with any “I want my money back!” requirements.
Changing from a system of Member States’ contributions to a system of genuine own resources directly allocated to the Union will also free EU expenditure from having to comply with any “I want my money back!” requirements.
Further considerations
Further considerations
While it is clear to your rapporteur that the time for a genuine European tax has not yet come,
While it is clear to your rapporteur that the time for a genuine European tax has not yet come,
in the long term, the possibility of returning to a system as originally intended by the Treaty of Rome should be considered.
in the long term, the possibility of returning to a system as originally intended by the Treaty of Rome should be considered.
The burden on national treasuries of contributing to EU finances could be reduced by directly attributing to the European Union a fiscal resource, decided upon within a national framework but closely linked to community activities.
The burden on national treasuries of contributing to EU finances could be reduced by directly attributing to the European Union a fiscal resource, decided upon within a national framework but closely linked to community activities.
Such a second phase could be progressively introduced from 2014.
Such a second phase could be progressively introduced from 2014.
In order to have up-to-date reliable data to explore concrete possibilities for future components of EU revenue, your rapporteur is also looking forward to the results of a study commissioned by the European Parliament in October 2006 which will focus on some taxes that might be candidates for a new Own resources system.
In order to have up-to-date reliable data to explore concrete possibilities for future components of EU revenue, your rapporteur is also looking forward to the results of a study commissioned by the European Parliament in October 2006 which will focus on some taxes that might be candidates for a new Own resources system.
To clearly establish the political choices available, the Commission could also be invited to present a detailed account of the advantages and disadvantages of existing national taxes that could be used for this purpose while fully respecting the basic principles as listed above.
To clearly establish the political choices available, the Commission could also be invited to present a detailed account of the advantages and disadvantages of existing national taxes that could be used for this purpose while fully respecting the basic principles as listed above.