Author Description

In its report "Financing the European Union" (COM 2004, 505 final) the European Commission proposed the introduction of an EU Tax as own resource. According to the Commission the adoption of a tax at EU level would make it possible to overcome the main drawbacks of the current own resources system, i.e the absence of a direct link to EU citizens, dependence on transfers from national treasuries, allocation of economic resources and unjustified complexity. The book discusses whether the present legal framework of the EC provides a sufficient legal basis for an EU Tax or if an amendment of the treaty is necessary. Moreover, it takes a closer look at the compatibility of an EU Tax with the financial systems of the member states and its administrative handling.