EU To Undertake Coordinated Tax Evasion Clampdown

by Ulrika Lomas, Tax-News.com, Brussels

04 November 2002

Following the adoption of the 'Fiscalis 2007' programme late last month, the European Union has announced that some 44 million euros will be provided to finance a multilateral crackdown on organised tax evasion.

Separate from the EU's savings tax directive, the Fiscalis 2007 initiative aims to maintain and increase information exchange between member states, and to extend the possibility of multilateral controls to direct taxation. It also provides for common training programmes for tax officials from EU member states, and recommends increasing the number of exchange programmes and multinational taxation seminars currently available.

Speaking following the adoption of Fiscalis 2007, EU Taxation Commissioner, Frits Bolkestein commented that: 'I am very pleased that the European Parliament and the Council have agreed on the adoption of the proposal so quickly and before the expiry of the current Fiscalis programme.'

'More intensive cooperation between member states as well as with candidate countries is necessary to combat the tax fraud which damages both EU and national financial interests and Fiscalis 2003-2007 will provide the tools for such cooperation.'

Recommended