This new measure would not be a big burden for Lithuania’s financial sector, he said adding that the approval of this initiative would show Vilnius’ readiness to pursue closer cooperation within the bloc.
“It is one of the symbols in the EU, which should demonstrate to what extent the Member States are ready to pursue closer cooperation. I think that Lithuania would benefit from as wide as possible participation in cooperation in the EU,” Semeta told the reporters in Brussels on Thursday.
The idea of a financial transaction tax has so far won the support from 11 Member States, including such heavy-weights as Germany, France, Spain and Italy, which want the banking sector to share its responsibility for the economic crisis.
Opposition to the new levy is led by UK, which claims that taxation of financial sector would prompt the investors to relocate to other financial centers.
With the Member States still split on the tax, the proponents of the levy intend to launch a so-called enhanced cooperation procedure, which requires at least nine governments to agree to work together on a proposal.
Lithuania has not yet announced its stance on the initiative and says that it will make its decision after studying a specific proposal.
2012 06 28
EU Commissioner Algirdas Šemeta: financial transactions tax would benefit Lithuania
Lithuania would benefit if it joined the initiative of some European Union (EU) Member States to introduce a tax on financial transactions, Algirdas Šemeta, European Commissioner for Taxation and Customs Union, Audit and Anti-Fraud, has said.
Algirdas Šemeta / Andriaus Ufarto/BFL nuotr.
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