The EU's Budgetary Control Committee interviewed Algirdas Šemeta, Commissioner designate in charge of Taxation and Customs Union, Audit and Anti-Fraud on Tuesday 12 January as part of the EU Parliament's ratification process. Mr Semeta already provided written answers on several topics, including what he sees as his priorities as Commissioner.

When asked what his three main priorities would be, Mr Šemeta commented that:

• “Under my responsibility, taxation will focus on promoting the proper functioning of the Internal Market and helping Member States to protect their national tax bases, in particular by fighting tax evasion Existing tax obstacles – such as double taxation – need to be identified and eliminated I will promote the development of a new ‘green’ taxation framework.”

He was then asked for specific initiatives, in which he mentions:

• Modernising energy taxation policy by proposing to revise the Energy Taxation Directive with a CO₂ tax element
• Measures to improve the VAT system
• Closing loopholes in the Savings Directive
• Enhancing the EU action towards third countries and tax havens
• Pushing for substantial improvement of tax cooperation between the Member States' administrations
• Exploring the feasibility of an internationally coordinated tax on financial transactions and other possible sources of innovative financing
• Improving the efficiency of excise taxation, and the reduction of compliance costs – “I believe we need to take a fresh look at the option of a Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base”.

Mr Šemeta is a former Minister for Finance in his native country, Lithuania.