A new Tax Policy Group which brings together personal representatives of EU Finance Ministers to discuss key tax policy issues held its first meeting last month. Ireland's representatives were Mr Michael O'Grady, Revenue Commissioner and Mr Derek Moran, Head of Taxation with the Department of Finance. The Group will work on fundamental topics such as how taxation can contribute to a stronger Internal Market, to the growth and competitiveness of Europe's economy and to a “greener” economy. It will also serve as a forum for deeper discussion on priority matters, such as financial sector taxation, common consolidated corporate tax base and the new VAT Strategy.

EU Commissioner Algirdas Šemeta said: “Fiscal coordination is essential if the EU is to re-build a strong and robust economy. The Tax Policy Group will be a very important tool in ensuring that member states’ tax policies complement, rather than contradict each other, and that the right measures are taken at EU level to promote growth and prosperity.”

The agenda for the first meeting included a review of how to address obstacles and bottlenecks in areas such as corporate taxation, consumption taxes and environmental taxation.

At the request of the ECOFIN Council at the end of September, the Tax Policy Group will also focus on the issue of financial sector taxation, taking into account the Commission's recent policy orientations in this area.

Commissioner Šemeta's earliest encounters with Irish tax policy concerns include his meeting with Chartered Accountants Ireland on 5 May last.

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