TaxSource Total

Here you can access summary of the key current tax developments in Ireland, the UK and internationally as reported by Chartered Accountants Ireland

The report of key tax developments are displayed per year, per month, by Ireland, the UK or International and by report title

A green, digital and more resilient Europe

In mid-September, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen gave her State of the European Union address where she set out her vision to make Europe become green, digital and more resilient. Key points covered were:

  • Protecting Health: Building a stronger European health union in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak with measures such as:
    • an EU4Health programme;
    • a reinforced European Medicines Agency (EMA);
    • a strengthened European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC); and
    • a new European agency for biomedical advanced research and development (BARDA).
  • Protecting livelihoods:
    • protecting workers by introducing a legal framework for setting minimum wages and protecting businesses from external shocks; and
    • boosting the single market by reinforcing the Economic and Social Union, getting the Schengen area working in full again and updating the EU’s industry strategy and competition framework.
  • Reinforcing the Green Deal:
    • increasing the emissions-reduction target from 40 percent to 55 percent by 2030 to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 and meet Paris Agreement obligations;
    • revising all of the EU’s climate and energy legislation by summer 2021;
    • raising 30 percent of the €750 billion #NextGenerationEU budget through green bonds; and
    • investing 37 percent of that funding in European Green Deal objectives.
  • Leading a Digital Transformation:
    20 percent of NextGenerationEU’s budget will be invested in moves to create a common plan for ‘digital Europe’ with connectivity, skills and digital public services.
  • Deeping Global Relations:
    • revitalising and reforming the multilateral system, including the World Trade Organisation and World Health Organisation;
    • building agreements and relationships with the US, the UK and Africa; and
    • building global agreements on ethical, human rights and environmental issues, and on digital taxation.
  • Deliver a new Pact on Migration, with an approach based on humanity and solidarity.
  • A first annual Rule of Law report covering all Member States.
  • A European anti-racism action plan, with the appointment of an anti-racism coordinator, as well as strengthened racial equality laws.

More on the vision for Europe can be read on the European Commission website.