Is the European Commission’s Tax Omnibus Proposal a Step in the Right Direction?
The European Commission’s new Tax Omnibus proposal marks a notable step towards improving the simplicity and competitiveness of the EU Single Market.
8 min read
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Testimony: Are Digital Services Taxes a Viable Solution for the EU Budget?
Digital services taxes address a real concern—the need to adapt taxation to the digital economy—but they are not the right solution. They raise limited revenue, are often passed on to consumers rather than large digital firms, create economic distortions, increase complexity and compliance costs, negatively impact innovation and competitiveness, and risk international retaliation.
Are Digital Services Taxes a Viable Solution for the EU Budget?
Since digital services taxes generate little revenue, place the cost on European consumers and not on large digital companies as intended, and risk escalating trade disputes, policymakers should rethink their strategy.
14 min read
What Europe’s UN Tax Turn Means for Multinationals
Europe’s turn toward the UN is ultimately not a sign that governments are ready to resolve fundamental disputes over taxing rights. If anything, international cooperation on the goal that matters most—fair treatment of cross-border trade—is crumbling.
Without Reform, the EU Cannot Afford New Taxes
Currently, the European Commission has plans to generate more tax revenue to fund the forthcoming MFF, the long-term budget running from 2028 to 2034. But the truth is, without serious reform, the EU isn’t ready for new taxation.
New Taxes on Nicotine Pouches in the EU Could Hamper Health Goals
Academic research has continually found that making alternative nicotine products to cigarettes more expensive results in fewer smokers switching to less harmful products.
7 min read
How Well Do Carbon Taxes Match Their Promise? Evidence from 2023
The carbon tax is often considered the ideal climate policy. However, existing carbon taxes do not match the ideal theoretical policy. More than two dozen carbon taxes exist in the world today, and they vary widely in terms of design.
61 min read
Windfall Profits Taxes on Oil and Gas Should Be Left in the Past
Windfall taxes, particularly those imposed on the oil and gas industry, often appear as a quick fix for governments seeking to raise revenue during periods of high commodity prices. However, while these taxes may offer short-term revenues, they can also trigger negative consequences that undermine their intended purpose.
21 min read
Recommendations to the European Commission: A Framework for Tax Simplification
A focus on sustained growth, meaningful metrics, and institutional capabilities that keep simplification a focus in future regulatory efforts should underpin the decluttering agenda.
8 min read
VAT Rates in Europe, 2026
More than 175 countries worldwide—including all major European countries—levy a value-added tax (VAT) on goods and services. EU Member States’ VAT rates vary across countries, though they’re somewhat harmonized by the EU.
5 min read
Windfall Profits Taxes in Europe, 2025
As energy prices have declined, European countries have switched the focus of their windfall profits taxes—a one-time tax levied on a company or industry when economic conditions result in large, unexpected profits—from energy providers to the banking and financial sector.
6 min read
Fiscal Forum: Future of the EU Tax Mix with Dr. Irma Mosquera Valderrama
Sean Bray interviews Dr. Irma Mosquera Valderrama, Full Professor of Tax Governance at Leiden Law School (Leiden University) and EU Jean Monnet Chair Holder on EU Tax Governance about the EU tax mix.
24 min read
The Latest on the Global Tax Agreement
The agreement represents a major change for tax competition as well, and many countries will rethink their tax policies for multinationals. However, the US will continue to chart its own course, and other countries may prefer to do the same, depending on the final outcome of the G7 statement.
8 min read
The EU Budget’s CORE Is Rotten
The European Commission proposed new budget options for 2028 to 2034. It is worth zooming in on one new proposal for revenues that would support EU-level spending. The “Corporate Resource for Europe,” or CORE, provides a good opportunity to think through how best to raise revenue for the EU budget.
5 min read
Fiscal Forum: Future of the EU Tax Mix with Dr. Michele Chang
Sean Bray interviews Dr. Michele Chang, Director of the Masters in Transatlantic Affairs and Professor of European Political Governance at the College of Europe, about the future of the EU tax mix.
12 min read
Fiscal Forum: Future of the EU Tax Mix with Dr. Monika Köppl-Turyna
Tax Foundation Europe’s Sean Bray interviews Dr. Monika Köppl-Turyna, director of the EcoAustria Institute for Economic Research, about the future of the EU tax mix.
14 min read
Fiscal Forum: Future of the EU Tax Mix with Dr. Stefanie Geringer
Tax Foundation Europe’s Sean Bray had the opportunity to interview Dr. Stefanie Geringer, a postdoctoral researcher at the Faculty of Law at the University of Vienna and Masaryk University Brno, a certified tax advisor and manager of tax at BDO Austria, about the future of the EU tax mix.
14 min read
Fiscal Forum: Future of the EU Tax Mix with Dr. Dominika Langenmayr
Tax Foundation Europe’s Sean Bray had the opportunity to interview Dr. Dominika Langenmayr, Professor of Economics at Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, about the future of the EU tax mix.
15 min read
Fiscal Forum: Future of the EU Tax Mix with Dr. Christoph Spengel
Tax Foundation Europe’s Sean Bray had the opportunity to interview Professor of International Taxation at the University of Mannheim Business School, Christoph Spengel, about the future of the EU tax mix.
15 min read
The Future of EU Tobacco Taxation: Insights from Member States and Best Practices for the Next Tobacco Excise Tax Directive
An update to the EU’s Excise Tax Directive that embraces harm reduction principles would save lives and provide a steady stream of revenue to support public health expenditures.
22 min read