Leading MEPs propose VAT, carbon tariff for EU budget

Three prominent MEPs proposed to completely revise the structure of the EU budget, on 6 April 2011, replacing national contributions with the EU's own resources, primarily through a 'carbon tariff' on imported products and a value-added tax.

Proponents included the chair of the European Parliament's budget committee, Alain Lamassoure (European People's Party; France), the head of the liberal group, Guy Verhofstadt (Belgium), and the chair of the special committee for the post-2013 budget, Jutta Haug (Socialists & Democrats; Germany).

Their objective is to support the idea of a European budget, included in the EU treaties, which for the most part would not be based on contributions from the member states.

• Primary Source

CEPS: Europe for Growth: For a Radical Change in Financing the EU http://www.ceps.eu/book/europe-growth-radical-change-financing-eu

ESO: Background information: MEPs opt to keep their business class flights http://www.europeansources.info/record/meps-opt-to-keep-their-business-class-flights/

EUObserver, 14.4.11: France rejects EU-wide VAT proposal http://euobserver.com/9/32182

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