Επιτροπή Αλήθειας Δημοσίου Χρέους

 

The Financial Transactions
Tax (FTT)  

– the Time is Now

 

Chancellor Werner Faymann, AUSTRIA

Prime Minister Charles Michel, BELGIUM

President Francois Hollande, FRANCE

Chancellor Angela Merkel, GERMANY

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, GREECE

Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, ITALY

Prime Minister António Costa, PORTUGAL

President Andrej Kiska, SLOVAKIA

President of the Government Miro Cherar, SLOVENIA

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, SPAIN

 

 

The Financial Transactions Tax (FTT)  – the Time is Now

 

We, the undersigned, coalitions of civil society organisations and trade unions representing many millions of European citizens, acknowledge your combined efforts over 5 years to agree an international FTT. 

 

In the wake of the leaks of the Panama Papers, efforts to clean up the financial sector must be accelerated, and the FTT is an important element of Europe’s approach to this problem.  In addition to raising substantial revenue to protect jobs and public services in Europe, and help combat poverty, pandemics and climate change in the wider world, the FTT would provide tax authorities with a clearer picture of the ownership of financial assets, helping in the fight against fraud and other crimes.  Furthermore, the FTT raises revenue from precisely those institutions doing so much to enable the use of tax havens: the big banks.

 

The stage is set for an historic announcement in June.  The FTT is hugely popular with the general public, and you have a clear opportunity to put the welfare of Europe’s citizens – and indeed of the poorest around the world – ahead of the interests of the financial sector. 

 

Our message to you is that the Time is Now for the FTT. 

 

The technical analysis has been completed, what is now required is political agreement.  We were profoundly disappointed that you were unable to reach a resolution by last year’s December deadline. The fruits of your endeavours must be realised in June, the new deadline that you have committed to.  Agreement would be greeted as a remarkable step forward that sets the lead for other countries to follow. Any further delay would be deeply unpopular.

 

Make history, make the FTT happen now!