European Trade Union Committee for Education

Tax havens and tax tricks are a major source of revenue loss throughout Europe. Recent scandals like the Panama Papers or the Lux Leaks have further proved the gravity of the issue. The European Commission estimates the loss of tax revenues to around 1 000 billion euros each year within the European Union. In the meantime, the economic crisis has deeply affected public expenditure in Europe, leading to a context of generalised austerity and budget cuts to public services. This has resulted in a substantial loss of resources for essential sectors such as education and public services which has, in turn, led to raise in inequalities all over Europe.

ETUCE is a firm believer in tax justice and responsible tax regulations, and supports the “No to Tax Havens” Campaign. The Campaign is powered by an alliance of 14 organisations, among which the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), other European Trade Union Federations (ETUCE, EPSU, UNI Europa), national trade unions and European and national civil society organisations’ networks, who gathered under the initiative of AK Europe (Austrian Federal Chamber of Labour). The Campaign aims at raising awareness and at reaching EU policy-makers on the need to ensure the implementation of fiscally responsible policies.

To support the European fight against tax evasion, the Campaign “No to Tax Havens” promotes a petition on the taxation of corporations and urges the Prime and Finance Ministers of the EU Member States to use the negotiations on corporate taxation to speak up for tax justices and against tax havens through a public call for support. By completing the on-line form “Sign Now!”, each organisation or individual can become active and send a message to the Ministers demanding to support a EU-wide corporate tax being currently negotiated, the CCCTB – Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base, to divert resources from multinational companies’ unfair profits to job creation, public infrastructure and services, as well as public education.

To know more on the positive impact tax justice would have on the funding of universities, see the video below: