Il-Ministru tal-Finanzi Edward Scicluna tkellem dwar l-isfidi li jħabbtu wiċċhom magħhom il-pajjiżi żgħar li qed jiżviluppaw huma u jistinkaw biex jibqgħu kompetittivi globalment filwaqt li jiżguraw li jibqgħu konformi mal-istandards dinjin ġodda fir-rigward tat-tassazzjoni.
Il-Ministru kien qed jindirizza l-aħħar seduta tal-5th Westminster Workshop, li saret fis-sala plenarja tal-Parlament il-Ħamis. Il-workshop laqqa’ flimkien 30 parteċipant fosthom presidenti, membri u skrivani tal-Kumitati dwar il-Kontijiet Pubbliċi minn diversi pajjiżi membri tal-Commonwealth. Il-workshop iltaqa’ Malta matul din il-ġimgħa u ġie koorganizzat mill-Parlament Malti.
STQARRIJA GĦALL-ISTAMPA MILL-MINISTERU TAL-FINANZI
Il-Ministru Scicluna ta ħarsa lejn l-iżviluppi li jmorru lura lejn nofs is-snin disgħin, fir-rigward tal-ġlieda globali kontra l-kompetizzjoni dannuża fil-qasam tat-taxxa, is-segretezza bankarja, u l-ħasil tal-flus. Huwa identifika l-kisbiet li saru s’issa kemm fl-UE kif ukoll barra minnha permezz tal-inizjattivi tal-Organizzazzjoni għall-Koperazzjoni u l-Iżvilupp Ekonomiku (l-OECD).
Filwaqt li uża l-esperjenza ta’ Malta biex jagħti eżempju, huwa appella lid-deputati parlamentari sħabu mill-pajjiżi tal-Commonwealth biex jintebħu bis-sinjal ta’ twissija kmieni biżżejjed sabiex iħejju ruħhom għall-bidliet meħtieġa fil-prattiċi regolatorji u s-sistemi fiskali tagħhom, jekk dan ikun il-każ. Huwa qal ukoll li l-pajjiżi ż-żgħar għandhom jikkoperaw u jitkellmu bejniethom dwar dawn il-kwistjonijiet sabiex jiżguraw li r-riformi ma jkunux ta’ dannu għall-iżvilupp ekonomiku bona-fide.
Filwaqt li wieħed ma jistax ma jaqbilx mal-prinċipji tat-trasparenza u tal-iskambju tal-informazzjoni fiskali sabiex jiġu miġġielda l-frodi fiskali u l-ħasil tal-flus, il-pajjiżi li qed jiżviluppaw għandhom jibqgħu ħielsa li jiddeċiedu dwar il-livell tar-rati tat-taxxi f’pajjiżhom stess, qal il-Prof. Scicluna.
Is-seduta ġiet indirizzata wkoll minn Caroline Malcolm, Konsulent tad-Direttur u Deputat Direttur taċ-Ċentru tal-Politika u Amministrazzjoni Fiskali tal-OECD.
Finance Minister addresses Commonwealth PAC Representatives
Minister for Finance Edward Scicluna spoke about the challenges faced by small, developing countries in their bid to remain globally competitive whilst ensuring compliance with the new global standards regarding taxation.
The Minister was addressing the last session of the 5th Westminster Workshop convening at the Parliament’s plenary hall on Thursday. The Workshop brought together 30 participants including Chairs, members and clerks of the Public Account Committees from various member countries of the Commonwealth. The Workshop was held in Malta during the past week and was co-organised by the Maltese Parliament.
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE MINISTRY FOR FINANCE
Minister Scicluna reviewed the developments dating back to the mid-1990s with regards to the global attack against harmful tax competition, bank secrecy, and money laundering. He delineated the accomplishments to date both within the EU and outside it through the initiatives of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Using Malta’s experience as an example, he pleaded with fellow MPs from other Commonwealth countries to see the writing on the wall at an early stage in order to prepare themselves for the needed changes in their regulatory practices and tax regimes if required. The Finance Minister also asked that small countries should co-operate and discuss together these issues to ensure that the reforms do not hurt bona-fide economic development.
While one cannot but agree with the principles of transparency and exchange of fiscal information to combat fiscal fraud and money-laundering, developing countries should remain free to decide on the level of tax rates in their own country, said Prof. Scicluna.
The session was also addressed by Caroline Malcolm, Counsellor to the Director & Deputy Director of the Centre for Tax Policy & Administration at the OECD.
– Friday, 5th May, 2015
