Time to Act : A European Financial Transaction Tax is Workable!

Stephan Schulmeister, one of the most renowned experts on financial sector taxation, presents his highly anticipated new study for the Austrian Chamber of Labour and the Austrian Trade Union Federation.

He clearly illustrates the technical practicability and virtually effortless implementation of a European FTT.

The GB Europabro, the Brussels office of the Austrian Trade Union Federation, and AK Europa, the Brussels office of the Austrian Federal Chamber of Labour, would like to cordially invite you to this panel discussion.

The call for a European Financial Transaction Tax (FTT) is more urgent than ever: speculations on the financial markets reach pre-crisis highs, while anti-social austerity measures and budget cuts target workers throughout the EU. The European Parliament answered the call of several thousands of EU citizens by voting in favour of the introduction of a European FTT. Yet, the European Commission still remains silent. The opponents of an EU-wide tax on speculation repeatedly claim that such a tax would not be feasible and would provoke massive capital flight to other world regions.

We say: A European FTT is workable!

It is now up to Governments in the European Council on 24 June to send a clear signal the European Commission cannot ignore.

Presentation of the study:

Stephan Schulmeister, Economist, Austrian Institute of Economic Research (WIFO)

Panel discussion

Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, President of the Party of the European Socialists (PES)

Sabine Oberhauser, Vice-President of the Austrian Trade Union Federation (GB)

Patrick Itschert, Deputy General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC)

Sven Giegold, MEP, European Green Party (EGP)

Otto Farny, Head of the Tax Policy Department, Austrian Chamber of Labour (AK)

Moderation:
Bernhard Gaul, Kurier

The panel discussion will be held in English. Following the discussion, we kindly invite you to join us for a buffet dinner.

Please register until 21 June 2011 using one of the following links:

Yes, I would like to participate

No, unfortunately I cannot participate

22 June is the Day of Action for a European Financial Transaction Tax. A broad coalition of organizations has been advocating the FTT, by petitioning the European Parliament and by encouraging a broad participation of civil society during the consultation period of the European Commission.