IP/07/318

Brussels, 12 March 2007

Taxation for sustainable development: The European Commission organises the first Brussels Tax Forum on 19-20 March 2007

László Kovács, the Commissioner responsible for Taxation and Customs Union together with the Directorate General is organising the first Brussels Tax Forum on 19-20 March. The topic chosen for the first year is "Taxation for sustainable development". This conference aims to begin a tradition of an annual tax forum that will bring together, in Brussels, policy makers, experts, stakeholders and the general public from all over the world in order to discuss tax issues of particular political and general interest. This first conference will focus on the contribution that taxation can make to sustainable development and how it can promote policy objectives in particular in areas such as environment and energy.

A press briefing (jointly with Mr Kovacs, Mr Dimas, Commissioner responsible for Environment and Mr Steinbrück, Minister of Finance of Germany) will be organised on Monday 19 March 2007 at 15:30 at the VIP corner of the Charlemagne building of the Commission in Brussels (Rue de la Loi, 170 – 1040 Brussels).

Webstreaming of the conference will be available on 19 and 20 March from this web link:

http://ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/kovacs/taxforum/introduction_en.htm

Further information on the Forum as well as the programme can also be found at this web link.