S&Ds campaign for fairer and more gender sensitive taxation
Date
15 Jan 2019
Sections
Social Europe & Jobs
The European Parliament today adopted a report on gender equality and taxation. Tax policies still affect men and women differently. Although conservatives and liberals tried to water down the report and opposed important reforms of the current tax systems which would contribute to greater gender equality in wealth and on the labour market, its progressive and feminist policy proposals make the report a milestone in the S&D Group's campaign to have fairer and more gender sensitive taxation.
S&D Group spokesperson the economic and monetary affairs, Pervenche Berès, said:
“Taxation systems are often biased against women, this issue needs to be considered in the making of tax policies. Joint taxation, for instance, can have an impact on encouraging women’s employment and economic independence. We invite member states to progressively introduce individual taxation systems, while ensuring that all financial and other benefits linked to parenthood in current joint taxation systems are fully preserved."
Mary Honeyball, S&D MEP and spokesperson on this report, stated:
“It is outrageous that female hygienic products are still not considered as basic products in all member states. We call on all EU countries to eliminate the so-called ‘tampon tax’ by applying a 0% VAT rate to these essential goods. We are proud that we managed to outvote the conservatives on the tampon tax."