Convergence of tax systems in the European Community

<p>The Institute for Fiscal Studies has earned for itself a high reputation for intellectual excellence, a quality which I am sure will be much in evidence during this symposium. As the Member of the European Commission responsible for taxation, I welcome this opportunity to take part in your discussions and hope I can bring to them something unique: the experience of someone working at the frontiers of taxation technology, attempting something that has never been done before, namely the design and realisation of a common European tax system.</p>