Entrepreneurs say reform measures would harm small businesses
Published:
5 December 2003 y., Friday
Though President Vaclav Klaus' vetoes of a pair of finance reform bills late in November caused a stir in Czech political circles (See story, page A10), they were hailed by another influential group - this country's entrepreneurs and businesspeople.
"We welcome the move," said Pavel Bernasek, vice-chairman of Prague-based exporter Ecimex Group. "The state shouldn't support the failing health care system by taxing employers."
One bill vetoed by Klaus mandates higher health insurance payments by employers.
The Czech Chamber of Commerce has warned that public-finance reform will mainly weaken small businesses, a group that is endangered by the looming European Union entry. The Czech state is heading down a bumpy road with its tax policy, critics say.
The government is looking to reduce the deficit this year and not in the years to come, said American Chamber of Commerce President Weston Stacey, calling the reform short-sighted.
Compared to its neighbors, the Czech Republic has a relatively high corporate tax rate. All candidate countries intend to lower their rates. Slovakia's government recently approved a flat rate of 19 percent, to take effect next year. A proposal in Hungary aims to slash corporate tax from the current 18 percent to 16 percent. Meanwhile, the Czech government is discussing a gradual push downward from 31 percent to 24 percent by 2006.
Šaltinis:
praguepost.com
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.
The most popular articles
Today, the Commission published a Communication which outlines the most serious tax problems that EU citizens face in cross-border situations and announces plans for solutions.
more »
The European Commission has opened a formal investigation under EU state aid rules to examine a number of support measures, including several capital injections and shareholder loans, that the Hungarian authorities granted to Malév-Hungarian Airlines in the context of its privatisation and subsequent renationalisation.
more »
Internet and lax customs enforcement drive growth of 600 billion US dollar counterfeit goods industry.
more »
350 million people rose out of poverty in the past decade, but 1.4 billion are still extremely poor, says the latest report into rural poverty.
more »
New plan sets out action to reach 75% employment target for the EU by 2020.
more »
Research Ministers of the EU Member States and Associated Countries, together with the European Commission, are announcing in Brussels today three new pan–European energy research infrastructures.
more »
Algirdas Šemeta, Commissioner for Taxation, Customs, Audit and Anti-fraud, is visiting Moscow today to discuss ways in which customs cooperation between the EU and Russia can be reinforced.
more »
Following on from Monday's debate with ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet, MEPs on Tuesday adopted a resolution, by a show of hands, gauging the ECB's performance in 2009 and suggesting actions to be taken in view of the economic situation.
more »
The European Parliament today approved €10.5 million in European Globalisation Adjustment Fund aid to over 3,000 people in the Netherlands who lost their printing and publishing sector jobs last year, due to the economic crisis.
more »
A diamond-studded gold coin engraved with a picture of the Taj Mahal and worth 100,000 euros is unveiled at the Paris mint.
more »