Sophie Pornschlegel Profile picture
Sep 27, 2020 10 tweets 4 min read Read on X
A relatively niche but crucial area in which EU really need to create a common framework: TAXES. I have experienced first-hand how incredibly old-school and uncoordinated European tax regimes are - and how utterly contradictory it is with freedom of movement. A thread. /1
Everyone knows, there are no common tax rules in the EU (beware, it's nat. sovereignty!) This means that despite freedom of movement, it is difficult to understand under which tax regime one falls, e.g. when someone has different incomes from two different EU member states. /2
An example: Belgium and Germany have signed a tax treaty in 1967 (!), which has been slightly amended still - but most of the treaty still remains valid until now. No need to mention that the labour market, jobs and work environments have *slightly* changed since then. /3
That means that the treaty does not include a vast number of jobs and remunerations, which then are treated as case-by-case decisions by the tax authorities - once you know under which tax regime you fall. And many EU MS do not even have bilateral treaties. /4
This creates high legal uncertainty - which is already not the strengths of some EU member states (Germany, I'm looking at you with "Gemeinnützigkeit" and scholarships). Especially for SMEs & self-employed people, this creates huge burdens. /5
When one is not a multinational corporation, this means that you need the time, money and/or the expertise to understand HOW and IF you need to pay taxes. Not to mention the uncertainty. That is everything but citizen- and SME-friendly, and definitely not "European" in spirit. /6
While goods & services travel freely within the SM, citizens cannot enjoy their freedom of movement fully - because besides COVID-19 travel restrictions, those burdens make mobility more of a headache than anything else. /7
This is without mentioning the headache it is to move countries within the EU - health insurance, social security & pensions are all national, and thus you need to change everything once you decide to move. Ok, we don't need visas, but that's about it. /8
W/ more remote work, bi-national families & relationships; a generation of Europeans that have never known borders: Isn't it about time to coordinate tax regimes, make moving to a different country as easy as w/in a MS & create the conditions for a "Europe of citizens"?/9
Looking at you, @BMF_Bund @SPFFinances @dgfip_officiel @OlafScholz @alexanderdecroo @BrunoLeMaire @ThierryBreton @PaoloGentiloni. As I am not a tax expert, happy to get feedback & additions to this hugely important topic! /10

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More from @spornschlegel

Jan 23, 2023
Yesterday in true Franco-German fashion, the two countries celebrated 60 years of Elysée Treaty. If I haven't posted anything about it, it's because as a Franco-German myself, I'm truly disappointed with how the relation is going - for years now. Let me tell you why. /1
I've had enough of "dialogue formats" and "cultural encounters". The reality is: The political relationship is strained at best; citizens couldn't care less about their neighbours; there is little funding available for cooperation; less and less people learn the language. /2
The civil society sector is heavily status-quo oriented, & anyone who wants to improve things in the slightest is sidelined. There are signs of hope though, with some 'younger' people doing great work - but it remains rather limited./3
Read 10 tweets
Aug 29, 2022
After today's meeting marathon, interviews on the Scholz speech & email galore, I guess it's back to business in Brussels!
This GIF shows how it feels to work on EU politics at the moment, but I'm looking forward to working on a bunch of great projects in the coming months. 👇/1
Very much looking forward to welcoming @ThinkTank_Lab in Brussels next week - besides giving a short input on "how to EU policy analysis", my colleague @FilipeALampe is organising an event on #diversity in EU policymaking with @CnctingEurope that I think is hugely important. /2
The @epc_eu also partnered up for the 'European Think Tank Conference' in October in Berlin to promote the exchange between European think tankers and discuss sector-specific issues. Stay tuned for a great programme! @dgapev dgap.org/en/events/save… /3
Read 9 tweets
Aug 29, 2022
As a think tanker, there is a fine balance between speaking truth to power (and, for instance, criticising the lack of ambition in view of the challenges we face) and understanding the position of decision-makers, including the need for compromises & other limiting factors. /1
Today was a good example: I was happy to read #Scholz's EU speech & finally have an outline of Germany's EU policy. I get that it could be much worse - the German government fully understands the need for a strong EU and that's a very good premise. /2
I'm also happy to have further details on certain policy fields and to understand where the focus of this government lies. It's also useful to see that certain fields - e.g. industrial policy - have been left out, which also helps define where it could get more difficult. /3
Read 7 tweets
Jun 1, 2022
📖 New publication 📖
It's been almost 100 days since Russia invaded 🇺🇦. In this new paper, @IlkeToygur & I look back at the EU's "modus operandi". We advocate for a more ambitious EU, rather than one that will put unity above everything else./1
epc.eu/en/Publication…
The last #EUCO summit was a wonderful example of how in the EU unity prevails over ambition. After weeks of blockage, we finally have an oil embargo, but only for 75% of Russian oil, and with a temporary exemption for pipeline oil./2
We start on a positive note: Both the COVID-19 pandemic & the Russian invasion revealed that the EU institutions & leaders are capable of managing crises swiftly and decisively. The EU could use this moment of change to increase its ambition & move European integration forward./3
Read 8 tweets
Apr 11, 2022
After yesterday’s 1st round in the 🇫🇷 election, some takeaways on the campaign, results & what to expect next. A relatively long 🧵, as there is a lot to unpack. /1
First, on the results: 1st round shows Macron as frontrunner. But do not interpret this as a safe win for him in the 2nd round. 33% voted for far-right candidates, 26% for far-left, which brings “extreme” vote in France to over 50% in total. This is worrying. (@lemondefr) /2
2nd round will take place on 24.04. Polls vary between 45:55 & 49:51 for Macron, but it very much depends on Mélenchon voters (22% in 1st round). Several candidates (Pécresse, Hidalgo, Jadot) called for a Macron vote - except Eric Zemmour, who endorsed Le Pen. (@franceinfo) /3
Read 15 tweets
Mar 25, 2022
Amid all the hustle and bustle, it's hard to keep track of what actually happened yesterday in Brussels. Here are some takeaways from the diplomatic showdown (NATO, G7, EUCO) including @POTUS attendance & @ZelenskyyUa speeches. A 🧵 /1
First, HR news: @CharlesMichel was re-elected EUCO President for another 2,5 years; @jensstoltenberg's mandate was extended by a year as NATO Secretary-General. /2 politico.eu/article/charle…
Second, NATO news: NATO agreed on 4 new battlegroups on its "Eastern flank". In total, 40,000 soldiers stationed next to the border. More resources will be spent to prevent cyberattacks & to prepare for potential biological & chemical attacks./3 nato.int/cps/en/natohq/…
Read 13 tweets

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