In Washington to learn about how the United States handles tax competition between its states, the chair of the European Parliament's newly-created Special Committee on Tax Rulings and Other Measures Similar in Nature or Effect (TAXE) spoke exclusively to
Europolitics
.
Why did you come to Washington and who have you seen?
First, to see how can we organise healthy, well-functioning tax competition among member states of the same political community. The US has a century of experience of this.…
Next Parliament president?
As a leading EPP figure, Lamassoure is a prime contender to succeed Martin Schulz as Parliament president in 2017. Asked if he wanted the job, he responded: “It's too early to say. According to the usual practice of Parliament, there will be a change in the presidency mid-term. To assure the political balance, this should be an EPP member. If there had been an EPP president for the first half-term [2014-2017] I would have run. For the second half-term, we will see. I will take a position later this year. For now, I am completely focused on the success of the special committee".