Taxpayers Association of Europe awards the Taxpayer Prize 2005 to:
Ivan Mikloš, Deputy Prime Minister of Slovakia
MEP Dr. Ingo Friedrich, Vice President of the European Parliament
Tax competition and European commitment awarded
The European Taxpayer Award, which is presented by the Taxpayers Association of Europe for the seventh time on 12 July 2005 in Brussels, goes to the Deputy Prime Minister of Slovakia Ivan Mikloš and the Vice President of the European Parliament Dr. Ingo Friedrich MEP.
The aims of the Taxpayers Association of Europe, which was founded in Luxembourg in 1969, are, according to President von Hohenhau, to relieve Europe's citizens from too high taxes, overbearing bureaucracy and to reduce additional new taxes. Moreover, the Taxpayers Association of Europe also fights for simpler and more equitable tax laws and against official waste.
The European Taxpayers Award, which is presented in the form of a bronze sculpture - the European Bull - symbolises the never-ending fight for survival, strength and the ability to assert oneself, but it also symbolises Europe. A Europe that must be open to visions according to the objectives of the Taxpayers Association of Europe, a Europe of regions, citizens and taxpayers and not, on the other hand, a Europe of bureaucracy, regimentation and higher taxes.
The winners correspond to the award's symbolism and intention to a considerable extent.
Deputy Prime Minister Ivan Mikloš is rewarded for Slovakia's courageous reforms in the area of the social system and the labour market as well as the tax system. As a result of the reforms introduced by him, Slovakia is exemplarily prepared for membership of the EU and the challenges of the 21st century. According to the Taxpayers Association of Europe, the reforms create the conditions for more growth, employment and wealth in Slovakia. The Slovakian Republic is a positive European example of how to react to increasing competition, for only competition between tax systems, according to the President of the Taxpayers Association of Europe, von Hohenhau, guarantees lower taxes in the interests of all Europe's citizens. The core of this reform is the restructuring of the Slovak tax system with a uniform tax rate for income, corporation and value-added tax of 19% and the abolition of
inheritance, dividend, asset, property, and gift tax.
The Vice President of the European Parliament Dr. Ingo Friedrich,MEP is rewarded for his excellent, decades-long commitment for the citizens and future of Europe. For him, politics is serving the people. During his 26 years in the European Parliament, he has always been a pioneer of European thought and has been in favour of a European identity. His commitment resulted in the creation of a European consciousness and integration as well as the creation of the "Social Market Economy" in Europe. The European taxpayers give special thanks to him for his vehement commitment against the relaxation of the Growth and Stability Pact and for the stability of and trust in the Euro. This is also the case for the limiting of the EU budget which he praised and supported.
The awards ceremony takes place in Brussels on 12 July 2005 at 7.30 p.m. in Salon Polak, in the Résidence Palace, Rue de la Loi. The welcoming speech will be given by TAE president Rolf von Hohenhau. The speech keynote will be given by the former president of the European Court of Auditors and President of the European Economic Senate, Prof. Dr. Bernhard Friedmann. After the prize-giving, Ivan Mikloš and Dr. Ingo Friedrich will make a speech. The prize-giving is in cooperation with the European Economic Senate (EWS).
Brussels/Munich 12. July 2005
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Ivan Mikloš, Deputy Prime Minister of Slovakia
MEP Dr. Ingo Friedrich, Vice President of the European Parliament
Tax competition and European commitment awarded
The European Taxpayer Award, which is presented by the Taxpayers Association of Europe for the seventh time on 12 July 2005 in Brussels, goes to the Deputy Prime Minister of Slovakia Ivan Mikloš and the Vice President of the European Parliament Dr. Ingo Friedrich MEP.
The aims of the Taxpayers Association of Europe, which was founded in Luxembourg in 1969, are, according to President von Hohenhau, to relieve Europe's citizens from too high taxes, overbearing bureaucracy and to reduce additional new taxes. Moreover, the Taxpayers Association of Europe also fights for simpler and more equitable tax laws and against official waste.
The European Taxpayers Award, which is presented in the form of a bronze sculpture - the European Bull - symbolises the never-ending fight for survival, strength and the ability to assert oneself, but it also symbolises Europe. A Europe that must be open to visions according to the objectives of the Taxpayers Association of Europe, a Europe of regions, citizens and taxpayers and not, on the other hand, a Europe of bureaucracy, regimentation and higher taxes.
The winners correspond to the award's symbolism and intention to a considerable extent.
Deputy Prime Minister Ivan Mikloš is rewarded for Slovakia's courageous reforms in the area of the social system and the labour market as well as the tax system. As a result of the reforms introduced by him, Slovakia is exemplarily prepared for membership of the EU and the challenges of the 21st century. According to the Taxpayers Association of Europe, the reforms create the conditions for more growth, employment and wealth in Slovakia. The Slovakian Republic is a positive European example of how to react to increasing competition, for only competition between tax systems, according to the President of the Taxpayers Association of Europe, von Hohenhau, guarantees lower taxes in the interests of all Europe's citizens. The core of this reform is the restructuring of the Slovak tax system with a uniform tax rate for income, corporation and value-added tax of 19% and the abolition of
inheritance, dividend, asset, property, and gift tax.
The Vice President of the European Parliament Dr. Ingo Friedrich,MEP is rewarded for his excellent, decades-long commitment for the citizens and future of Europe. For him, politics is serving the people. During his 26 years in the European Parliament, he has always been a pioneer of European thought and has been in favour of a European identity. His commitment resulted in the creation of a European consciousness and integration as well as the creation of the "Social Market Economy" in Europe. The European taxpayers give special thanks to him for his vehement commitment against the relaxation of the Growth and Stability Pact and for the stability of and trust in the Euro. This is also the case for the limiting of the EU budget which he praised and supported.
The awards ceremony takes place in Brussels on 12 July 2005 at 7.30 p.m. in Salon Polak, in the Résidence Palace, Rue de la Loi. The welcoming speech will be given by TAE president Rolf von Hohenhau. The speech keynote will be given by the former president of the European Court of Auditors and President of the European Economic Senate, Prof. Dr. Bernhard Friedmann. After the prize-giving, Ivan Mikloš and Dr. Ingo Friedrich will make a speech. The prize-giving is in cooperation with the European Economic Senate (EWS).
Brussels/Munich 12. July 2005
back to menu