33. Points to the existing disparities between Member States as regards tax pressure and structures; acknowledges the difficulty of devising a homogeneous reform of taxation leading to greater growth – given the advantages (broader base) and drawbacks (weakening of the principle of progressiveness) of a switch from direct taxation to indirect, consumption-based taxation; stresses, however, that a number of common tax reform measures could significantly improve the efficiency of the tax system and tax revenue, increase employment, re ...[+++]duce distortions and increase growth at Community level, notably, inter alia:

33. Points to the existing disparities between Member States as regards tax pressure and structures; acknowledges the difficulty of devising a homogeneous reform of taxation leading to greater growth – given the advantages (broader base) and drawbacks (weakening of the principle of progressiveness) of a switch from direct taxation to indirect, consumption-based taxation; stresses, however, that a number of common tax reform measures could significantly improve the efficiency of the tax system and tax revenue, increase employment, re ...[+++]duce distortions and increase growth at Community level, notably, inter alia:

33. Points to the existing disparities between Member States as regards tax pressure and structures; acknowledges the difficulty of devising a homogeneous reform of taxation leading to greater growth – given the advantages (broader base) and drawbacks (weakening of the principle of progressiveness) of a switch from direct taxation to indirect consumption-based taxation; stresses, however, that a number of common tax reform measures could significantly improve the efficiency of the tax system and tax revenue, increase employment, red ...[+++]uce distortions and increase growth at European level, notably, inter alia:

The French authorities claim that the combined provisions of the second paragraph of Article 39 C and Article 39 CA of the General Tax Code are a means of ex ante control by the tax authorities aimed at combating tax avoidance through the abuse of movable asset financing operations by tax-transparent structures such as EIGs.

10. Is of the opinion that the tax structures must be kept simple and transparent and considers that the criteria used for determining the tax should be kept at an absolute minimum; considers that both environmental and road safety parameters are important factors which, when they do not contradict each other, must be used as the basis for a revised tax structure;

As requested by the Council on 22 July 1999, the study: "will be undertaken in the general context of the Vienna European Council conclusions emphasising the need to combat harmful tax competition whilst taking into account that co-operation in the tax policy area is not aiming at uniform tax rates and is not inconsistent with fair tax competition, but is called for to reduce the continuing distortions in the Single Market also in view of stimulating economic growth and enhancing the international competitiveness of the Community, to prevent excessive losses of tax revenue or to get tax structures to develop in a more employment-friendly ...[+++] way.