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WWW.MALTATODAY.COM.MT WEDNESDAY EDITION €1.00 Newspaper post PAGE 9 • Editorial WEDNESDAY • 11 JANUARY 2017 • ISSUE 504 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY PAGE 2 Greens take aim at Malta's tax system ahead of presidency Busuttil rules out internal debate on euthanasia JURGEN BALZAN SALVU Mallia's unequivocal posi- tion on euthanasia once again ex- posed the divisions within the PN, which remains a party with a strong and vociferous conservative base and a silent liberal minority. In a blunt interview published on The Sunday Times, the PN candi- date said "If I am suffering and want to die because I have had enough, why should some asshole in Parlia- ment decide whether I can do it or not?" This prompted PN leader Simon Busuttil to issue a statement in which he ruled out any possibility of an internal debate on euthanasia and abortion. Asked whether any internal debate had taken place or whether the party was planning to hold a discussion within its structures over the matter, the PN said that none will be taking place. Speaking to MaltaToday, a PN spokesperson said the party "has been opposed to euthanasia even before Simon Busuttil took over the party leadership," adding that "this position remains unchanged." Pointing out that euthanasia was recently discussed within the Family Affairs Parliamentary Committee, the spokesperson said "hence, the issue has already been the subject of ongoing discussions both publicly and within the Party, at various lev- els and at various times." Moreover, the PN said that Busuttil "is of the firm opinion that there is a fundamental right to life but no right to die" and underlining the state- ment issued in response to Mallia's interview, the opposition said this is the direction in which Busuttil will steer the party under his leadership on this issue. Following a statement issued by pro-life lobby Gift of Life, in which the arch-conservative group asked the PN leader whether the opposi- tion still holds pro-life values, Busut- til said "under my leadership, the Na- tionalist Party will not be open to the legislation of abortion or euthanasia. Whilst having people in the party with different views is a strength that I welcome, the Party's position on abortion and euthanasia will not change under my leadership." MATTHEW VELLA THE European Greens have taken aim at Malta's jealously- guarded position on tax com- petition, with a 31-page report published the day that Malta takes on the EU presidency, to suggest that Malta is a tax ha- ven and that "depending on the interpretation of EU criteria" could end up in a future EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions. Malta receives some €200 million in tax revenues from foreign companies attracted to the island for its full imputation system that relieves double taxa- tion, and can reduce effective tax to just 5% for trading companies. A MaltaToday analysis of the last decade of tax receipts sug- gests that up to €4 billion in tax that is charged on paper to for- eign companies booking prof- its to their Malta-based hold- ing companies, is "wiped out" thanks to Malta's generous six- sevenths refund system. The European Greens said that tax avoidance cost EU countries up to €70 billion a year in lost revenues, but pointed out that Malta's lack of enthusiasm on tax reforms that could harm its revenues would slow down pro- gress on the EU agenda. "Our analysis of the Maltese tax system shows the presence of preferential tax measures that could be regarded as harmful and facilitating offshore struc- tures or arrangements aimed at attracting profits which do not reflect real economic activity in the country". The Greens said that Malta should start a thorough and in- dependent analysis of the spillo- ver effects of the Maltese tax legislation on other European countries and possibly non-EU countries. "Between 2012 and 2015, close to €14 billion in tax could have been paid in other countries but was wiped clean thanks to Malta's full imputa- tion tax system. Greater Euro- pean solidarity is expected from the country currently holding the Presidency of the European Union." PAGE 6 Cecil Pace, Lino Bugeja and Rennie Vella pass away. See more on pages 2-3 Three personalities pass away Simon Busuttil