Development Finance Watch, Issue 78

Eurodad Newsletter July 20, 2011 - Issue# 78   European Network on Debt and Development DEVELOPMENT FINANCE WATCH

 

Top Story » Price Waterhouse Coopers and the fight against tax evasion: a fox in the hen house? The European Commission has just published a report entitled “Transfer pricing and developing countries,” which is meant to support developing countries with regard to transfer pricing issues. Eurodad is concerned that the report overlooks important elements raised in the communication, such as the need to tackle multinational companies’ illicit tax practices and to explore alternative ways to curb transfer mispricing. read more     News » Tax avoidance ‘as big an issue as sweatshops’ says ActionAid Businesses face the risk of seriously damaging their reputation if they do not make tax planning part of their corporate responsibility programmes, says anti-poverty charity ActionAid. On Monday, alongside other campaign groups ActionAid launched a report on how companies can proactively commit to ‘Tax Responsibility’.   read more     News » Senator Carl Levin demands universal country-by-country reporting in new US anti-tax haven bill U.S. Senator Carl Levin introduced the  Stop Tax Haven Abuse Act (STHAA). The bill proposes solutions to loopholes and vulnerabilities in American policy that allow corporations to escape taxes. Tax evasion currently costs American taxpayers over $100 billion each year.   read more     Blog » European Commission to deliver 50% of aid through budget support Some EU member states, who are more concerned with short-term rather than long-term impacts of development aid, are questioning more and more the effectiveness of budget support. However,  last week the EU commited  to providing 50%  of total EU aid as budget support.   read more Report» Is the implementation of the Aid Effectiveness agenda reducing aid dependency? In preparation for the fourth High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness to be held in Busan, South Korea in December 2011, ActionAid co-ordinated a study on ‘Better Aid to End Aid Dependence’. It aims to draw lessons from aid recipient countries’ experiences on aid relationships, the role of aid policies and exit strategies and their implementation.   read more     News » Support for tax dodgers: Alliance Sud criticises Switzerland's double taxation agreements New Swiss double taxation agreements with developing countries provide for international administrative assistance against tax evasion by individuals. They simultaneously limit the scope for partner countries to tax financial transfers by multinational corporations.   read more   Report» What has tax got to do with Development: A Critical look at Mozambique’s and Zimbabwe’s tax systems The link between development and taxation has come up in various fora as development practitioners and activists discussed methods of mobilisation of domestic resources for financing development in the South especially the need to finance the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Eurodad partner organisation AFRODAD has released two new publications on the role of tax in African development.   read more News » IBON Position Paper on Aid for Private Sector Development Since the 1980s, multilateral development banks, donor agencies, development finance institutions and governments have increasingly promoted private sector growth as the cornerstone of national development strategies. Eurodad reports that financing for the private sector from MDBs has increased tenfold, from less that $4 billion to more than $40 billion per year.   read more

What's New   Issue #78   July 20, 2011 ACTION ALERT Join the call for stronger UN role on tax matters! Developing countries should have a stronger say in global tax matters, as they are the ones losing the most money through tax havens. Ask your government to push for a stronger role for the UN on tax issues! Financing instruments and modalities are crucial to deliver effective aid. Join our action: ask EU Development Ministers to choose financing instruments that are fit for development.     FEATURED MEMBER Christian Aid is a Christian organisation that insists the world can and must be swiftly changed to one where everyone can live a full life, free from poverty. QUOTE OF THE WEEK  "The EU Member States should commit to give a certain amount of the money they provide in budget support to support local CSOs that are doing budget tracking and monitoring." Helen Magombo, Oxfam International at the ODI/Oxfam Budget Support Event   FACTS AND FIGURES "50% of the EU aid will be delivered through budget support." Commissioner Piebalgs at the ODI/Oxfam Budget Support Event   EVENTS What: The 2011 annual conference of the Task Force on Financial Integrity and Economic Development When:  6 - 7 October Where: Paris, France   What: "Living in debtocracy" event organised by ¿Quién debe a quién? When: 7 - 8 October Where: Madrid, Spain     What:  A Launch of Eurodad Aid Effectiveness Report When: Early September Where: Brussels, Belgium   FEATURED RESOURCE  "Debtocracy" is a documentary that seeks causes of the Greek debt crisis and proposes solutions.     JOB VACANCIES Oxfam International is looking for a Tax & Domestic Resources Campaigns & Policy Coordinator, Brussels, Belgium   FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! Read the PDF version of this newsletter.   The next Development Finance Watch will be issued on the 18th of August.   If you have feedback on articles, suggestions of content for future issues or other thoughts, please write to: assistant@eurodad.org.

 

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