European Commissioner for Taxation & Customs Union
Encyclopedia
The Commissioner for Taxation and Customs Union, Audit and Anti-Fraud is the member of the European Commission
. The current commissioner is Algirdas Šemeta
. The post was previously divided prior to 2010, with audit being under control of the Commissioner for Administrative Affairs.
The post is responsible for the EU's customs union
and taxation policy. The European Union has had a customs union since the creation of the European Economic Community
and that union extends to the non-EU members of the European Economic Area
and to Turkey
, Andorra
and San Marino
. Since 2010 it gained responsibility for audit (budgetary discharge, internal audit
, counter fraud
): in particular the Internal Audit Service
and the European Anti-fraud Office
.
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
. The current commissioner is Algirdas Šemeta
Algirdas Šemeta
Algirdas Gediminas Šemeta is a Lithuanian economist and the European Commissioner for Taxation and Customs Union, Audit and Anti-Fraud. He has held this post since July 2009....
. The post was previously divided prior to 2010, with audit being under control of the Commissioner for Administrative Affairs.
The post is responsible for the EU's customs union
European Union Customs Union
The European Union Customs Union is a customs union which consists of all the Member States of the European Union and a number of surrounding countries....
and taxation policy. The European Union has had a customs union since the creation of the European Economic Community
European Economic Community
The European Economic Community The European Economic Community (EEC) The European Economic Community (EEC) (also known as the Common Market in the English-speaking world, renamed the European Community (EC) in 1993The information in this article primarily covers the EEC's time as an independent...
and that union extends to the non-EU members of the European Economic Area
European Economic Area
The European Economic Area was established on 1 January 1994 following an agreement between the member states of the European Free Trade Association and the European Community, later the European Union . Specifically, it allows Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway to participate in the EU's Internal...
and to Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, Andorra
Andorra
Andorra , officially the Principality of Andorra , also called the Principality of the Valleys of Andorra, , is a small landlocked country in southwestern Europe, located in the eastern Pyrenees mountains and bordered by Spain and France. It is the sixth smallest nation in Europe having an area of...
and San Marino
San Marino
San Marino, officially the Republic of San Marino , is a state situated on the Italian Peninsula on the eastern side of the Apennine Mountains. It is an enclave surrounded by Italy. Its size is just over with an estimated population of over 30,000. Its capital is the City of San Marino...
. Since 2010 it gained responsibility for audit (budgetary discharge, internal audit
Audit
The general definition of an audit is an evaluation of a person, organization, system, process, enterprise, project or product. The term most commonly refers to audits in accounting, but similar concepts also exist in project management, quality management, and energy conservation.- Accounting...
, counter fraud
Fraud
In criminal law, a fraud is an intentional deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual; the related adjective is fraudulent. The specific legal definition varies by legal jurisdiction. Fraud is a crime, and also a civil law violation...
): in particular the Internal Audit Service
Internal Audit Service (European Commission)
The Internal Audit Service or IAS is a Directorate-General of the European Commission.The mission of the IAS is to:* issue independent audit opinions on the quality of management and internal control systems...
and the European Anti-fraud Office
OLAF
The European Anti-fraud Office is charged by the European Union with protecting the financial interests of the European Union: Its tasks are to fight fraud affecting the EU budget, as well as corruption and any other irregular activity, including misconduct, within the European Institutions, in an...
.
List of commissioners
| Name | Country | Period | Commission | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frits Bolkestein Frits Bolkestein Frederik "Frits" Bolkestein is a retired Dutch politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy . He served as a Member of the House of Representatives from 16 January 1978, until 5 November 1982, when he became State Secretary for Economic Affairs from 5 November 1982, until 14 July... |
 Netherlands |
1999–2004 | Prodi Commission Prodi Commission The Prodi Commission was the European Commission in office between 1999 and 2004. The administration was led by former Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi.-History:... (Taxation) |
| 2 | Neil Kinnock Neil Kinnock Neil Gordon Kinnock, Baron Kinnock is a Welsh politician belonging to the Labour Party. He served as a Member of Parliament from 1970 until 1995 and as Labour Leader and Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition from 1983 until 1992 - his leadership of the party during nearly nine years making him... |
 United Kingdom |
1999–2004 | Prodi Commission Prodi Commission The Prodi Commission was the European Commission in office between 1999 and 2004. The administration was led by former Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi.-History:... (Audit) |
| 3 | László Kovács |  Hungary |
2004–2009 | Barroso Commission Barroso Commission The Barroso Commission is the European Commission that has been in office since 22 November 2004 and is due to serve until 2014. Its president is José Manuel Barroso, who presides over 26 other commissioners... I (Taxation) |
| 4 | Siim Kallas Siim Kallas Siim Kallas is an Estonian politician, currently serving as European Commissioner for Transport. He is also one of five vice-presidents of the 27-member Barroso Commission... |
 Estonia |
2004–2010 | Barroso Commission Barroso Commission The Barroso Commission is the European Commission that has been in office since 22 November 2004 and is due to serve until 2014. Its president is José Manuel Barroso, who presides over 26 other commissioners... I (Audit) |
| 5 | Algirdas Šemeta Algirdas Šemeta Algirdas Gediminas Šemeta is a Lithuanian economist and the European Commissioner for Taxation and Customs Union, Audit and Anti-Fraud. He has held this post since July 2009.... |
 Lithuania |
2010 onwards | Barroso Commission Barroso Commission The Barroso Commission is the European Commission that has been in office since 22 November 2004 and is due to serve until 2014. Its president is José Manuel Barroso, who presides over 26 other commissioners... II |
See also
- Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs UnionDirectorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union (European Commission)The Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union is a Directorate-General of the European Commission. The DG Taxation and Customs manages, defends and develops the customs union as a vital part of protecting the external borders of the European Union...
- European Union withholding taxEuropean Union withholding taxThe so-called European Union withholding tax is a withholding tax which is deducted from interest earned by European Union residents on their investments made in another member state, by the state in which the investment is held....
- EU VAT
- Single European ActSingle European ActThe Single European Act was the first major revision of the 1957 Treaty of Rome. The Act set the European Community an objective of establishing a Single Market by 31 December 1992, and codified European Political Cooperation, the forerunner of the European Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy...