What we will discuss
The current economic and financial crisis has put an increased pressure on national budgets. As a result tax administrations across South East Europe and the Danube region are increasingly looking for ways to improve the efficiency of revenue collection and to achieve compliance at minimum costs, both for taxpayers and the tax administrations. They are working hard to improve overall compliance with tax laws, and sustain confidence in the tax system.
Ordinary citizens must feel that the tax system is fair while compliant businesses must perceive that they are not undermined by tax-evading competitors and that guidance is available to them on complex tax matters. Success will require some difficult organizational and governance chnages and the adoption of challenging modernisation strategies.
The main objective of the forthcoming High Level Dialogue is twofold:
- to discuss the current challenges for tax administrations in the region along with possible responses to these challenges, and
- to exchange experiences and views on how to move regional tax systems closer to EU and OECD norms.
Experts from the International Monetary Fund, Dutch Ministry of Finance and academia will provide their views on why some of the strategic tax administration reforms have been difficult to manage, and what are the potential means to overcome these challenges.New developments in Compliance Risk Management will also be presented together with an economic-psychological perspective on improving tax compliance.
Who should attend
The High Level Dialogue on Tax Administration and Tax Compliance aims to bring together the heads of tax administrations from Southeast European and Danube region and their deputies together with the donor agencies that are supporting modernization efforts across the region.
About the organizers
About the European Union Strategy for the Danube Region
The European Union Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR) is a macro-regional strategy adopted by the European Commission in 2010 and endorsed by the European Council in 2011. The strategy was designed to take advantage of synergies and coordination between existing policies and initiatives across the Danube region and thus improve connectivity within the region as well as with the rest of Europe. As part of the EUSDR, the CEF and the City of Vienna are coordinators of institutional capacity and cooperation, one of the eleven priority areas of the strategy.
The participation of tax administrations from the Danube region countries at the High –Level Dialogue on Tax Compliance is supported by the EUSDR Institutional Capacity and Cooperation priority area.
Further information on the EUSDR and the initiatives of the priority area on Institutional Capacity and Cooperation: www.danube-capacitycooperation.eu
About the Center of Excellence in Finance
The Center of Excellence in Finance (CEF) is a regional institution promoting capacity development in public financial management and central banking in South East Europe (SEE). We deliver tailor-made learning programs for staff working in the public sector, including central banks. We also provide technical assistance and promote research and policy dialogue on issues of public financial management and central banking. Our mission is to promote awareness of international standards and best practice in public financial management and central banking by organizing specialized learning events, encouraging knowledge sharing and research, and providing technical assistance.
CEF member countries include Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia and Turkey. As secretariat for the multi donor Public Expenditure Management Peer Assisted Learning (PEM PAL) program, we are also present in a number of other countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
Application procedure
Application Closing Date: Nov 10,2013
