VAT and Excise: Harmonizing Taxes with the EU without Harming Ukrainian Business

The Centre for Economic Strategy (CES) invites you to join the roundtable discussion “VAT and Excise: Harmonizing Taxes with the EU without Harming Ukrainian Business.”

The key objective of EU tax policy is to ensure the functioning of the European single market – an area without internal borders, where the free movement of goods, persons, services, and capital is ensured.

The proper functioning of such a market depends primarily on a coordinated policy of indirect taxation. Therefore, the European Commission coordinates and harmonizes legislation in this area. However, the practical implementation of EU Directives remains the responsibility of EU member states.

Experts examined and will discuss the two central indirect taxes of the EU: VAT and excise duties, and their legal framework established by the EU acquis for a better understanding of the existing tax space and limitations

The roundtable will take place on June 15 at 3 PM (CEST) on the Zoom platform.

Event schedule (CEST):

3 PM – 3:05 PM Opening remarks by Natalia Shpygotska, president of CFA Society Ukraine;

3:05 PM – 3:30 PM Presentation: “Harmonizing Tax Policies with the EU. Frameworks and Opportunities for Ukraine” by Yuriy Gaidai, Senior Economist at CES.

3:30 PM – 4:30 PM Discussion. Invited participants:

• Andriy Baran, Senior Advisor of the EU Consultative Mission in Ukraine;
• Danylo Hetmantsev, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Finance, Taxation and Customs Policy;
• Kyrylo Nominas, Inspector at the Business Ombudsman Council;
• Maria Senyk, Senior Lecturer at the Law Faculty of Lund University, European Union tax system researcher, and former tax expert at the OECD.

Moderator: Natalia Shpygotska, president of CFA Society Ukraine.

The event will be conducted in Ukrainian with simultaneous translation into English.

This study and event was organized with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of Centre for Economic Strategy and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.