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Category: Development

Step towards a fair tax policy

Since the financial crisis, countries have been cooperating more and more effectively to combat tax evasion. Meanwhile, this cooperation between countries extends beyond the OECD countries. 130 countries are now working together, within the Inclusive Framework, to combat tax evasion. Recently (29 May 2020), State Secretary of Finance Vijlbrief sent the new Fiscal Treaty Policy Memorandum 2020 (NFV) to the Lower House. The NFV sets out the Dutch negotiating position on bilateral tax treaties. It is positive that more attention is being paid to the position of developing countries in such treaties, but a critical eye is still required.

Migration policy from a labour perspective

With elections less than nine months away, most political parties are busy writing their election manifestos. So too is the Labour Party. From the Foreign Affairs Committee, the memorandum "A PvdA migration policy from our labour perspective" was written and submitted. Because migration is of all times and therefore a fair migration policy based on facts and an approach per migrant category that does justice to each group is needed. What do you think the next cabinet's migration policy should look like?

'Research & Advocacy' intern: Anique!

My name is Anique and I have been doing an internship at FMS since February where I hold the position of 'research & advocacy'. I completed my bachelor's degree in General Social Sciences and recently graduated as MSc. in Political Science: Nationalism, Ethnic Conflict and Development. Besides my studies, I put many hours into volunteer work, including at Edukans. I thought my interest in development work, politics and policy could be very well fulfilled in an internship at the FMS, so I applied.

Review of FMS Liveblog: Corona in Africa. What did we learn?

By now, almost all African countries are affected by COVID-19. The situation is and remains dynamic, and we can see how the virus is having a major impact everywhere, not only on health but also politically, socio-economically and financially. Above all, there is still much uncertainty about the nature, extent and duration of the corona crisis.

Time for a fair tax policy

Tax avoidance by multinationals is currently in the spotlight. Booking.com, for instance, recently announced that it was invoking emergency aid from the Dutch state, while until recently it was making billions in profits and paying little tax on them. A political and social debate that has of course been going on for some time. Hence the request from the Lower House (following Omtzigt's motion) for the Advisory Committee on Multinational Taxation to investigate how the Netherlands can make taxation of multinationals fairer. This resulted in the report 'Towards balance in corporate taxation' with various recommendations and advice. On the positive side, it contains a clear call for the Netherlands to make constructive international efforts to really tackle tax avoidance. It is unfortunate, however, that the report pays very little attention to the role of the Netherlands as a tax haven.