For the tenth time the European Taxpayers Award is being conferred on 16 July 2008 in Brussels. This year the prize will be awarded to Neelie Kroes, Commissioner for Competition and to Franz-Hermann Brüner, Director General of OLAF.

The European Taxpayers Award, a bronze sculpture in form of the European Bull, symbolizes the never ending struggle for survival, strength and self-assertion. At the same time the symbol represents Europe, and in this special case also the European competition as well as the fight against corruption, fraud and the related problems, says Rolf von Hohenhau, President of the European Taxpayers Association. According to the goals of the European Taxpayers Association, Europe has to be open for new ideas and visions, and get ready for the future. Therefore it is necessary to create a Europe of regions and diversity, in which the voice of citizens and taxpayers is heard, and abandon bureaucracy, high tax burdens and individualistic national interests.
The symbolism and idea of the award is especially reflected in the prize winners, says President von Hohenhau.
The aims of the Taxpayers Association of Europe, founded in 1969 in Luxembourg, are to achieve relief of high charges and undue bureaucracy as well as avoidance of additional, new taxes. Furthermore, the Taxpayers Association of Europe fights for more simplification and greater justice in tax laws, against waste of public funds and more efficient use of these as well as for greater competition – especially in the area of taxes – in Europe.
In his honorific speech Bodo Hombach, CEO of the WAZ-Mediengruppe highly recognised the prize winners’ merits.
With EU-Commissioner Neelie Kroes an outstanding personality is commended, who is committed – against all political resistances – to more competition in Europe. In 2007 alone the EU competition authorities imposed fines amounting to 3.3 bn Euro.
The European Taxpayers Association recognises the fact that whoever is calling for more competition and thus steps on syndicate’s toes, as well as showing business and monopolists their limits, is not doing an easy job.
Franz-Hermann Brüner and OLAF, the European Anti-Fraud Office, are awarded the prize for their fight against fraudulences and waste of EU-funds. In 2006 a total of 1.2 bn Euro of damages at the expense of the community have been uncovered, counting 12,000 investigated cases.
From a taxpayer’s point of view, the fight against public waste is equally important to the fight against tax fraud, says President von Hohenhau. In both cases, the state and the society suffer damages, which cannot be left unpunished

The award ceremony is taking place on 16 July 2008 from 06.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. in the Representation of the Free State of Bavaria at the EU, Rue Wiertz 77, 1000 Brussels. Assistant state secretary Martin Neumeyer, head of office of the state minister for federal and European affairs in the Bavarian state chancellery will open the event. The welcoming speech will be convened by Rolf von Hohenhau, President of the European Taxpayers Association, followed by a laudatory speech of Bodo Hombach, CEO of the WAZ-Mediengruppe. After the award ceremony both prize winners, EU Commission Neelie Kroes and OLAF-Director General Franz-Hermann Brüner will address the audience.
Prof. Dr. Bernhard Friedmann, former president of the European court of auditors and currently president of the Europäischer Wirtschaftsrat (EWS) will hold the closing statement.
The ceremony will be followed by a reception in the Bavarian representation in Brussels.
The award is done in cooperation with the European Economic Senate (EWS).

More information:
Taxpayers Association of Europe (TAE)
Office Brüssel:
Walter G. Grupp
phone:+32-2-7387112

Office München:
Michael Jäger
phone: +49-89-12600820

Rudolf G. Maier, Press Officer
Brussels/Munich, 15th July 2008

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