Macedonia and the European Union

[Soldier of Macedon]

Originally Posted by Risto the Great

Reject the EU on all terms. Tax intellectual property at 5% and the corporations who rule the world will tell the nations who have been enemies of Macedonia to back off. They will be in the cradle of Europe. I would do it in an instant, there is nothing to lose for Macedonia.

Making the effective tax rate on IP lower than a number of developed countries in Europe. That's one way to flip the script!

[Soldier of Macedon]

https://www.novamakedonija.com.mk/sv...-sowB1LoV4bX4g

12 July 21 – (Translation) The Free Trade Agreement between Serbia and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) entered into force on Saturday, providing for duty-free import and export of products from Serbia to Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan. But the reaction came immediately from Brussels, through EU foreign policy and security spokesman Peter Stano, who said that Serbia would have to terminate the agreement with the Eurasian Union before it was ready to join the Union.

The EAEU obviously isn’t as lucrative, but nor does it appear as restrictive. The EU, on the other hand, would like to force its T&Cs on aspiring members, in all spheres, well before there is any chance of them joining the harem. Meanwhile, its richest country can comfortably disregard criticism from other members as it pursues an independent energy policy. The hypocrisy of it all. Do as der Führer says, not as he does.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...am-and-germany

16 June 21 - EU’s efforts to stand up to Russia have been hampered by the German government’s determination to complete a new gas connector across the Baltic Sea. The German government has insisted that Nord Stream 2 is critical for the country’s energy supplies and is separate from the political relationship with the Kremlin. It nevertheless prompted sanctions from the U.S. and created tensions with Washington. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell bristled when the pipeline issue was raised at the presentation of the report. “Nord Stream 2 was not launched by the European Union,” he told reporters. “Nord Stream 2 is not a European Union project. It is not being funded by the European Union. It is a German project.”

Deutschland über alles.

[Risto the Great]

Originally Posted by Soldier of Macedon

The EAEU obviously isn’t as lucrative, but nor does it appear as restrictive. The EU, on the other hand, would like to force its T&Cs on aspiring members, in all spheres, well before there is any chance of them joining the harem.

Macedonia has been under the same restrictive agreements for well over 20 years. Can you believe it ?.... "Wanna join our club? You are not allowed to [insert whatever] effective immediately. One day we will let you in .... (maybe)."

[Soldier of Macedon]

I'd say part of it is self-imposed through misguided loyalty. The northadonians have turned Macedonia into the 'girl on the side' sitting at home waiting for a phone call that will never come, while the EU boyfriend is living it up with his other mistresses.

[Risto the Great]

I distinctly recall looking into this many years ago. Part of the candidate process requires the compliance with numerous EU regulations. They're already hamstrung.

[Rogi]

Originally Posted by Risto the Great

Reject the EU on all terms. Tax intellectual property at 5% and the corporations who rule the world will tell the nations who have been enemies of Macedonia to back off. They will be in the cradle of Europe. I would do it in an instant, there is nothing to lose for Macedonia.

As I recall, this is something Gruevski was working on implementing, within the free economic zones in Macedonia, alongside the implementation of something along the lines of having the laws applicable in those economic zones being those of the country where the company HQ is, to mitigate the risk of corruption in Macedonia.

This was immediately before he was replaced.

[Soldier of Macedon]

Originally Posted by Rogi

This was immediately before he was replaced.

He didn't do it with a view to explore an alternative to the EU. And he left it to the last minute after spending the preceding decade making concessions to DUI. Then, he ran away. Quite the visionary.

[Soldier of Macedon]

Originally Posted by Risto the Great

I distinctly recall looking into this many years ago. Part of the candidate process requires the compliance with numerous EU regulations. They're already hamstrung.

Speaking of taxes, regulations and servitude to the EU....rather than allowing Macedonia to gain a competitive edge so it can close the economic gap with other countries by attracting multinational corporations, the EU wants to force her to play by the rules of the richer countries so the interests of the latter are secured.

https://www.mkd.mk/makedonija/ekonom...02EKn9j5kFf8ZI

Letter from Brussels: if Macedonia wants to join the EU, will it have to close the TIR zones?

(Translation) On June 16, the Macedonian government received a letter from the EU asking it to state whether it accepted their recommendation to change the operating regime of foreign companies in industrial zones as part of the country's commitment to EU membership. The deadline for that is until 2022, and the full implementation of the changes in the tax policy must be completed by 2025. These are recommendations for changes in tax policy in line with the decisions of the G7, G20 and OECD member states. The G7 member states, which make up some of the world's richest economies, reached a joint agreement in June to tax multinational companies. Under the agreement, technology giants will have to pay higher taxes in these countries, and a minimum tax rate of 15 percent globally is also planned. This tax policy is mainly aimed at stopping the tax abuses of the giants Apple, Netflix, Amazon, Facebook, Google ...

The G7, G20 and OECD finance ministers have agreed to reform the global tax system. The agreement was reached between Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Britain and the United States, which want to ensure that multinational companies pay higher taxes in the countries in which they operate. This agreement is established to avoid the opening of business operations of technology companies in countries with low taxes, whereby companies will be able to have higher earnings in these territories. This will prevent large companies from making more money in countries known as "tax havens". So far, three countries have not supported this initiative - Ireland, Hungary and Estonia, probably because some of the big technology companies are based in these countries and because, for example, in Ireland and Hungary the profit tax is 12.5 and 9 percent, respectively, which means under the proposal for a minimum rate of 15 percent.

The directions of these global tax reforms have already been accepted in Brussels. Macedonia has already been notified to adjust to these new policies if it remains committed to EU integration. These tax changes will radically change the operating conditions of all foreign companies in the technological industrial development zones that use serious tax incentives in Macedonia. In addition, the work of these companies has already become a serious part of the structure of economic development of Macedonia, with the number of employees (14,000), the percentage of share in exports - 50%, with 30 million euros difference from what is earned and what is actually paid. The letter to the Macedonian government says that if Macedonia does not accept this, it will be part of the list of non-cooperative countries. For now, the Government is silent. We have been waiting for an answer to our questions for more than a week.

[Soldier of Macedon]

RTG - would be interested in your thoughts on what Vladimir Gligorov, the europhile son of Kiro Gligorov, had to say regarding the below.

https://www.mkd.mk/makedonija/politi...-makedonija-ne

The Parliament is debating the supplementary budget, which, among other things, projected the public debt at 61.5%. If, according to expert estimates, our debt optimality should not be more than 52 or 53 percent, can we as a country withstand that debt or will we fall into a hole from which it will be difficult to get out?

- The debt will be reduced with the recovery of the economy. It is not easy to say which level of public debt should not be a problem. It depends on how expensive the debt is, the interest rate and the economic growth. If the economy develops and if there are no new financial crises in the world, Macedonia's public debt should not be a problem. But first, investment in infrastructure needs to be stepped up to boost activity.

What is your position on the introduction of an environmental tax?

- That is a question for a longer comment. Basically, what can be achieved with a tax can also be achieved with a subsidy. I think it is easier to find the optimal subsidy than the optimal tax. And if the tax is not optimal, it will burden, and will not change production.

The resolution to change tax systems on the recommendation of the G7 has been accepted by both the G20, the EU and the OECD. What can be the repercussions from the acceptance of these tax reforms on Macedonia, especially for the companies that are in the duty free zones in Macedonia?

- The goal is to reduce those activities if they are an environmental problem. I do not know what is the optimal level of tax with which those activities would be unprofitable. If the tax is lower, as it could be, then wages will be burdened or a budget subsidy will be sought.

[Risto the Great]

There is no recovery of the economy in Macedonia. It is hamstrung and nobody wants it to prosper until it can be thrown a couple of coins from the EU. Any foreign debt would be dangerous for Macedonia.

Environmental taxes are a joke in a nation like Macedonia. China is still singularly filthy and somehow able to look like it is hitting targets.

The problem with all of these taxes is the lack of transparency. It might be easy to ascertain the tax treatment, but we will never know the subsidies agreed in back rooms. I personally was even offered some very strong sweeteners to assist with setting up industry over there. Without looking at the subsidies, we are not really understanding how effective any tax strategy would be.

To make it clear, there will never be a recovery of the economy. It would have to happen by mistake. It is being run by peasant criminals who have no concept of public duty.