Workshop zur Finanztransaktionssteuer am 9.Dezember 2009 in Köln

09.12.2009: Die aktuelle politische Konjunktur spricht für die Finanztransaktionssteuer (FTT). Sarkozy, Merkel, Barosso, der Leiter der britischen Aufsichtsbehörde, Obama und andere Politiker haben ihre Unterstützung für diese Idee ausgesprochen. Für zivilgesellschaftliche Organisationen hat sich dadurch ein "Window of Opportunity" geöffnet, das die Möglichkeit bietet, einen erhöhten Druck für die Umsetzung dieses Konzepts auszuüben. Zugleich ist aber innerhalb der "zivilgesellschaftlichen Community" die Notwendigkeit gegeben, die Kenntnisse zur FTT zu vertiefen. Aus diesem Grund veranstaltet WEED gemeinsam mit ENOFAD (European Network on Finance for Development) am 9.Dezember in Köln einen Workshop, unter anderem mit einem der bedeutendsten Experten auf dem Gebiet der FTT, Stephan Schulmeister vom Österreichischen Wirtschaftsforschungsinstitut (WIFO).

Invitation European Workshop on the Financial Transaction Tax (FTT)

Cologne, 9th December, 11:00 h - 17:30 h,

Jugendherberge Köln-Deutz, Siegesstr. 5

The concept of taxing financial transactions has made a breakthrough in the recent months. Sarkozy, Merkel, Barroso, the head of the British supervisory authority, Obama and other politicians have in one way or another declared their support for the idea. The G20 has mandated the IMF to prepare until the next summit in June 2010 a report on how the financial industry could make "a fair and substantial contribution toward paying for any burdens associated with government interventions to repair the banking system." There is enormous momentum and a window of opportunity to organise pressure from below has opened. Many civil society organisations and networks have already started to mobilise. However, there is a need to deepen knowledge on how the FTT works, its effect and to be informed on the pros and cons. Although there is lot of expertise on a currency transaction tax (Tobin Tax), the FTT is different. The purpose of the workshop is to build capacity and to discuss civil society strategies. With Stephan Schulmeister from the Vienna Institute for Economic Research, WIFO, we have the most prominent expert on the FTT as main speaker. The Workshop is a joint venture of WEED - World Economy, Ecology & Development Assoc. Berlin and ENOFAD - European Network on Finance for Development

Programme:

11:00 h Welcome, introduction: Peter Wahl (WEED) 11:15 h The Financial Transaction Tax - Functioning, Effects and FAQs: Stephan Schulmeister, Austrian Institute for Economic Research, Vienna 12:00 h Questions and discussion

13:00 h Lunch Break

14:00 h The experience with the British Stamp Duty: NN (UK, London) 14:20 h Questions and discussion 14:45 h A North American civil society perspective: Fraser Reilly-King (Halifax Initiative) t.b.c. 15:15 h Key elements of a civil society strategy. Alexandra Strickner (European Cross Networking Space on the Global Crisis) General debate 17:15 h Conclusions: David Hillman (Stamp Out Poverty, London) 17:30 h End

Attached you find practical hints on how to get there and on accommodation. Please send in the attached registration form.

How to get there. Practical Hints

Meeting place: The meeting takes place in the youth hostel Cologne-Deutz. Conference Room "Kyoto”. Address: Jugendherberge Köln-Deutz Siegesstr. 5, D-50679 Köln Fon: +49-(0)221 - 814711 Fax: +49-(0)221 - 884425

The Youth hostel is 10 minutes walk from the Cologne central railway station.

How to get there by train: If you go to Cologne by train, you will arrive at the main station. From there you can take a 10 minutes walk across the railway bridge over the Rhine, admiring the Cologne Cathedral on your way. From platform 1 at the station there is a direct footpath over the bridge. Follow the signs "Deutz”. After having crossed the river, you continue for another 300 meters until you come to the Ottoplatz. At the left is another, smaller railway station "Köln-Deutz”. At your right hand over the Ottoplatz you find the Siegestraße and directly at the beginning the youth hostel.

If you do not want to walk, take the suburban train (S-Bahn) S11 or S6 from the central station to Köln-Deutz railway station. Then cross the Ottoplatz, turn right and follow the signposted footpath to the left into Siegesstraße.

by plane: If you arrive at the Köln-Bonn airport, take the airport bus no. 170 to Köln-Deutz railway station. Then cross the Ottoplatz, turn right and follow the signposted footpath to the left into Siegesstraße.

Accommodation: For those who want to stay overnight, the hostel offers quite cheap rooms. You can book via their homepage: www.koeln-deutz.jugendherberge.de