The Forum on Taxation and Social Cohesion marked the end of phase I of the EUROsociAL Taxation Project. This regional project of technical cooperation with Latin America was promoted by the European Commission and headed by the Institute of Fiscal Studies of Spain. The founding members from Europe were ADETEF from France, INWENT from Germany, CEDDET from Spain and IFS from Great Britain, while the Latin American members were AFIP from Argentina, DIAN from Colombia, the Secretariat of Federal Revenues from Brazil, SAT and SHCP from Mexico and CIAT.

At the closing Forum, important key aspects for achieving social cohesion in Latin America were discussed, including those dealing with revenues as well as expenditures. Likewise, the results of the activities of the Project were presented.  These showed very relevant levels of compliance and quality.

The conclusions of the event were presented by Mrs. Ángeles Fernandez, Director of the EUROsociAL Taxation Project, Mr. Jean Robert Suesser, Director of ADETEF France; Mr. Jens Petersen-Thumser, Head of the INWENT Division, Germany; Mr. Néstor Díaz, Director of DIAN of Colombia and Mr. Márcio Verdi, CIAT Executive Secretary, at a session whose moderator was the Director of the School of Public Finance of Spain, Mrs. Celia de Pablos, representing the Director of the Institute of Fiscal Studies, Mr. José María Labeaga.

In his final comments Mr. Verdi highlighted the excellent work carried out by the Examination team, headed by Mrs. Fernandez, the need to give continuity to the objectives  and products achieved as well as to optimize the use of human and financial resources. He noted CIAT’s contribution and the Center’s desire to continue in phase II of the Project which is in the process of implementation. In addition, he stressed the need for coordinating the agendas between the organizations in order to combine efforts for the benefit of the Latin American countries.