EU chief warns tax veto may be cause of regret

European Commissioner Michel Barnier provoked anger on 18.5.00 by warning that Britain would come to regret refusing to give up the national veto over tax matters affecting the single market. He went on to say that decision-making could seize up if countries such as the UK, France and Denmark insisted on retaining the veto when the EU expands from 15 to 27 or 28 member states.