EU tensions over taxation, migration and Italy’s budget highlighted at the World Economic Forum in Davos

Tensions between European Union members were highlighted today at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where leaders clashed over migration and taxation.

Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte said the bloc was divided from north to south and east to west over action on refugees and the commission’s handling of Italy’s 2019 budget, creating a “total lack of trust” between members. 

Rutte said western EU members had shouldered the burden of the refugee crisis in comparison to eastern countries.

“There is a total lack of solidarity on the issue of the refugee problem… it can not be that countries like Germany, and the Netherlands and Sweden have to basically shoulder this burden,” he said.

Rutte went on to say that the distrust created by the EU’s Commission’s treatment of Italy over its budget divided the EU between northern and southern countries.

“[People ask] if Italy can get away with not implementing what we have collectively agreed ..why should we?" he said. 

“[It creates] distrust between north and south, and given those dividing lines I’m not optimistic about whether we can achieve on competitiveness, reform…and climate change.”

Polish prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki countered that the eastern European country had welcomed “millions” of refugees migrating from Ukraine.

He added that the EU should crackdown on the use of tax havens that use their power “to the detriment of other countries.”

Ireland has been slammed by other EU countries for its low corporate tax rate.

Irish taoiseach Leo Varadkar said: “I think big companies should pay their taxes, should pay them in full and pay them where they are owed.”