Fiscal federalism should combine economic interests of the state with interests of territories - Rustem Khamitov

UFA, 31 May 2016. /Bashinform News Agency, Alexander Smirnov/. On May 30, in Moscow the Head of Bashkortostan delivered a report at a meeting of the Scientific Expert Council under the Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly, devoted to economic, fiscal and tax bases of federalism. The meeting was held by the Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matvienko.

The participants discussed the topical issues in the sphere of federal relations. Among them there are the powers and financial resources ensuring their implementation at all levels of government, creation of the Unified Register of Powers of Federal Authorities, the Russian Federation and Local Governments, as well as development of Inter-Budget Relations Enhancement Concept until 2020.

The Head of Bashkortostan marked that economic and investment opportunities were different in regions, although the requirements for them were the same. In his opinion, the Government should consider differently the opportunities of the Federation’s entities.

According to Rustem Khamitov, today there are too many ratings of the regions, which just state the facts, but do not answer the question: what to do next?

Speaking about the cooperation with companies for the purpose of socio-economic development of territories, the Bashkortostan leader drew attention of the meeting attendees on impossibility for governors to have access to the tax data of enterprises.

Valentina Matvienko supported Rustem Khamitov in the question that the heads of regions must have access to the tax data of major companies operating in their territory. She appealed to the Russian Minister of Finance Anton Siluanov with a request to analyze the situation and initiate the appropriate amendments to the legislation.

“Today it's time to change the principles of regional policy,” she said. “It requires changes in a strategic approach to regional tax, fiscal policy, keeping in mind that we are – the Federation.”