The European Parliament's influential economic and monetary affairs committee has given its backing to a revised proposal for a tax on financial transactions sending a "strong message" to member states whose commitment to the tax is flagging, according to the proposal's author.

The so-called "own initiative" report, written by Anni Podimata, the Greek socialist MEP who has led the Parliament's efforts to introduce an FTT during the last three years, was on Tuesday adopted by the Econ committee with a large majority of 30 in favour, versus 10 against and four abstentions.