MEPs set to back VAT cut for everyday items

Published: 19 February 2009 y., Thursday

Kritimas
VAT cuts for things like household repairs, care services, audio books and beauty treatments are likely to be backed by MEPs on Thursday. It comes in a debate on European Commission plans to increase the range of goods and services that can use reduced VAT rates. A report on the issue by Dutch Socialist MEP Ieke van den Burg has already backed the idea although Parliament's views are advisory and European finance Ministers will have the final word.

Among the things being proposed for VAT cuts are:

  • Restaurants.
  • Domestic care services for the young, sick, disabled or elderly.
  • Beauty treatments.
  • Audio books (ordinary ones already qualify).
  • Nappies.
  • Housing services such as construction, renovation, repair, alteration, maintenance and cleaning.
  • Minor repairs of computers, watches and gardening services.


The aim is to kick start the European economy and create jobs.
 

Present VAT rules last until 2010 although for a trial period EU members are also allowed to apply lower rates on certain labour intensive services until 2010. 
 

Šaltinis: europarl.europa.eu
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.

Facebook Comments

New comment


Captcha

Associated articles

The most popular articles

China bought Volvo

In Gothenburg Sweden a deal is done for Volvo. A delegation from China’s Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, China’s largest private-run car maker, was given the red carpet treatment when it agreed to buy Ford Motor’s Volvo car unit for 1.8 billion dollars. more »

Zapatero hopes to reach employment figures of 70 percent for women in the EU by the year 2020

The President of the Spanish Government and current rotational President of the European Union, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, affirmed this Sunday that during his presidency of the EU, Spain will continue to support the inclusion of the "complete affirmation of equality between men and women" within the new economic strategy. more »

UniCredit Bank Lithuanian Branch resisted the economic recession

Despite the unfavorable macroeconomic situation, AS UniCredit Bank Lithuanian Branch achieved positive activity indicators in 2009: the bank branch operated profitably, the total loan portfolio and assets increased and the number of customers grew. more »

2011 budget: Parliaments spells out its priorities

Young people, economic recovery and research should be the EU's top budgetary priorities, said the European Parliament on Thursday, when it became the first EU institution to adopt an opinion on next year's budget. more »

Eurogroup countries give their support to the aid mechanism for Greece

The sixteen leaders of the euro area countries (the Eurogroup) have given their support to the financial aid mechanism for Greece; this involves the participation of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and of the euro area countries through bilateral loans. more »

European social partners meet EU to debate exit from the crisis and Europe 2020 strategy

Today, President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy and Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero representing the Presidency of the Council met the European social partners to look at how Europe can exit the current economic and financial crisis. more »

Parliament backs aid to unemployed in Lithuania

Around 1,100 former furniture and textile workers in Lithuania will receive EU aid worth €1.2 million following a vote by Parliament on Thursday. more »

Developing countries facing the “abyss” says report

An estimated 100 million people in developing countries will fall into extreme poverty because of the economic and financial crisis, according to a report being presented Wednesday evening in the House. more »

EU to make its first formal decisions on the common economic strategy for the next ten years

The Heads of State or Government of the EU-27 will make their first formal decisions in the process to develop the “Europe 2020” strategy that aims to achieve sustainable economic growth, job creation as well as recognition for the European social model. more »

Telecoms: Lithuania withdraws proposed regulatory measures on network access market

On 16 March 2010 the Lithuanian Authority, Ryšių reguliavimo tarnyba (RRT), informed the European Commission that it was withdrawing its proposed measure on network infrastructure access markets. more »