Reduced rates of VAT

9.12.2003

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3918/03
by Georges Berthu (NI)
to the Commission

Before the European Parliament on 3 December 2003, Commissioner Bolkestein stated that the Commission did not intend to submit any new proposal on extending reduced rates of VAT (particularly to work on homes or to restoration), as the Council has expressed reservations about its proposal of 7 July.

 

However, the proposal of 7 July was broader in scope, and particularly sought to eliminate exemptions, which is a controversial subject.

 

Would it not be desirable for the Commission to avoid conflicts and to act in accordance with the opinion of the European Parliament (Randzio-Plath report adopted on 4 December 2003, P5_TA-PROV(2003)0547), which wisely proposed extending the experiment with reduced rates of VAT on labour-intensive services, and increase the scope for States to apply reduced rates of VAT, particularly on restoration work?

OJ C 782 E, 27/03/2004