06-06-2008, 05:35 AM
EU rules state the VAT on fuel cannot be less than 15%
Member states are free to set VAT rates at or above that minimum
Changing VAT minimum requires proposal from
European Commission and unanimous agreement of
all member states
Also minimum EU-wide excise duty of 330 euros
(£260) per 1,000 litres (220 gallons) of diesel
"Fuel is too expensive. France put a mechanism in
place two years ago which provided the fishermen
with a compensation package, and Europe said no,"
he said.
"That's why we came here, to tell Europe to stop
getting in the way of the French government
trying to help us."
However, the EU officials stressed that any fuel
subsidies would be illegal under European law and
unsustainable in the long term.
EU rules state that the value-added tax (VAT)
rate on fuel cannot be less than 15%. Member
states are free to set VAT rates at or above that
minimum.
"There is a problem of high costs at the time
when the sector is also in a situation where
there is overcapacity and where there is a need
for restructuring," said Patrick Tabone, the
chief political adviser of the EU fisheries
commissioner.
"What we need to ensure is that the responses we
come up with are a real help to the sector, not
only in the short term, but in the long term."
The BBC's Dominic Hughes in Brussels says that
this is not a message the angry fishermen will
want to hear.
Member states are free to set VAT rates at or above that minimum
Changing VAT minimum requires proposal from
European Commission and unanimous agreement of
all member states
Also minimum EU-wide excise duty of 330 euros
(£260) per 1,000 litres (220 gallons) of diesel
"Fuel is too expensive. France put a mechanism in
place two years ago which provided the fishermen
with a compensation package, and Europe said no,"
he said.
"That's why we came here, to tell Europe to stop
getting in the way of the French government
trying to help us."
However, the EU officials stressed that any fuel
subsidies would be illegal under European law and
unsustainable in the long term.
EU rules state that the value-added tax (VAT)
rate on fuel cannot be less than 15%. Member
states are free to set VAT rates at or above that
minimum.
"There is a problem of high costs at the time
when the sector is also in a situation where
there is overcapacity and where there is a need
for restructuring," said Patrick Tabone, the
chief political adviser of the EU fisheries
commissioner.
"What we need to ensure is that the responses we
come up with are a real help to the sector, not
only in the short term, but in the long term."
The BBC's Dominic Hughes in Brussels says that
this is not a message the angry fishermen will
want to hear.
Some of the world's greatest feats were accomplished by people not smart enough to know they were impossible.
SEO directory of forums - free submission
SEO directory of forums - free submission
