France raises a glass to VAT victory

France has won a seven-year battle with the European Union to allow it to cut the value-added tax on restaurant bills, as part of an agreement to allow for lower VAT rates on a range of services, March 2009.

ESO: Background information: Germany blocks Chirac plan to cut tax on restaurant meals http://www.europeansources.info/record/germany-blocks-chirac-plan-to-cut-tax-on-restaurant-meals/

Council of the European Union: Press Release: PRES/09/57: Council reaches agreement on reduced VAT rates http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/misc/106575.pdf

EurActiv, 11.3.09: EU ministers agree to lower VAT http://www.euractiv.com/euro-finance/eu-ministers-agree-lower-vat-news-221502

France24, 17.3.09: VAT boost for French diners http://www.france24.com/en/20090317-france+vat-restaurants-EU-

France24, 28.4.09: French restaurants pass on VAT cut benefit http://www.france24.com/en/20090428-france-vat-5-5-percent-restaurants-catering-industry

Deutsche Welle, 1.7.09: French restaurants pass on tax cuts to customers http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4446507,00.html

France24, 1.7.09: VAT cut paves way for cheaper restaurant bills http://www.france24.com/en/20090701-french-bills-to-drop-after-vat-cut-restaurant-business-tax

BBC News, 1.7.09: VAT cut boosts French restaurants http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8128465.stm

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