The information on this site is subject to a disclaimer and a copyright notice . The Commission has sent a letter to Belgium urging the Government to respect Community law by ensuring the immediate and definitive repeal throughout the country of all taxes levied on satellite dishes and the refund of any taxes already paid. But the Commission has received several complaints that it is still imposed in a large number of communes, especially in Wallonia and particularly in certain large cities, such as Mons, Charleroi, Liege and Namur. Moreover, all requests for reimbursement of taxes already paid have so far been systematically rejected by competent authorities, according to the complaints. The Commission's infringement procedure was initially launched following the introduction by a number of Belgian communes of an annual tax on satellite dishes.
Tax can cost users as much a year as the purchase price of a satellite dish.
In the Commission's view, these taxes act as a disincentive to receiving satellite broadcasts from other Member States and to the development of satellite radio and television in Belgium, and so violate EC Treaty rules on the freedom to provide services. The Commission also considers that the obligation imposed on each person who wants to install a satellite dish systematically to seek prior authorisation from the municipal authorities, sometimes with administrative expenses involved, to be excessively restrictive. Moreover, in accordance with the consistent case law of the Court of Justice, a Member State is in principle required to refund a tax collected in violation of Community law. This letter stresses that the maintenance of the tax by certain communes and the denial of individuals' right to a refund could result in Belgium being referred to the Court of Justice by the Commission.