WRITTEN QUESTION E-1936/99 by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Council. Reduced rate of VAT for catering services.
Date: 1999-11-04
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: VAT rate, catering industry, common commercial policy

18.7.2000

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 203 E/91

(2000/C 203 E/114)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1934/99

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(4 November 1999)

Subject: Progress in implementing the operational programme to combat social exclusion under the

Community Support Framework for Greece

From the Commission(cid:146)s answer to one of my previous questions (1) it emerged that there were problems
involved in implementing the operational programme to combat social exclusion under the Community
Support Framework for Greece and that appropriations were moving very slowly. Can the Commission say
what the current take-up rate of scheduled appropriations is? Have the problems associated with the
implementation of the programme been overcome and, if not, to what are such long delays attributable?

(1)

P-3427/97, OJ C 134, 30.4.1998, p. 163.

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(2 December 1999)

The 1994-1998 take-up rate for the operational programme on combating exclusion from the labour
market (1994-1999 Community support framework for Greece) is 34 % in terms of incurred expenditure.

According to information from the Greek authorities, approximately 64 % of programme credits had been
committed by the end of June 1999 and it is estimated that there will be 100 % credit absorption within
the deadlines imposed by the financial implementation provisions in force.

There has been significant progress in programme implementation in comparison with the 1994-1997
period. The national accreditation agency was re-established and is at present functioning in a satisfactory
way. There have also been improvements in programme monitoring. However, further action would still
be required, also under the 3rd Community support framework for Greece, for the reinforcement or
creation of appropriate implementing structures in particular labour market mechanisms and support
structures.

(2000/C 203 E/115)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1936/99

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Council

Subject: Reduced rate of VAT for catering services

(4 November 1999)

At the extraordinary Ecofin Council held in September 1999, Member States(cid:146) Ministers discussed the list of
services which would be eligible for a reduced rate of VAT. That list (cid:129) which will apply from 1 January
2000 (cid:129) contained proposals to include catering services, though these did not gain general approval. As
the catering sector is important to countries with a developed tourist industry, will the Council say
whether it will include that sector on the list of services to which a reduced rate of VAT may be applied
and, if not, why not?

Answer

(24 January 2000)

The Council would remind the Honourable Member that when the Directive on the possibility of applying
on an experimental basis a reduced VAT rate on labour-intensive services was adopted, the Council noted
a Commission statement whereby the Commission undertook to examine in a positive spirit a request
from Portugal to apply a reduced rate of VAT to catering services.