WRITTEN QUESTION E-2832/00 by Richard Howitt (PSE) to the Commission. Consistency of VAT charges for car repairs and European law.
Date: 2000-09-06
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: VAT, general mechanical engineering, insurance company, invoicing, provision of services, restriction on competition, tax exemption, tax harmonisation

8.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 136 E/83

Could the Commission provide funds from the regional development programme 2000-2006 financed by
the structural funds available for energy policy, in order to remove overhead power lines in environmen-
tally sensitive areas, such as the Lake of Molentergius, and replace them with underground cables?

Answer given by Mr Barnier on behalf of the Commission

(30 October 2000)

The Commission is aware that Sardinia is lagging behind in the energy sector.

To this end, the Regional Operational Programme for Sardinia has established priorities in this sector,
under the Community support framework for the Italian regions eligible for Objective 1 in 2000-2006,
which include in particular, developing renewable sources as well as supporting the request for energy-
saving measures. These priorities are included in measure 1.6 of the (cid:145)Natural Resources(cid:146) priority, which
provides for the part-financing of measures in the solar, hydroelectric, wind energy sectors and biomass.
The stated aim is to double the percentage of energy produced by these means before 2010 (from the
current 2 % to 4 %).

In accordance with the provisions of Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying
down general provisions on the Structural (1) Funds, the implementation of this measure as well as the
financial resources needed will be clarified in the programming complement.

The Commission is also aware of
the problem regarding Lake Molentergius. Where this matter is
concerned, measure 1.5 of the (cid:145)Natural Resources(cid:146) priority provides for the financing of measures to
reduce the impact of high-voltage lines in particularly sensitive sites (Natura 2000 network).

(1) OJ L 161, 26.6.1999.

(2001/C 136 E/094)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2752/00

by Christopher Heaton-Harris (PPE-DE) to the Commission

Subject: Tax loopholes in the motor vehicle repair trade

(1 September 2000)

It has been drawn to my attention that a VAT tax loophole exists within the motor vehicle repair trade,
arising from the fact that independent garages must charge VAT on labour costs, whereas garages owned
by an insurance company do not.

This tax advantage is leading more and more insurance companies to set up their own garages to the
detriment of independent garages.

Does the Commission view this VAT discrepancy as an infringement of EU legislation on fair competition?

(2001/C 136 E/095)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2832/00

by Richard Howitt (PSE) to the Commission

(6 September 2000)

Subject: Consistency of VAT charges for car repairs and European law

Can the Commission comment on the apparent anomaly between car repair undertaken by an independent
garage, on which the full rate of VAT is applicable, and the same repair undertaken by an insurance

C 136 E/84

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

8.5.2001

company(cid:146)s wholly-owned garage, on which VAT on labour is not paid? Is it the Commission(cid:146)s view that
this could be contrary to single market rules or any other aspect of EU law?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-2752/00 and E-2832/00
given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(20 October 2000)

When an insurance company sets up its own garage in order to repair its customers(cid:146) cars and these repairs
are carried out by employees of this insurance company, these supplies by the employees to the insurance
company are outside the scope of VAT.

Under Article 8(1)(b) of the First Council Directive of 24 July 1973 on the coordination of
laws,
regulations and administrative provisions relating to the taking-up and pursuit of the business of direct
insurance other than life assurance (1), services in kind performed by an insurance company using its own
technical means must be restricted to providing the insurance service contracted for. Where such activities
do not arise from obligations under the insurance contract or are performed for a third party other than
the insured, they cannot be carried out by the same legal entity as the insurance activities without
breaching the rule in Article 8(1)(b) which makes insurance a specialised activity.

On the other hand, it is correct that if a garage carries out a similar service for an insurance company, it
will have to invoice VAT on the supply. The garage does, however, have a right to deduct the input VAT it
incurs on all its investments for equipment and spare parts. which the insurance company, being an
exempt taxable person, is unable to do. For the latter, this inability to deduct the input VAT amounts to an
additional cost element that compensates for the fact that the insurance company does not have to pay
VAT on its labour costs when it has cars repaired by its own employees.

The Commission is aware of this situation, which arises from the fact that insurance transactions are
exempted from VAT under Article 13.B.(a) of the Sixth Council Directive 77/388/EEC of 17 May 1977 on
the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to turnover taxes (cid:129) Common system of value
added tax: uniform basis of assessment (2). The Commission is examining the possibility of moving from
exemption to taxation in the assurance sector but has no immediate plans for action in this area.

However, Article 6(3) of the Sixth VAT Directive already allows Member States,
in order to prevent
distortion of competition, to (cid:145)treat as a supply of services for consideration the supply by a taxable person
of a service for the purposes of his undertaking where the value added tax on such a service, had it been
supplied by another taxable person, would not be wholly deductible(cid:146). It is, of course, up to the United
Kingdom authorities to judge whether such a scheme is necessary. In order to avoid excessive deviations
among Member States, there must in such cases be prior consultation of the VAT committee.

(1) OJ L 228, 16.8.1973.
(2) OJ L 145, 13.6.1977.

(2001/C 136 E/096)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2756/00

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(1 September 2000)

Subject: Failure to transpose Directive 79/409/EC on the conservation of wild birds

The Commission has decided to deliver a reasoned opinion against Greece for not transposing into its
legislation the provisions of Directive 79/409/EEC (1) on the conservation of wild birds.