The statement from ENPA and EMMA: Following the announcement made by Mrs Monika Grütters, the German Culture Minister, and Mrs Aurélie Filippetti, the French Culture Minister, on 19th February 2014, press publishers in Europe join this call to the Member States and to the EU institutions to take immediate action allowing the reduction of VAT rates on digital press.
This important statement from France and Germany is a clear and decisive political signal for an urgent change, in order to align the VAT rates (including zero, super reduced or reduced VAT rates) which currently apply for the printed press to digital press products and services. This would encourage a pluralistic, independent and vibrant press sector in Europe.
This need for change has been strongly voiced by ENPA and EMMA members, following the decision of the French government to apply a 2.1% VAT rate for digital press in France. Press publishers in Europe call on national governments and the EU to apply appropriate conditions regarding VAT and adapt the VAT legislation in order to provide a sustainable future for digital business models in the press sector. This is a major step that the European Commission should take before the end of the current mandate in order to fulfil the objectives of the EU Digital Agenda.
In France, a law aimed at aligning the VAT rate which currently applies for the printed press to digital press, has been recently approved by the Assemblée Nationale with an immediate application from 1st February 2014. In Germany, in a previous public statement and referring to the coalition agreement, the Culture Minister, Mrs Monika Grütters already called on the European Union to place the reduction of VAT rates for digital press on the EU agenda as soon as possible.
