French government applies same VAT rate for printed and digital press
EMMA, the the European Magazine Media Association and the European Newspaper Publishers’ Association, ENPA, have expressed their strong support for the initiative of the French Government applying the same VAT rate (2.1 per cent) for all press products and services on all platforms (print and digital) in respect of the principle of fiscal equality and technological neutrality.
Thirty three national press associations, members of EMMA and ENPA, have provided their support to this initiative and encourage their national governments to call for change at EU level. This decision, announced to the French press associations (SPQN, SPQR, SEPM, FNPS, SPIIL) on Friday 17 January, will be followed shortly by a legislative proposal, together with an immediate instruction to apply the 2.1 per cent for digital press in France.
This is a first step which is decisive to change VAT rules in Europe, in a context where other national governments position themselves clearly in favour of zero, super reduced or reduced VAT rates for printed and digital press. For instance Germany expressed recently its support for reduced VAT rates for the printed and digital press in the governmental coalition treaty.
EMMA president David Hanger said: “The French government has understood that the future of our digital business models strongly depends on appropriate conditions regarding VAT. It is a major step that the Commission should take into account before the end of its mandate in order to fulfil the objectives of the digital agenda.”
