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Communication on VAT reduced rates - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 07 July 2008, 14:06 CET

The European Commission made a proposal on 7 July 2008 to change the VAT Directive 2006/112/EC so as to provide EU Member States with the flexibility to apply reduced VAT rates for some specific services on a permanent basis. The Commission proposal covers areas where there is sufficient evidence that reduced rates do not create problems for the proper functioning of the Internal Market. The sectors concerned are mainly so called labour-intensive services and locally supplied services, including restaurant services. The proposal is also part of the small business act as SMEs dominate the sectors concerned. The proposal does not alter the principle that the application of reduced rates is optional for Member States.

How VAT works in the European Union by EUbusiness — last modified 04 July 2008, 13:46 CET

Value Added Tax, or VAT, in the European Union is a general, broadly based consumption tax assessed on the value added to goods and services. It applies more or less to all goods and services that are bought and sold for use or consumption in the Community. Thus, goods which are sold for export or services which are sold to customers abroad are normally not subject to VAT. Conversely imports are taxed to keep the system fair for EU producers so that they can compete on equal terms on the European market with suppliers situated outside the Union.

Financial inclusion - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 29 May 2008, 00:52 CET

The study “Financial Services Provision and Prevention of Financial Exclusion”, prepared for the European Commission, aims at identifying and analysing the most effective policy measures to prevent financial exclusion of people facing poverty or social exclusion.

Notice on state aid in the form of Guarantees - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 20 May 2008, 19:06 CET

The European Commission on 20 May 2008 adopted a new Notice on state aid in the form of guarantees. The text sets out clear and transparent methodologies to calculate the aid element in a guarantee and provides simplified rules for SMEs, including predefined safe-harbour premiums and single premium rates for low-amount guarantees. The new Notice was foreseen in the State Aid Action Plan as part of the Commission's efforts to clarify and simplify the state aid rules.

Commission issues Recommendation to strengthen confidence in statutory audit by EUbusiness — last modified 14 May 2008, 00:57 CET

The European Commission on 13 May 2008 issued a Recommendation on "external quality assurance for statutory auditors and audit firms auditing public interest entities". It provides guidance to EU Member States for establishing an independent and effective system of inspections on the basis of the Directive on Statutory Audit. In essence, this Recommendation gives more responsibilities to the public oversight bodies, strengthens the independence of inspection teams and enhances transparency on the results of inspections of individual audit firms.

Commission investigation into UK restructuring aid package for Northern Rock - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 02 April 2008, 11:18 CET

The European Commission on 2 April 2008 launched an in-depth investigation under the EC Treaty’s rules on state aid into the UK authorities' package of measures to support the restructuring of Northern Rock, the UK mortgage bank. The Commission received the notification of these measures on 17th March 2008. The opening of an in-depth investigation gives interested parties the possibility to comment on the proposed measures but it does not prejudge the outcome.

Transparency of Debtors assets - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 06 March 2008, 15:32 CET

The European Commission on 6 March 2008 adopted a Green paper with the scope to launch a broad consultation among interested parties on how to improve the transparency of debtors' assets in the European Union. The Green Paper describes the problems of the current situation and possible solutions.

Financial assistance to the Western Balkans - Donor cooperation by EUbusiness — last modified 05 March 2008, 17:33 CET

The European Union supports financially the reform process and the overall development of the Western Balkans and Turkey from the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA), from EIB loans, and by means of better coordination with the International Financial Institutions (IFIs), and other donors.

Chinese treatment of foreign financial information providers - EU WTO request by EUbusiness — last modified 03 March 2008, 23:19 CET

The European Union has formally requested consultations at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) over measures that affect the operation of foreign financial information suppliers in China. China has prevented foreign suppliers of financial information services from providing their services directly to their clients. They are now required to operate through an agent that is a branch of Xinhua itself. Moreover, Xinhua has recently launched a financial information service in direct competition with foreign suppliers. The European Commission had tried to solve the issue through cooperation and dialogue, but without success. The United States has also requested consultations at the WTO over this issue.

Commission Communication on Financial Stability - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 28 February 2008, 00:21 CET

The European Commission on 27 February 2008 adopted communications on sovereign wealth funds and on adapting European and global financial systems to better promote financial stability. These communications are the Commission contribution to EU leaders' discussions on these subjects at the Spring European Council on March 13-14. On financial stability, the Commission wants the European Council to confirm the principles which will guide the EU’s efforts to improve financial market transparency and reinforce prudential control and risk management, and to set out the broad lines of the action to be taken.

Sovereign wealth funds and financial stability - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 27 February 2008, 19:53 CET

The European Commission has today adopted communications on sovereign wealth funds and on adapting European and global financial systems to better promote financial stability. These communications are the Commission contribution to EU leaders' discussions on these subjects at the Spring European Council on March 13-14. On sovereign wealth funds (SWFs), the Commission is proposing that EU leaders endorse a common EU approach to increasing the transparency, predictability and accountability of SWFs. This common approach will strengthen Europe’s voice in international discussions aiming to establish a code of conduct including standards in areas of transparency and governance. On financial stability, the Commission wants the European Council to confirm the principles which will guide the EU’s efforts to improve financial market transparency and reinforce prudential control and risk management, and to set out the broad lines of the action to be taken.

Modernised Community Customs Code - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 19 February 2008, 19:05 CET

The aim of the modernised Community Customs Code regulation is to replace the existing Community Customs Code and the related Regulations with a modernized Customs Code that streamlines customs procedures and lays the foundations for accessible, inter-operable customs clearance systems at EU level.

Institutionalised Public-Private Partnerships - Commission guidance by EUbusiness — last modified 19 February 2008, 19:41 CET

The European Commission on 18 February 2008 published guidance on the founding of Institutionalised Public-Private Partnerships (IPPP). IPPP are undertakings jointly held by public and private partners and are usually set up to provide services for the public, in particular at the local level. The Commission's guidance is based on a ruling of the European Court of Justice (C-26/03 "Stadt Halle"). The Stadt Halle case requires transparent and competitive award procedures whenever public contracts or concessions are awarded to public-private partnerships. The guidance clarifies the EC rules that apply when an IPPP is set up. In so doing, it provides greater legal certainty not only for the public sector but also for private investors in the area of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP).

Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 28 January 2008, 21:24 CET

SEPA, the Single Euro Payments Area, went live on 28 January 2008 and European banks formally launched the first SEPA payment instrument for credit transfers. This marks the first step in a migration process over the next few years during which customers will move in a market-led process from existing national electronic payment instruments to the new SEPA instruments. The European Commission said in a statement: "this is a logical extension to the introduction of the euro and will produce substantial benefits through a more competitive and efficient payments market".

Consumer Credit Directive - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 16 January 2008, 17:43 CET

Consumers across Europe look set to be able to make better informed choices when they take out consumer credit loans - paying for holidays, weddings or a new car - following a decision in the European Parliament on 16 January 2008. The proposed EU Directive on Consumer Credit Loans aims to break open the EUR 800 billion EU consumer loans market which remains largely fragmented into national markets denying consumers choice and more competitive prices. The new rules will make the market more transparent for consumers and business competitors. The main effect will be to provide standard, comparable information to customers across the EU taking out a credit loan. Under the new rules, consumers will be assured access to key facts and figures in advertisements. For credit offers, the information given to consumers (e.g interest rates, amount, number and frequency of payments, the obligation to take out an insurance or the charges for defaulting) must be set out in a new comparable EU-wide European Credit Information Form. And there will be a new single EU-wide method for calculating the Annual Percentage Rate of Charge (APR) so consumers can see the real cost of credit. The proposed directive also sets common standards on a right of withdrawal so consumers can change their mind. This Consumer Credit Directive is part of a bigger drive to boost the cross border market in retail financial services as set out in the recently published Green Paper on Retail Financial Services.

The euro and the eurozone - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 24 December 2007, 00:31 CET

Background information on the euro and the euro area, or eurozone.

EC prohibits MasterCard's intra-EEA Multilateral Interchange Fees - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 20 December 2007, 00:51 CET

The European Commission on 19 December 2007 decided that MasterCard's multilateral interchange fees (MIF) for cross-border payment card transactions with MasterCard and Maestro branded debit and consumer credit cards in the European Economic Area (EEA) violate EC Treaty rules on restrictive business practices (Article 81). The Commission concluded that MasterCard's MIF, a charge levied on each payment at a retail outlet when the payment is processed, inflated the cost of card acceptance by retailers without leading to proven efficiencies. MasterCard has six months to comply with the Commission's order to withdraw the fees. If MasterCard fails to comply, the Commission may impose daily penalty payments of 3.5% of its daily global turnover in the preceding business year. MIF are not illegal as such. However, a MIF in an open payment card scheme such as MasterCard's is only compatible with EU competition rules if it contributes to technical and economic progress and benefits consumers. In the EU, over 23 billion payments, exceeding a value of EUR 1,350 billion, are made every year with payment cards.

Contraband and counterfeit cigarettes - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 15 December 2007, 00:47 CET

The European Commission, together with 26 participating Member States of the European Union, and JT International (JTI) on 14 December 2007 announced a multi-year agreement that includes an efficient system to fight against future cigarette smuggling and counterfeiting. Through the Agreement, JTI will work with the European Commission, its anti-fraud office OLAF, and law enforcement authorities of the Member States to help in the fight against contraband, including the problem of counterfeit cigarettes. The Agreement includes substantial payments by JTI, which total USD 400 million over fifteen years.

EU budget 2008: breakdown by EUbusiness — last modified 13 December 2007, 17:58 CET

In 2008, for the first time ever, the largest share of the EU budget - 45% of all EU spending – will go on measures to boost economic growth and greater cohesion in the EU-27. The move to spend more on competitiveness reflects Europe's commitment to prosper in a constantly evolving global economy, while ensuring stable support for farming. Agriculture will continue to receive over 40% of EU cash.

Direct taxation : EC Communication on the application of anti-abuse measures - guide by EUbusiness — last modified 11 December 2007, 02:54 CET

The European Commission adopted on 10 December 2007 a Communication inviting EU Member States to carry out a general review of their anti-abuse rules in the direct tax area, in light of the principles flowing from relevant ECJ case law, – and to explore possible coordinated solutions in this field. In order to prevent tax abuse, Member States have implemented anti-abuse rules with the aim of preventing economic operators from eroding the tax base in their territory by diverting their income to other countries. Member States' existing anti-abuse rules often do not properly take into consideration the freedoms of the Treaty and are therefore increasingly challenged. In the framework of an EU-coordinated approach in direct taxation (IP/06/1827), the Commission is willing to assist Member States in bringing their anti-abuse rules in line with EC law requirements and to explore the scope for constructive and coordinated responses to the challenges faced by Member States.