Activites

• 2001/01/24 Final act published in Official Journal
• #2326
• 2001/01/19 Council Meeting
• 2001/01/19 End of procedure in Parliament
• 2001/01/19 Act adopted by Council after consultation of Parliament
• 2000/12/14 Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
  • T5-0577/2000 summary

    In adopting the report drafted by Mrs Helena TORRES MARQUES (PES, P), the European Parliament called for the introduction of a common VAT system. The House believed that it was appropriate to maintain the current minimum standard rate at 15% for a limited period and that instead of extending the present arrangements for another 5 years, as proposed by the Commission, it should in fact be reduced to 3 years, i.e. until 31 December 2003. �

• 2000/12/13 Debate in Parliament
  • Debate in Parliament
• 2000/11/28 Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
  • A5-0366/2000
• 2000/10/27 Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
• 2000/09/20 Legislative proposal published
  • COM(2000)0537 summary

    PURPOSE : to present a proposal for a Council Directive aiming to amend Directive 77/388/EEC on the common system of value added tax, with regard to the length of time during which the minimum standard rate is to be applied. CONTENT : earlier proposals relating to approximate rates of value added tax have been amended by the Council several times, however, throughout this process the Council kept only the principle of the minimum rate. Since then, the Commission has recently adopted a new strategy aimed at improving the operation of the VAT system in the internal market. This strategy does not call into question the idea of a definitive system of taxation or harmonisation of the rates as long-term objectives. However, having said this, the Commission proposed a phased strategy geared to four major objectives, namely simplification and modernisation of current rules, more uniform application of the existing legislation and closer administrative cooperation. During this period, however, it is important to prevent growing divergence in the standard rates of VAT applied by the Member States from leading to structural imbalances in the EU and distortions of competition in certain sectors of activity. Therefore, the aim of this proposal is to enable the Council to extend the period of application of the minimum standard rate of value added tax. The minimum level for the standard rate is therefore set at 15% for a period of 5 years, from 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2005. This provision will be subject to revision, given that the Council, acting on a proposal to be submitted by the Commission not later than 31 December 2005, must decide what the standard rate is to be after that date. �

  • DG [{'url': 'http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/index_en.htm', 'title': 'Taxation and Customs Union'}],

Documents

• Legislative proposal published: COM(2000)0537
• Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading: A5-0366/2000
• Debate in Parliament: Debate in Parliament
• Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading: T5-0577/2000

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)