O executivo da União Europeia tomou acção legal contra França e Luxemburgo nesta terça-feira por aplicar taxas de juros reduzidas sobre a venda de livros eletrónicos, o que é, segundo o órgão, considerado incompatível com as regras da UE.
Desde Janeiro, França e Luxemburgo aplicaram impostos sobre o valor acrescentado (VAT, na sigla em inglês) reduzidos sobre a venda de ebooks, de 7% e 3%, respectivamente. Sob as leis da UE, governos podem aplicar taxas VAT reduzidas a uma lista limitada de bens e serviços que inclui livros, mas actualmente não ebooks.
"Essa situação cria sérias distorções de competição para o detrimento de operadores nos outros 25 países-membro, já que livros eletrónicos podem ser facilmente adquiridos num país-membro que não é o país de residência do consumidor", disse a Comissão Europeia em nota.
Ebooks são publicações digitais que devem ser lidas em telemóveis e outros aparelhos eletrónicos como o Kindle, da Amazon, ou o iPad, da Apple.
A Comissão disse que considerará a possibilidade de inlcuir ebooks na lista de bens elegíveis para VATs reduzidos, mas não pretende fazer propostas legislativas até o final de 2013.
França e Luxemburgo têm um mês para responder à Comissão e justificar suas regras. Se o executivo do bloco não estiver satisfeito com a resposta, ele pode levar os países ao Tribunal Europeu de Justiça, que, em última instância, pode levar à imposição de multas.
The European Union's executive has taken legal action against France and Luxembourg on Tuesday to apply reduced interest rates on the sale of electronic books, which is, according to the organ, considered incompatible with EU rules.
Since January, France and Luxembourg have implemented value-added taxes (VAT, its acronym in English) on the reduced sale of ebooks, 7% and 3% respectively. Under EU law, governments can apply reduced VAT rates to a limited list of goods and services including books, ebooks, but not now.
"This situation creates serious distortions of competition to the detriment of other operators in the 25 member countries, since electronic books can be easily purchased in a member country which is not the country of residence," said the European Commission in a statement.
Ebooks are digital publications to be read on mobile phones and other electronic devices like the Amazon Kindle, or iPad from Apple.
The Commission said it will consider to include those ebooks in the list of goods eligible for reduced VATS, but do not want to make legislative proposals by the end of 2013.
France and Luxembourg have a month to respond to the Commission and justify its rules. If the executive of the block are not satisfied with the answer, it can lead countries to the European Court of Justice, which ultimately can lead to fines.
Since January, France and Luxembourg have implemented value-added taxes (VAT, its acronym in English) on the reduced sale of ebooks, 7% and 3% respectively. Under EU law, governments can apply reduced VAT rates to a limited list of goods and services including books, ebooks, but not now.
"This situation creates serious distortions of competition to the detriment of other operators in the 25 member countries, since electronic books can be easily purchased in a member country which is not the country of residence," said the European Commission in a statement.
Ebooks are digital publications to be read on mobile phones and other electronic devices like the Amazon Kindle, or iPad from Apple.
The Commission said it will consider to include those ebooks in the list of goods eligible for reduced VATS, but do not want to make legislative proposals by the end of 2013.
France and Luxembourg have a month to respond to the Commission and justify its rules. If the executive of the block are not satisfied with the answer, it can lead countries to the European Court of Justice, which ultimately can lead to fines.
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