VAT reduction to help French gastronomy

Starting July 1, France will sink value added tax for its ailing gastronomy sector from 19.6 to 5.5 percent. In its leading article the regional paper L'Est Républicain comments: "Will the restaurant owners pass on the tax cut? In general people in the trade say yes. It's got to be said, the government is putting on a fancy spread to invigorate a culinary brigade which is of the greatest importance for tourism in France and for the job market. In exchange for a measure that will cost the state three billion euros, restaurant owners are ready to invest in the future. ... They have promised to grease the palms of their staff: dish washers, head waiters, wine stewards will all benefit. ... In turn the bosses have promised to create 40,000 jobs within two years."

» full article (external link, French)
More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Tax Policy, » France