18/02/2021 (Agence Europe) – On Thursday 18 February, MEP Stéphanie Yon-Courtin (Renew Europe, France), with support from 12 other MEPs from various political groups, called for a reduction in the VAT rate for the equine and equestrian sectors, as part of the European reform of VAT rates. In a press release, she explained that, following a ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union in 2012, a number of Member States, including France, had to put up their reduced VAT rates for equestrian and equine activities. The situation has been made worse by the Covid-19 pandemic, which has had an extremely damaging impact on the sector, she said. The reform of VAT rates, which was proposed in 2018 (see EUROPE 11940/15), would enable Member States to apply a reduced VAT rate to a large number of sectors that are vital for the EU economy, she said, and called for the Council of the EU to adopt the reform before the summer. (MF)