Brussels, 12/09/2003 (Agence Europe) - Restaurant owners support the European Commission's proposals, which will allow Member State that so wish to apply a reduced rate of VAT on restaurants. They called upon their governments to rally to the proposal in the communiqués diffused the day before the first debate between European ministers on the issue, during the informal Ecofin Council in Stresa at the weekend (see yesterday's EUROPE, p.11). Euro-Toque International, the association made up of 3500 master chefs and cooks, encourages "decision-makers to continue along the road now initiated and to adopt the Commission's proposal which (…) seems to go along the lines needed for protection of heritage, quality and tradition". European chefs consider it is not acceptable for the current provisions to allow VAT rates to be cut for fast food services and not for traditional cuisine. The HOTREC association (Hotels, Restaurants, Cafés) notes like the European chefs that eight Member States also apply reduced rates on restaurant services and several others have expressed their desire to do the same. It would therefore be "absurd", Hotrec states, for the Commission proposals to be rejected. The catering association tables on support from the European Parliament which had adopted resolutions in favour of reduced rates in 1997, 1998 and 2002.