06/12/2005 (Agence Europe) - In a press release, French EPP-ED MEP Veronique Mathieu regrets that Tuesday's ECOFIN Council was a lost opportunity for growth and employment in Europe because it failed to agree on cut-level VAT despite the determination of the French, displayed by minister Thierry Breton, to extend 5.5% VAT for building work and get cut-level VAT for catering (see other article). Regretting Germany's opposition at the ECOFIN Council, the UMP MEP said she would rather see the continuation of cut-level VAT for building than a derogatory transition scheme. On restaurants and catering, she said that eating in is disadvantaged compared with takeaways because cut rate VAT (5.5%) already applies to takeaways.