Brussels, 09/11/2007 (Agence Europe) - The Socialist Group at the European Parliament has decided to launch an online campaign and petition to pressurise governments to cut value added tax (VAT) on condoms in order to help reduce the spread of the AIDS epidemic in Europe. In a press release, Jan Marinus Wiersma (PES, the Netherlands) explains that 26,984 newly diagnosed cases of HIV were reported in the EU in 2005. The predominant mode of transmission is sexual relations among heterosexuals. Reducing VAT on condoms to the lowest possible level (condom use prevents the transmission of the virus) would be 'both a practical step in tackling AIDS and a powerful symbolic gesture on World AIDS Day', he explained.
VAT on condoms can be as high as 25% in the EU (in Sweden and Denmark, for example). Wiersma explains that under EU rule, governments have the power to set their own rate of VAT on condoms as long as it is no lower than 5%.
To sign the petition: http: //http://www.socialistgroup.eu/gpes/petition.do?lg=en (M.B.)