07/01/2008 (Agence Europe) - Directive 2007/75/EC has been published in Official Journal L 346 of 29 December 2007. This directive extends some reduced rates of value added tax (VAT), negotiated by five member states on their accession to the European Union in 2004, until the end of 2010. Publication was permitted after the Council gave its go-ahead on 20 December. The extension of reduced VAT rates refers principally to: - the application of a 5% rate to the supply of construction work in residential housing in the Czech Republic and Slovenia; - reduced rates of at least 5% and 7% on catering services in Cyprus and Poland respectively; - a zero rate for the delivery of foodstuffs and pharmaceutical goods in Malta; - an 8.5% rate for meals preparation services in Slovenia. In 2008, the Commission will present a legislative proposal to rationalise the European acquis on reduced rates of VAT (see EUROPE 9559). (M.B.)