Belgium will reduce its Value Added Tax on electricity as part of a package of measures to protect consumers from rising energy prices, the prime minister said today.
Gas and electricity prices in Europe have risen sharply this year as economies recover from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, resulting in higher consumer bills and rising commodity prices.
“It is a difficult situation, the government has shown that it can take balanced measures that respond to the realities in the field,” said Prime Minister Alexander De Kro in a press conference.
After talks that lasted until late at night, the government today decided to reduce the value added tax on electricity from 21% to 6% from 1 March to 1 July, to give a check for 100 euros to the Belgians and to extend the social invoice.
The energy package will reach 1.1 billion euros, according to Energy Minister Tine van der Stretten, which equates to an average reduction of 165 euros for households.
Most of the 27 EU countries have designed measures to protect consumers from high energy prices. Bulgaria froze heating and energy prices by the end of March, Spain and France set a ceiling on energy bill increases, while other countries, including Sweden, offered compensation to the most affected households.
Today’s move comes after weeks of debate within the divided Belgian government on how to protect consumers from rising energy bills.
See all the news
Follow Skai.gr on Google News
and be the first to know all the news
Skai
