Proposal to reduce the VAT for the horecasector to 6%

The former ‘Swedish’ coalition partners N-VA, MR, Open Vld and CD&V have a bill ready to reduce VAT in the catering industry to 6 percent during the corona crisis. This should give the sector, which has been virtually closed since the first corona measures, financial breathing space.

The catering industry has had to close its doors since mid-March to stem the spread of the virus. There is no concrete perspective on a reopening today. In order to offer the restaurants and cafés some extra breathing space, and to prevent bankruptcies and job losses, the four parties propose to temporarily reduce VAT to 6 percent.

N-VA, MR, CD&V and Open Vld together do not get a majority in the House to get the proposal approved. They therefore call on other parties to join the ‘catering coalition’. The foursome also emphasizes that the VAT drop should get the green light for the reopening, to provide clarity and certainty to the sector. In Flanders, some 80,000 people work in the catering industry.