WRITTEN QUESTION E-1113/00 by Lord Inglewood (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Extension of the 1994 UK VAT Act.
C 53 E/76 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 20. 2. 2001 ü Has the Commission any plans to revise the level of subsidies granted, e. g. by reference to the subsidies paid for cows? ü If no decisions have yet been taken, what is the timescale for taking such decisions? Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (22 May 2000) Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 of 17 May 1999 on support for rural development from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (1) includes under the agri-environment heading Community support in promotion of genetic diversity. It is up to Member States to decide in line with their individual situations and priorities whether or not to make use of this category of measure. On the subsidy rate payable, Member States shall determine the need to provide an incentive on the basis of objective criteriaí (Article 18 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1750/1999 of 23 July 1999 (2) on application of Regulation No 1257/1999). This applies to all the agri-environment measures. The Finnish authorities have proposed a subsidy programme for various local breeds (horses, cattle, sheep etc. ) specifying numbers of animals and rates. The Commissionís decision on this will be taken as soon as possible through the procedure indicated in Article 50(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 1260/1999 of 21 June 1999 laying down general provisions on the Structural Funds (3). (1) OJ L 160, 26. 6. 1999. (2) OJ L 214, 13. 8. 1999. (3) OJ L 161, 26. 6. 1999. (2001/C 53 E/092) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1113/00 by Lord Inglewood (PPE-DE) to the Commission (11 April 2000) Subject: Extension of the 1994 UK VAT Act Would the European Commission have any objection to Section 33 of the 1994 UK VAT Act being extended to nationally-funded museums and galleries whose trustees are appointed by the UK Govern- ment? Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission (19 May 2000) Section 33 of the 1994 British VAT Act introduced a refund scheme, whereby input VAT, for which the recovery is not possible under the normal VAT procedure, is refunded to certain local authorities and government departments. This refund scheme is a financial operation between different public bodies which does not conflict with the European common VAT system and could be considered as a sort of subsidy granted to certain local authorities and government departments. The question of which of these bodies can be included in Section 33 of the 1994 British Act is a purely national matter to be determined by the British authorities