BRUSSELS, Belgium (BRUSSELS) - EU finance ministers agreed on December 7 to change EU regulations to introduce tax cuts for products and services related to combating climate change and protecting health.

比利时，布鲁塞尔（BRUSSELS）－欧盟财政部长于12月7日同意更订欧盟法规，针对和气候变迁抗衡并保护健康相关产品及服务实施减税。

Initially, in 2018, the European Commission did not include electric bicycles, allowing member states more flexibility to adjust tax rates for different products. However, electric bicycles are already included in the final document approved by EU finance ministers. This was announced by Slovenian Finance Minister Andrej Šircelj, who is chairing negotiations of the Council of EU Finance Ministers, which will hold the rotating presidency until the end of December.

最初在2018年时，欧盟执委会并没有纳入电动自行车，让成员国有更多弹性因应不同产品调整税率。不过欧盟财政部长通过的最终文件中已有纳入电动自行车。这是由主持欧盟财政部长理事会协商的斯洛伐尼亚财政部长Andrej Šircelj所宣布的，该国将担任轮值主席到12月底。

BRUSSELS, Belgium (BRUSSELS) - EU finance ministers agreed on December 7 to change EU regulations to introduce tax cuts for products and services related to combating climate change and protecting health.

比利时，布鲁塞尔（BRUSSELS）－欧盟财政部长于12月7日同意更订欧盟法规，针对和气候变迁抗衡并保护健康相关产品及服务实施减税。

Initially, in 2018, the European Commission did not include electric bicycles, allowing member states more flexibility to adjust tax rates for different products. However, electric bicycles are already included in the final document approved by EU finance ministers. This was announced by Slovenian Finance Minister Andrej Šircelj, who is chairing negotiations of the Council of EU Finance Ministers, which will hold the rotating presidency until the end of December.

最初在2018年时，欧盟执委会并没有纳入电动自行车，让成员国有更多弹性因应不同产品调整税率。不过欧盟财政部长通过的最终文件中已有纳入电动自行车。这是由主持欧盟财政部长理事会协商的斯洛伐尼亚财政部长Andrej Šircelj所宣布的，该国将担任轮值主席到12月底。

entire industry

Following the publication of the proposal, ECF and CONEBI issued a joint statement stating that they will jointly advocate the inclusion of electric bicycles in the list of products that are eligible for price reduction in EU member states, including a joint position paper.

整个产业

在公布该提案之后，ECF和CONEBI发出共同声明表示将联合提倡把电动自行车也纳入欧盟成员国可适用减价的产品清单，其中包含一份联合立场文件。

entire industry

Following the publication of the proposal, ECF and CONEBI issued a joint statement stating that they will jointly advocate the inclusion of electric bicycles in the list of products that are eligible for price reduction in EU member states, including a joint position paper.

比利时等个别成员国同时通过立法，将在欧盟加值税允许范围之内针对所有类别自行车实施减税并满足欧盟自行车产业的需求。ECF和CONEBI现在呼吁成员国利用这个新的机会并落实减税政策。

VAT system

Current EU VAT legislation dates back nearly 30 years. The European Commission proposed reforms in 2018. Progress on tax rules in EU institutions has typically been slow because EU legislation requires unanimous consent from all member states, with each government potentially vetoing it.

加值税体系

目前欧盟加值税法规可追溯至将近30年前。欧盟执委会在2018年提议改革。欧盟机构的税收规则通常进展缓慢，因为欧盟的相关立法需要所有成员国一致同意才行，每个政府都有可能投否决票。

The minimum standard value-added tax rate for all goods and services in the EU is 15%, and only some special goods have a preferential tax rate of 5%. Actual tax rates vary across EU member states and for different products. The EU VAT system is quite complex, as some countries enjoy preferential tax rates when they join the EU. The agreement, approved by member state finance ministers, does not simplify operations. Member states can retain special rates as long as they do not jeopardize the objectives of the European Green Deal.

欧盟针对所有商品和服务的最低标准加值税率为15%，仅有一些特例商品的优惠税率为最低5%。各个欧盟成员国和不同产品的实际税率都不相同。欧盟加值税体系相当错综复杂，因为部分国家在加入欧盟时就享有优惠税率。这份成员国财政部长通过的协议并无简化作业。成员国只要不危及欧盟绿色新政（European Green Deal）的目标仍可保有特殊税率。