Faced with soaring energy prices which weighs on purchasing power, Brussels recommends directly helping those who need it most, by paying specific checks, rather than uniformly lowering the VAT on fuel, indicated the European Commissioner Thierry Breton on the antenna of BFM / RMC Monday.
What weighs the most on households and especially disadvantaged households is the increase in energy, and there we really have to support this global impact very quickly on those who need it most, said Thierry Breton, Commissioner to the Internal Market and Industry. Hence our recommendation, which has been implemented in France in particular, is to have specific checks to support. And it will probably have to be done again until the summer, he added.
Inflation bonus: do not hesitate to do it again
Asked about the aid of 100 euros for French people earning less than 2000 euros net per month, announced in the fall by Prime Minister Jean Castex, the Commissioner felt that he should not hesitate to do it again.
On the other hand, on the possibility of a reduction in VAT to 5.5% on fuels that Brussels could accept by considering petrol as a basic necessity, Mr. Breton said that its impact was not very high for the budget and for consumers compared to other more direct solutions.
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I think that today what is really necessary is really to help those who need it the most, there is at least 25% of the French population that needs to be helped, and I believe that It’s much more efficient than doing something uniform, he said.
A specific measure for motorists?
Can we go further than the inflation indemnity? (…) why not, reaffirmed at the same time the French Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire questioned on the airwaves of France info. If he rejects any reduction in VAT, he felt that we can consider a specific measure for people who have no other choice but to take their vehicle to work.
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