The OCU demands that the Spanish government “urgently and substantially” increase the amount of the 200 euro check for families with an income of less than 27,000 euros, as well as the number of beneficiaries, while raising income limits.
The President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sanchez, stated this Wednesday that the intention is to extend the VAT reduction on some foodstuffs, which expires on June 30, because their prices remain “high”. “We want to do it, that is the will,” Sánchez said in an interview on TVE.
The president has indicated that he will propose this expansion to the Congress of Deputies, where he has a parliamentary minority, so that it can go ahead despite the “enormous” effort, but “necessary” that it represents for the public treasury.
“The evolution of food prices still remains high and that is why we have to make that effort, which is a huge effort for the public purse. I am thinking mainly of the Vice President of the Ministry of Finance, but I think it is also a necessary effort for our homes,” said the Spanish President.
The Minister of Economy, Trade and Affairs, Carlos Bodyhas also called for maintaining the VAT reduction on some foodstuffs, as some products are still “an evolution above the CPI“.
For its part, the Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU) He has described the Spanish government’s intention to extend the VAT cut as “insufficient” and has indicated that he does not understand why meat and fish are still excluded, which he has been calling for for months.
The OCU believes that the 0% VAT should be applied equally to meat and fish to facilitate the acquisition of high-quality animal proteins.
It also requires a joint effort from the entire food chain to find solutions that contribute to lowering the prices of basic products.
In addition, the OCU demands that the Spanish government increase the amount “urgently and substantially”. Check for 200 euros for families with an income of less than 27,000 euros, as well as the number of beneficiaries, while increasing the income limits.
Last month the Spanish government extended this December until June 30 of this year 0% VAT on certain basic foodstuffs, such as milk, bread, eggs and cheese, and fruit, legumes, tubers, grains and vegetables that, like him, have the status of natural products olive oil. Similarly, the VAT reduction was also extended from 10% to 5% for pasta.
The decision to extend this reduction is in stark contrast to what Madrid last communicated to Brussels 30th of April in the document updating the macroeconomic and budgetary forecasts for the years 2024 and 2025which envisaged that the reduction in VAT on food would be reversed on 30 June this year.
Source: EITB
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
