Poland gains approval to keep 0% VAT on books despite German opposition

After three years of negotiations, the European Union (EU) has finally agree d to grant Poland a four year transition period during which the 0% VAT rate on books would be maintained. Commenting on the report, carried in the Zycie daily, Andrzej Nowakowski, president of the Polish Book Chamber (PIK), said, "This is good news, because even now more than half of Poles do not read boo ks at all." Bogumil Paszkiewicz from the National Publishing Agency (KAW) co mmented, "The introduction of a 7% VAT rate would cause a drastic, 15%-20%, drop in book purchases." Germany had opposed the 0% VAT rate, fearing the co untry's book-buyers might travel to Poland to purchase cheap German dictiona ries and encyclopedias. (Zycie, p. 1) T.J.