The editors-in-chief of regional newspapers have called on the government and coalition parties to scrap the planned VAT increase on news media. It now appears their prayers have been answered.
In an open letter recently published on the front page of titles of all seventeen regional newspapers, they asked the government and coalition parties to withdraw the VAT increase from 9 to 21%.
The editors-in-chief said the VAT increase would mean that considerably fewer readers would be able to afford a subscription. The editors-in-chief expected this to have major consequences for regional reporting. “Will we still have enough journalists to report on the municipal council and critically monitor local policymakers?”, they wonder. “Can we still make investigative stories about major issues in the region?”
It now appears their prayers have been answered as the proposed VAT increase on theatres, museums, books and sports in 2026 is off the table after opposition parties in the House of Representatives failed to back the cabinet’s plans.
The editors-in-chief had emphasised that all other European countries keep VAT on news media low and they called on the government to reconsider the increase.
