We responded to the EU consultation on VAT on electronic publications, including ebooks. Current VAT rules discriminate against blind and partially sighted people who cannot read books in standard print. Only 5% of all published books in developed countries (and less than 1% in developing countries) are produced in accessible formats - such as braille, large print and audio - that blind and partially sighted can access. Increased affordability of ebooks would therefore provide more opportunities to access reading for more print-disabled people. In our response to the consultation we stressed the importance of ensuring that any VAT cut is passed on to customers. We also urged the EU to swiftly ratify the Marrakesh Treaty, which would enable organisations of blind and partially sighted people and libraries to share their collections of accessible books with other same-language communities around the world.
Read our response to the consultation http://www.euroblind.org/media/position-papers/EBU-response-Public-Consultation-reduced-VAT-rates-for-electronically-supplied-publications.docx
By Carine Marzin, Chair, European Blind Union Campaigns Network