Ian Hills's allegations about EU-imposed taxes are gravely mistaken on several counts (Letters, June 19).
There has been no "Brussels decision" to charge VAT on the goods and services he lists.
Any decision by EU member states to make changes to VAT exemptions or special rates must be agreed by all countries, meaning each government has a veto over the final decision.
The UK charges higher VAT rates on services such as bars, restaurants and hotels than most other EU states. But that does not mean they will be forced to charge more.
VAT rates have absolutely no connection with funding of pension schemes in other EU countries.
Even if we were to join the euro, EU law contains a special "no bail out" clause specifically excluding liability for the commitments of other EU governments.
In any case, pension liabilities are not actual debt but a tool used for analysing the sustainability of a pension system. If we were to apply the same logic to our NHS, it would show up a huge unfunded liability. But no one claims other EU countries would be liable to bail us out.
Mr Hills is an anti-EU scaremonger. If he were to look at other EU countries, he would note they enjoy superior train services, national health provision and care for the elderly than in Britain.
They also have lower mortgage rates and cheaper prices thanks to the success of the euro. Poverty, deprivation, and inequality are also lower.
It is time the UK caught up with the European mainstream to help improve our quality of life here, too.
-Giles Goodall, Steyning
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