Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra has defended Latvia's selective reduced VAT rate for books and printed media, which since 1 January 2026 applies only to publications in Latvian, Latgalian, Liv, and official languages of EU/EEA members, Switzerland, EU candidate countries, and OECD states, excluding minority languages such as Russian, Belarusian, and Roma. In a written answer to a parliamentary question from MEPs Tineke Strik, Diana Riba i Giner, Birgit Sippel, Vicent Marzà Ibáñez, and Benedetta Scuderi, Hoekstra argued that the principle of fiscal neutrality under the EU VAT Directive does not automatically require equal treatment for publications in different languages, as similarity must be assessed by national authorities and courts on a case-by-case basis.
Hoekstra's answer provides no concrete proposals or numerical targets, instead offering declaratory support for fundamental rights while deferring to national discretion. On discrimination concerns, he acknowledged that Article 21 of the EU Charter prohibits discrimination based on language, but stressed that any limitation must comply with Article 52(1) of the Charter. Regarding the Racial Equality Directive, he noted that language alone is not a protected ground under EU law, and that 'ethnic origin' requires a combination of factors including language, as clarified by the Court of Justice.
The answer signals that the Commission will not intervene directly unless a specific case of discrimination is proven before national courts. This leaves the burden on affected minority groups to challenge the law domestically. The question, submitted on 10 February 2026, reflects ongoing tensions between national sovereignty over tax policy and EU fundamental rights protections. No immediate institutional follow-up is expected, but the issue may resurface if legal challenges emerge or if the Commission receives a formal complaint.
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