Petition for VAT-free baby products submitted

A petition with more than 180,000 signatures for abolition of VAT and limitation of trade margins on baby equipment was submitted to parliament on Friday. The campaign is supported by top Serbian officials. Petition for VAT-free baby products submitted Parents with their babies and organizers of the Vote for the Babies campaign walked from Republic Square to the Serbian parliament and handed over the boxes with signatures to Serbian parliament Speaker Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic. Djukic-Dejanovic said there were two formal possibilities to realize the initiative – the Serbian government can pass a regulation that would regulate the issue or it could be regulated by a law. “It would be very good if the government sent a draft law as soon as possible and all MPs can by an acclamation, despite the fact that we are facing elections, sit down so we would not remain divided on the issue. This is an opportunity for Serbia to be united and to realize that the fight for the babies is in our interest,” the speaker stressed. Serbian President Boris Tadic called on the government to find a way to abolish VAT and limit trade margins on baby food and equipment, the president's office has confirmed to B92. The signing of the Vote for the Babies petition was organized by the B92 Fund, Halo Beba Service, portal Bebac.com, the Parent Association. The petition signing started on March 2 and citizens had an opportunity to sign it in more than 50 towns across Serbia. The initiative was supported by the parliament speaker, Deputy Prime Minister for Economy Verica Kalanovic and numerous public figures. B92 Fund President Veran Matic says that it is important for the initiative to be placed on parliament’s agenda as soon as possible. He pointed out that a similar initiative was launched several years ago but that it was not successful. “This is why concretization of the initiative should not be dragged out,” Matic explained. Djukic-Dejanovic said that she would call a parliament session as soon as the draft law on abolition of VAT and limitation of trade margins on baby equipment arrived to parliament, adding that she would propose that the issue be the only item on the agenda. “If we agree, it would be wonderful to just vote it in by an acclamation. That’s an idea that was born in the talks with the initiative’s organizers and I am ready to realize it,” she underscored. After handing over the signatures, the petition organizers went to the Serbian government headquarters where they are supposed to have a meeting with Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic and ministers in charge. Veran Matic is seen carrying signatures (Tanjug) B92 Tanjug

Petition for VAT-free baby products submitted

Parents with their babies and organizers of the Vote for the Babies campaign walked from Republic Square to the Serbian parliament and handed over the boxes with signatures to Serbian parliament Speaker Slavica Đukić-Dejanović.

Đukić-Dejanović said there were two formal possibilities to realize the initiative – the Serbian government can pass a regulation that would regulate the issue or it could be regulated by a law.

“It would be very good if the government sent a draft law as soon as possible and all MPs can by an acclamation, despite the fact that we are facing elections, sit down so we would not remain divided on the issue. This is an opportunity for Serbia to be united and to realize that the fight for the babies is in our interest,” the speaker stressed.

Serbian President Boris Tadić called on the government to find a way to abolish VAT and limit trade margins on baby food and equipment, the president's office has confirmed to B92.

The signing of the Vote for the Babies petition was organized by the B92 Fund, Halo Beba Service, portal Bebac.com, the Parent Association.

The petition signing started on March 2 and citizens had an opportunity to sign it in more than 50 towns across Serbia.

The initiative was supported by the parliament speaker, Deputy Prime Minister for Economy Verica Kalanović and numerous public figures.

B92 Fund President Veran Matić says that it is important for the initiative to be placed on parliament’s agenda as soon as possible. He pointed out that a similar initiative was launched several years ago but that it was not successful.

“This is why concretization of the initiative should not be dragged out,” Matić explained.

Đukić-Dejanović said that she would call a parliament session as soon as the draft law on abolition of VAT and limitation of trade margins on baby equipment arrived to parliament, adding that she would propose that the issue be the only item on the agenda.

“If we agree, it would be wonderful to just vote it in by an acclamation. That’s an idea that was born in the talks with the initiative’s organizers and I am ready to realize it,” she underscored.

After handing over the signatures, the petition organizers went to the Serbian government headquarters where they are supposed to have a meeting with Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković and ministers in charge.