European Union finance ministers have unexpectedly reached a deal on keeping a low rate of value added tax (vat) for some services, junior finance minister Jan Kees de Jager said on Tuesday.

In the Netherlands, hairdressers, house painters, window cleaners, shoe makers and restaurants have been allowed to levy the lower rate of 6% over their services for an experimental period. But this was due to expire next year.
The standard rate of value-added tax in the Netherlands is 19%.
EU ministers also agreed to Holland’s request for interactive teaching aids to be subject to the lower vat rate.