In Spar's complaint to the EU, it was written that the special tax and other measures aimed at reducing food prices are clearly incompatible with EU law and caused a loss of nearly 50 million euros (HUF 1.9 billion) to its Hungarian business in 2023.
the Financial Times reported .
The supermarket chain claims that the special tax introduced by the Hungarian government in 2022 is discriminatory and violates several EU laws, including those related to the free movement of goods. In Spar's complaint to the EU, they wrote that the special tax and other measures aimed at reducing food prices are clearly incompatible with EU law, as
they violate the principle of free movement of goods, freedom of establishment and the Charter of Fundamental Rights.
According to the complaint, the government's intervention increased Spar's costs by around 90 million euros (3.5 billion forints) and will cause a loss of nearly 50 million euros (1.9 billion forints) to its Hungarian business in 2023. Spar is the country's second largest retail chain based on turnover.
According to the company, the government's actions “upset the balance of demand and supply in the agricultural and food markets; they discriminate in a way that allows small independent retailers and members of the franchise network to avoid losses by buying from large integrated retailers at discount or reduced prices'.
Source: mandiner.hu
Cover image: Illustration / MTI/Róbert Hegedüs
