Tax experts from the 25 EU nations have been discussing France's demand to be allowed to cut value added tax on restaurant meals from almost twenty per cent to just 5.5 percent. EU officials have warned that decisions on taxes need to be agreed by all member states - and some still have doubts about the plan. This report from Caroline Wyatt:

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Food and drink are virtually a national religion in France, so lowering taxes on meals in cafes and restaurants would go down extremely well here - with restaurant owners and customers alike.

During the last election campaign, the French President Jacques Chirac promised he would slash value added tax on restaurant meals, to provide a boost for this crucial sector of the economy. But nothing has happened since because under EU rules, France needs the agreement of the rest of Europe.

Many believe it's no coincidence that President Chirac and his government have suddenly upped the pressure on the issue. Some suggest that such a move could prove a vital sweetener for the French, and could even make café and restaurant owners look more favourably on the EU constitution when they vote in the referendum at the end of the month.

Denmark, Sweden and Germany are apparently still reluctant to allow France this particular tax exception. But the French government is expected to argue that it's a small price to pay to persuade the French to swallow their doubts on the EU Constitution and vote yes.

Caroline Wyatt, BBC News, Paris

Escute as palavras

a national religion
uma religião nacional (no caso, uma expressão para a importância que a gastronomia tem na França).

go down
no caso, ser recebido (ou, como em português, a notícia ia "cair" muito bem).

customers
clientes.

slash
reduzir drasticamente.

a boost
impulso, melhora.

it's no coincidence
não é coincidência.

upped
aumentou.

sweetener
literalmente significa adoçante; no caso, trata-se de um incentivo para "adoçar" a Constituição européia para os franceses.

reluctant
hesitante.

to swallow their doubts on
engolir as suas dúvidas, aceitar sem reclamar.