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	L'Europa Indaga Sugli Sgravi Ici Della Chiesa Radicali November 6, 2007 http://www.radicali.it/view.php?id=108760 EUROPE INVESTIGATES REAL ESTATE TAXATION EXEMPTIONS IN FAVOR OF THE CHURCH The European Commission has sent a letter to the Italian government asking "within 30 working days" additional explanations about tax exemptions applied to the Catholic Church and to other religious institutions in Italy, starting with the discounts on real estate used for commercial purposes. The news comes from Jonathan Todd, spokesperson for Neelie Kroes, the Commissioner for Competition. He added the European Commission will decide if a procedure of infraction will be started. The letter follows an August request, after an appeal by Maurizio Turco, member of the Italian parliament belonging to the group "Rosa nel Pugno," which is formed by the Italian Radical party and the Democratic Socialist Party (SDI). The European Commission needs to know the list of all non-commercial institutions besides those of the church. It is interesting to know information about the exemptions of real estate tax given to the Catholic church and to all other religious institutions recognized by the Italian state approved by the 2006 budget law when Silvio Berlusconi was prime minister. If the European Commission finds an infraction of European laws meant to ensure free competition of all businesses in the European Community, it will issue an order to the Italian government to recoup the tax money. In case of non-compliance, there will be an appeal to the European Court of Justice.
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