31. 10. 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 316/1 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 92/77/EEC of 19 October 1992 supplementing the common system of value added tax and amending Directive 77/388/EEC (approximation of VAT rates) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the Buropean Economic Community, and in particular Article 99 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ('), Having regard to the opinion of the European Par- liament (3), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (%), Whereas completing the internal market, which is one of the fundamental objectives of the Community, requires as a first step that fiscal controls at the frontiers be aboli- shed ; Whereas, if distortions are to be avoided, such abolition implies in the case of value added tax, not only 2 uniform tax base but also a number of rates and rate levels which are sufficiently close as between Member States ; whereas it is therefore necessary to amend Directive 77/388/ EEC(%; Whereas, during the transitional period, certain deroga- tions concerning number and level of rates should be possible, ' () OJ No C 176, 17. 7. 1990, p. 8. () OF No C 324, 24. 12. 1990, p. 104. () OJ No C 332, 31. 12. 1990, p. 1. () OJ No L 145, 13. 6. 1977, p. 1. Last amended by Directive 91/680/EEC (O] No L 376, 31. 12. 1991, p. 1). HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: Article 1 Directive 77/388/EEC is hereby amended as follows: 1. Article 12 (3) is replaced by the following : ‘3. (a) From 1 January 1993 Member States shall apply a standard rate which, until 31 December 1996, may not be less than 15 %. On the basis of the report on the operation of the transitional arrangements and proposals on the definitive arrangements to be submitted by the Commission pursuant to Article 281 the Council shall decide unanimously before 31 December 1995 on the level of the minimum rate to be applied after 31 December 1996 with regard to the standard rate. Member States may also apply either one or two reduced rates. The reduced rates may not be less than 5 % and shall only apply to supplies of the categories of goods and services specified in Annex H. (b) Member States may apply a reduced rate to supplies of natural gas and electricity provided that no risk of distortion of competition exists. A Member State intending to apply such a rate must, before doing so, inform the Commission. The Commission shall give a decision on the existence of a risk of distortion of competition. If the Commission has not taken that decision within three months of the receipt of the infor- mation a risk of distortion of competition is deemed not to exist. (c) The rules concerning the rates applied to works of art, antiques and collector’s items, shall be