The Prime Minister announced in his speech on 10 of April 2013 that Luxembourg intends to increase the current standard VAT rate of 15% as from 2015. Which means no increase of VAT this and next calendar year. It was also indicated that the standard VAT rate would remain the lowest in Europe. This would mean that the rate might increase from 15% to 18% at most, as Cyprus and Malta currently have the second lowest VAT rate within the EU of 18%.