Spain has raised concerns regarding a proposed EU bill that would require member states to share VAT information with anti-fraud agencies.
The proposal, introduced by the European Commission in November, is intended to strengthen cooperation in tackling VAT fraud across the European Union. Approval of EU tax legislation requires unanimity among all 27 member states, and Spain’s position may affect the planned adoption timeline.
Key elements of the proposal
Allows the European Public Prosecutor’s Office and OLAF to access national VAT data where fraud is suspected
Involves the use of the Eurofisc network for information exchange between tax authorities
The European Commission has stated that VAT fraud results in approximately €90 billion in lost revenue annually within the EU.
Spain’s concerns
Spain has identified issues in the draft text, including:
Uncertainty regarding whether VAT data should be shared directly with anti-fraud agencies or indirectly through existing cooperation frameworks
Inconsistencies in provisions governing access to data by the agencies
One provision limits access to cases where audit logs exist
Another allows broader access where VAT fraud is suspected
Spain has proposed amendments to address these discrepancies ahead of the upcoming meeting of EU finance ministers in Brussels.