Public session - Economic and Financial Affairs Council

5 mai 2026

Council of the European Union Conseil européen

00:22 - 03:14
Intervenant 1
To the public.  Let me remind you that in addition to the speaker, anyone else in the room may appear on the screens during the public session.  Thank you.  Dear colleagues, the first legislative item concerns value-added taxes and the fight against fraud.  The fight against VAT fraud is a very important priority for the union. 

Annually, billions of euros of tax revenue are lost because of gross porter carousel fraud.  Therefore, in past years, we have already taken significant steps to curb this phenomenon.  The fight against fraud is an outstanding example of a policy where cooperation between member states is of key importance, not only between member states, but also between the member states and the authorities at EU level competent to tackle fraud, namely the European Public Prosecutor's Office or EPPO and the European Anti-Fraud Office, OLAF.  To improve that cooperation, we are today aiming to reach a general approach on a regulation that will ensure quicker and more efficient access of OLAF and airports to VAT records kept in databases at EU level.  The presidency has devoted significant time and resources to finding an agreement on this regulation. 

I believe we are very close to reaching one with the compromise text that was issued in April.  It is important to emphasize that this regulation does not change in any way the competencies of either the EPO or OLAF.  These are set out in the specific regulations governing these bodies, which are not under discussion today.  The regulation we are considering now will just facilitate their existing work, which is important to step up the fight against fraud.  Nevertheless, before the weekend, we still amended two recitals in connection to Olaf to ensure that we reach the required unanimity today. 

I draw your attention to the commission statement to the council minutes on the upcoming anti-fraud architecture proposals, which is relevant for our discussion.  First, I would like to give the floor to Wobke for the commission. 

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