The European Council and the Parliament have approved a new
programme, which aims to prevent tax fraud through "improved
electronic information exchange systems" between Member States'
national administrations. Candidate countries will also participate
in the programme, known as Fiscalis 2003-2007.
The programme will provide the "necessary legal and budgetary
basis" for new data interchange systems between Member States, and
for the expansion of the existing systems in the VAT and excise
duties fields.
Fiscalis 2003-2007 also introduces multilateral controls to
direct taxation, and provides for seminars and other common
training programmes for Member States' national taxation
officials.
Fiscalis 2003-2007 replaces an existing programme which expires
at the end of the year, extending its scope to direct taxation. The
cost of the programme, estimated to €44 million, will be spread
over five years.
