13/07/2010 (Agence Europe) - The EU Council of Ministers adopted on Tuesday 13 July, without debate, a directive aimed at simplifying VAT invoicing requirements, in particular as regards electronic invoicing. The new directive sets out to ensure the acceptance by tax authorities of e-invoices under the same conditions as for paper invoices, and to remove legal obstacles to the transmission and storage of e-invoices. It also comprises measures to help tax authorities ensure that tax is paid so as to better tackle VAT fraud. These include establishing deadlines for the issuance of invoices, thus enabling speedier exchange of information on intra-EU supplies of goods and services. (L.C./transl.jl)