18/02/2020 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 18 February, at the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN), the Council of the EU adopted without discussion, the Directive aimed at simplifying value added tax (VAT) for SMEs (see EUROPE 12366/3) , as well as the Directive and Regulation aimed at better combating VAT fraud in the e-commerce sector (see EUROPE 12366/4). The three pieces of legislation were the subject of an agreement between EU Finance Ministers at the November Ecofin Council. The new rules on the simplification of VAT for SMEs will start to apply from 1 January 2025, while those aimed at facilitating the detection of tax fraud in cross-border e-commerce transactions will applyfrom1 January 2024. (MF)