17/06/22 (Agence Europe) – On Friday 17 June, the EU Council authorised the Commission to open negotiations with Norway, to strengthen the agreement on administrative cooperation between Norway and the EU in the fight against fraud and recovering value added tax (VAT) claims. The Council wishes to extend the agreement to include, in particular, the consolidation of the Eurofisc network, so-called joint data processing and analysis actions and joint administrative investigations. In addition, the Council would also like to include the possibility of using “additional means to exchange information”. The current agreement that is deemed “effective and beneficial” by both parties entered into force in September 2018 and allows Norway and the EU to assist each other in debt recovery. (TM)