Brussels, 10/06/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 9 June, the European Finance Ministers reached a political agreement on a legislative proposal modifying directive 2006/112/EC on European value-added tax (VAT). The proposal aims to step up the fight against VAT fraud by tightening up the conditions of VAT exemption on imported goods which are then re-exported to another Member State (see EUROPE 9794). As of January 2011, all importers must provide the Member State of importation with their VAT number and that of their client and also prove that the imported goods will be transferred elsewhere within the EU. The ECOFIN Council calls for an examination of the possibility that a system for the automatic exchange information could be set up between Member States and for a legislative proposal to be presented before the end of 2010, if required. The Council stresses the importance of continuing discussions on the other part of the proposal on the table regarding cross-border responsibility and solidarity. The Commission has proposed that a provider carrying out intra-Community operations is held responsible for any loss of VAT revenue caused by any client of theirs defaulting in another Member State, if this provider contributed to that loss by failing to declare their delivery to the competent administration, by declaring incomplete or incorrect data or by sending in their declaration after the due deadline. (M.B./trans.fl)