e-Invoicing: what & why?
Electronic invoicing – e-Invoicing – is electronic transfer of invoicing information (billing and payment) between business partners (supplier and buyer). It is an essential part of an efficient financial supply chain and it links the internal processes of enterprises to the payment systems. The ongoing creation of Single Euro Payment Area (SEPA) offers an ideal launching pad for a successful European e-invoicing initiative with the savings estimated at around EUR 64,5 billion per year for businesses.
European Multi-Stakeholder Forum
The European Multi-Stakeholder Forum on e-Invoicing brings together delegates from national e-invoicing fora and key stakeholders from the user side of the market. Its objective is to help pave the way for a broad-scale adoption of e-invoicing at both national and EU-level. The Forum creates a unique opportunity to exchange experiences and best practices across borders. Furthermore, the Forum discusses issues of common interest, with the possibility to issue recommendations to the Commission. The Forum is chaired by the Commission, and meetings are held twice a year.
| Meetings | |
| 26.9.2012 |
Minutes
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| 6.3.2012 | Agenda   & Minutes |
| 13.9.2011 | Agenda & Minutes |
| 13.9.2011 | Midday Express, MEX/11/0913 |
| 2.12.2010 | Commission Decision setting up a European Multi-Stakeholder Forum on e-Invoicing |
Commission initiatives
Among the Commission services involved in e-Invoicing initiatives are: DG Enterprise & Industry, DG Information Society & Media, DG Internal Market & Services, Taxation & Customs Union DG and DG for Informatics.
Communication ‘Reaping the benefits of electronic invoicing for Europe’
| 2.12.2010 |
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Conference ‘Electronic Invoicing in Europe’, 27-28 April in Madrid
| 27.-28.4.2010 | |
| 22.2.2010 |
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Expert Group on e-Invoicing
European Commission has set up an expert group on e-invoicing with the task to establish a European Electronic Invoicing Framework by 2009. The new expert group will build further on the report of the informal task force on e-invoicing .
| 19.5.2010 |
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| 30.11.2009 |
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| 6.4.2009 | |
| 24.3.2009 | Code of Practice on Electronic Invoicing prepared and adopted by the Expert Group, and aimed at trading parties, solution providers and tax authorities |
| 27.1.2009 | On 27 January 2009 the Expert Group on e-invoicing, set up by the Commission, adopted its mid-term report. The report outlines the progress made during the first year of the group's mandate and represents an important step towards a European Electronic Invoicing Framework which the Expert Group will develop until the end of 2009.
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Meetings in 2009:
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| June 2008 | Status Report of the Expert Group |
| 7.11.2007 | Setting up of the Expert Group on e-Invoicing
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European Action Plan on e-signatures and e-identification
On 2 December 2008, the European Commission adopted the Action Plan on e-signatures and e-identification to facilitate the provision of cross-border public services in the Single Market
e-Government action plan
Under the e-government action plan a number of projects are undertaken to promote e-invoicing in the roadmap for public e-procurement. Within this action plan the Commission is setting up a pilot project for interoperable & cross-border e-invoicing within the IDABC programme.
CIP
The Commission is also setting up a large-scale e-invoicing pilot in collaboration with the Member States under the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP).
Legislation
Current legislative environment for e-Invoicing:
- Council Directive 2010/45/EU on the common system of value added tax as regards the rules on invoicing (amending Directive 2006/112/EC)
- Council Directive 2006/112/EC on the common system of value added tax
- Council Directive 2001/115/EC on the conditions laid down for invoicing in respect of value added tax
- Directive 1999/93/EC on a Community framework for electronic signatures