eInvoicing reaches Europe's regional and local levels
Six years after the publication of the Directive 2014/55/EU mandating eInvoicing and the usage of the European standard by Europe's public authorities, we have reached together the 18 April 2020 deadline for implementing eInvoicing at the sub-central level. This standard is a key enabler of digital public procurement, allowing increased cross-border economic activity. eInvoicing also drives wider automation, improved public finances and encourages innovation.
The European Commission has invested over €35 million in Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) grant funding to support the uptake of eInvoicing and procurement solutions for both Business to Government (B2G) and Business to Business (B2B) transactions. The CEF programme has allowed early payment systems in Belgium, enabled the first step toward Real-Time Economy through eInvoicing in Estonia, and provided tools and support to upgrade existing I.T. infrastructure in Poland, to name just some success stories.
The European Commission would like to thank all the stakeholders who actively participated in the adoption of eInvoicing and the implementation of the standard in European public procurement. Invoicing has driven forward electronic invoicing in B2G transactions and now impacts B2B transactions. Aiming to build a Digital Single Market, the priorities are now moving from public procurement towards private enterprises and businesses.
In line with the EU's wider strategy, the CEF eInvoicing Building Block's next steps now focus on co-developing the future of eInvoicing by generating policy discussions and encouraging B2B digital procurement.
In this new eInvoicing context, we ask for your contribution! Share your ideas, needs, experiences and projects on eInvoicing via the eInvoicing User Community. Our goal is to adapt the European Commission policy objectives and improve how the Commission's support public administrations and businesses, namely through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) eInvoicing Building Block.
Based on your contribution, CEF eInvoicing is organising an online Open Session, on 9 June 2020.
More information is coming soon!