The Council of the European Union has convened a meeting of the Working Party on Tax Questions (Indirect Taxation – VAT) to take place on 31 March 2026 at 10:00 at the Council Europa Building in Brussels. The meeting will be held in a 2+2 format and will focus on several important legislative initiatives affecting VAT and customs rules across the EU. [data.consi….europa.eu]
Focus on Access to VAT Information by EPPO and OLAF
A central item on the agenda is the proposal for a Council Regulation granting the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) and OLAF access to VAT information at EU level. The Working Party will work towards the finalisation of the compromise text, signalling that negotiations on this file are at an advanced stage. This initiative aims to strengthen the EU’s capacity to combat VAT fraud through enhanced data access for enforcement authorities. [data.consi….europa.eu]
Abolition of the €150 Threshold and Customs Warehouses
The agenda also includes discussions on a Directive amending VAT rules concerning the abolition of the €150 threshold and the treatment of customs warehouses for distance sales. On this point, the European Commission will present the current state of play, followed by an exchange of views among Member States. These measures form part of broader EU efforts to modernise VAT and customs frameworks, particularly in the context of cross-border e-commerce. [data.consi….europa.eu]
Exchange of Views and Other Business
In addition to the legislative items, the meeting will allow for a general exchange of views and will conclude with any other business raised by delegations. As is standard practice, the Council notes that official documents related to the meeting are available via the Delegates Portal. [data.consi….europa.eu]
Why This Matters
The topics addressed in this meeting are highly relevant for businesses and tax professionals operating in the EU, particularly in areas such as VAT fraud prevention, access to transactional data, and the VAT treatment of low-value imports and distance sales. The finalisation of compromise texts and updates from the Commission suggest that concrete legislative progress can be expected in the near term.
Source data.consilium.europa.eu
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