Daily News 23 / 07 / 2025

Daily News 23 / 07 / 2025

Continued growth in revenue and registrations confirms success of reformed EU VAT rules for e-commerce

New figures from Member States show that more than €33 billion in VAT revenues were collected in 2024 via the EU's e-commerce VAT systems, a clear sign that the 2021 reforms are delivering on their promise to simplify compliance, support businesses, and ensure fairer taxation.

Through a single registration in one Member State, the One Stop Shop (OSS) and Import One Stop Shop (IOSS) allow businesses to declare and remit VAT for cross-border sales of goods and services within the EU, as well as for imports of low-value goods. Today's figures confirm that businesses continue to make full use of these simplifications, which cut red tape and compliance costs, ensuring the collection of VAT as well.

In 2024 alone, over €24 billion was declared via the Union OSS, €2.8 billion via the non-Union OSS, and €6.3 billion through the Import OSS, representing a 26% increase compared to 2023. Since the reforms were introduced in mid-2021, Member States have collected nearly €88 billion in VAT under the OSS and IOSS schemes.

At the same time, the number of registered traders continues to grow steadily. By the end of 2024, over 170,000 businesses had signed up to the OSS and IOSS frameworks, with a notable increase of more than 20,000 new registrations in the Union OSS alone over the past year.

These figures set the stage for further simplifications to come with the VAT in the Digital Age (ViDA) package and the ongoing EU Customs Reform, to make the system even more efficient, fair, and fraud resistant.

The full report, setting out a comprehensive overview of the 2024 statistics and figures in relation to the EU's VAT e-commerce schemes, is available here.

(For more information: Anna-Kaisa Itkonen – Tel.: +32 2 295 75 01; Saul Goulding – Tel.: +32 2 296 47 35)

Commission invites feedback on future simplification of environmental legislation

Yesterday, the Commission opened a call for evidence on how to simplify environmental legislation, by cutting red tape while upholding and better achieving the EU's environmental objectives of this legislation.

The upcoming environmental omnibus proposal will present measures to simplify legislation concerning the circular economy, industrial emissions and waste management. This proposal builds further on previous, widespread stakeholder engagement. Yesterday's call serves to identify EU environmental policies that could be simplified for businesses without affecting the EU's environmental objectives or the protection of human health.

All stakeholders are encouraged to respond using the Have Your Say portal. The feedback period for the Call for Evidence is open until the 10 September 2025.

Commissioner for the Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, Jessika Roswall, who is leading the initiative, said: “Our objective is to gather insights from stakeholders and citizens on how to simplify environmental legislation without compromising our high environmental standards. Reducing the administrative burden of environmental laws will help make them more effective and ensure better environmental protection in the long run.”

The initiative is aligned with key EU initiatives, such as the Competitiveness Compass, and with the Commission's work programme for 2025, which set the target of cutting administrative burden by at least 25% for all companies and at least 35% for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The Compass also calls for accelerated permitting for sectors in transition to a clean and digital economy.

(For more information: Maciej Berestecki – Tel.: + 32 229-96302)

Commission the creation of joint venture by AAS, Sinopec and FPCL

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the creation of the joint venture Gulei II JV by Aramco Asia Singapore PTE. Ltd. (‘AAS') of Singapore, China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (‘Sinopec') and Fujian Petrochemical Company Limited (‘FPCL'), both from China.

The transaction relates primarily to the refining and petrochemical sector.

The Commission concluded that the notified transaction would not raise competition concerns, given the limited impact on the European Economic Area. The notified transaction was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.

More information is available on the Commission's competition website, in the public case register under the case number M.11988.

(For more information: Thomas Regnier — Tel. + 32 2 299 10 99; Sara Simonini - Tel.: +32 2 298 33 67)

Commission clears acquisition of joint control of AP&L and Lifetri by Achmea and ELG Holding

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control of Achmea Pensioen- en Levensverzekeringen N.V (‘AP&L') and of Lifetri Groep B.V. (‘Lifetri') by Achmea B.V., all of the Netherlands, and ELG Holding Limited (‘ELG Holding') of the Cayman Islands, controlled by Sixth Street Partners, LLC of the US.

The transaction relates primarily to the pension and life insurance sector.

The Commission concluded that the notified transaction would not raise competition concerns, given the companies' limited market positions resulting from the proposed transaction. The notified transaction was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.

More information is available on the Commission's competition website, in the public case register under the case number M.11894.

(For more information: Thomas Regnier — Tel. + 32 2 299 10 99; Sara Simonini - Tel.: +32 2 298 33 67)

Tentative agendas for forthcoming Commission meetings

Note that these items can be subject to changes.

Upcoming events of the European Commission

Eurostat press releases

Calendar items of the President and Commissioners