COUNCIL DECISION of 25 October 1993 authorizing the French Republic to apply a measure derogating from Article 2 (1) and Article 17 of the Sixth Directive 77/388/EEC on the harmonization of the laws of the Member States relating to turnover taxes

(93/557/EEC)THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,

Having regard to the Sixth Council Directive 77/388/EEC of 17 May 1977 on the harmonization of the laws of the Member States relating to turnover taxes - Common system of value added tax: uniform basis of assessment (1), and in particular Article 27 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas, under Article 27 (1) of Directive 77/388/EEC, the Council, acting unanimously on a proposal from the Commission, may authorize any Member State to introduce special measures for derogation from that Directive, in order to simplify the procedure for charging the tax or to prevent certain types of tax evasion or avoidance;

Whereas, by letter dated 19 July 1993 and received by the Commission on 3 August 1993, the French Republic requested authorization to introduce a measure for derogation from Article 17 of Directive 77/388/EEC;

Whereas the other Member States were informed on 18 August 1993 of the request made by the French Republic;

Whereas implementation of the transitional VAT arrangements leads to VAT being charged on certain work on movable tangible property and certain services relating to the transport of goods and ancillary transport activities at the place where these services are supplied, irrespective of the place where the taxable person to whom these services are supplied is able to exercise his rights of deduction, and whereas this results in growing use of the refund procedures provided for by Directives 79/1072/EEC (2) and 86/560/EEC (3);

Whereas the increasing use of the refund procedures provided for by Directives 79/1072/EEC and 86/560/EEC may impede the development of intra-Community trade in certain services;

Whereas the measure for derogation in question aims to introduce a simplification consisting in the exemption of certain services supplied to taxable persons not established in the territory of the country but identified in the Community, for which these taxable persons would in any event be entitled to a refund;

Whereas certain requirements should be imposed on taxable persons with a view to preventing tax evasion or avoidance;

Whereas it is desirable for this derogation to be limited to the time necessary to enable the Council, acting on a proposal from the Commission, to adopt a definitive solution;

Whereas the measure for derogation in question has no effect on the European Communities' own resources accruing from value added tax,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

By way of derogation from Article 2 (1) of Directive 77/388/EEC, the French Republic is hereby authorized to exempt the supply of services referred to in Article 2 rendered to taxable persons identified in accordance with Article 22 (1) (c), (d) and (e) of Directive 77/388/EEC and in a Member State other than France who would have qualified in accordance with Directives 79/1072/EEC and 86/560/EEC for a refund of the tax which would have been due had these services been taxed.

Article 2

In the circumstances provided for in Article 1, the French Republic is authorized to exempt:

1. the supply of services referred to in the third and fourth indents of Article 9 (2) (c) of Directive 77/388/EEC but excluding the supply of services exempted in accordance with Articles 14, 15 and 16 of Directive 77/388/EEC;

2. the transport services located in the territory of the country in accordance with Article 9 (2) (b) of Directive 77/388/EEC, directly linked to the intra-Community transport of goods as defined in Article 28b (C) (1) of Directive 77/388/EEC;

3. ancillary transport activities within the meaning of the second indent of Article 9 (2) (c) of Directive 77/388/EEC effected within the territory of the country related to the transport services covered by paragraph 2 above.

Article 3

By way of derogation from Article 17 of Directive 77/388/EEC, the services referred to in Article 2 and supplied with exemption from tax in the circumstances laid down in Article 1 shall be eligible for deduction of input tax.

Article 4

To apply the exemption provided for in Article 1, the supplier of the services shall in particular:

1. in the case of the supplies of services referred to in Article 2 (1):

- be in possession of a certificate establishing that the person to whom the services have been supplied is a taxable person and issued, as appropriate, in the form laid down by Directives 79/1072/EEC or 86/560/EEC,

- mention, on his invoice, the grounds for exemption and the identification number by which the customer is identified in accordance with Article 22 (1) (c), (d) and (e) of Directive 77/388/EEC, and under which the service has been rendered to him;

2. in the case of supplies of services referred to in Article 2 (2):

- satisfy the requirements referred to in the second indent of point 1 and be in possession of a declaration in which the person to whom the services have been supplied acknowledges that he fulfils the conditions referred to in Article 1,

- provide proof that the transport services are directly linked to an intra-Community transport within the meaning of Article 28b (C) (1) of Directive 77/388/EEC;

3. in the case of supplies of services referred to in Article 2 (3):

- satisfy the requirements referred to in the second indent of point 1 and be in possession of a declaration in which the person to whom the services have been supplied acknowledges that he fulfils the conditions referred to in Article 1,

- provide proof that the ancillary transport activities are directly linked to the transport services which are referred to in Article 2 (2).

Article 5

The Council, acting unanimously on a proposal that the Commission will make as soon as feasible, shall adopt, after consultation of the European Parliament, before 31 December 1994, a modification to Directive 77/388/EEC which covers the services mentioned in this Decision.

The derogations provided for in this Decision shall cease to have effect on the date which the Council determines when it adopts the modification to Directive 77/388/EEC but not later than 31 December 1994.

Article 6

This Decision is addressed to the French Republic.

Done at Luxembourg, 25 October 1993.

For the Council

The President

Ph. MAYSTADT

(1) OJ No L 145, 13. 6. 1977, p. 1. Directive as last amended by Directive 92/111/EEC (OJ No L 384, 30. 12. 1992, p. 47).

(2) OJ No L 331, 27. 12. 1979, p. 11.

(3) OJ No L 326, 21. 11. 1986, p. 40.