98/532/EC: Commission Decision of 8 July 1998 concerning certain measures necessary for carrying out activities related to communication and information exchange systems and to linguistic training tools under the Fiscalis programme (European Parliament and Council Decision No 888/98/EC establishing a programme of Community action to improve the functioning of the indirect taxation systems of the internal market) [notified under document number C(1998) 1866]
Date: 1998-07-08
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: communications systems, exchange of information, indirect tax, linguistics, single market, tax system

5. 9. 98

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 247/9

II

(Acts whose publication is not obligatory)

COMMISSION

COMMISSION DECISION

of 8 July 1998

concerning certain measures necessary for carrying out activities related to
communication and information exchange systems and to linguistic training
tools under the Fiscalis programme (European Parliament and Council Decision
No 888/98/EC establishing a programme of Community action to improve the
functioning of the indirect taxation systems of the internal market)

(notified under document number C(1998) 1866)

(98/532/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to European Parliament and Council
Decision No 888/98/EC of 30 March 1998 establishing a
programme of Community action to improve the func-
tioning of the indirect taxation systems of the internal
market (Fiscalis programme) (1), and in particular Article
10 thereof,

Whereas the Commission and the Member States are
required to ensure the functioning of such existing
communication and information-exchange systems that
they consider necessary in accordance with Article 4(1) of
Decision No 888/98/EC;

Whereas the Commission and the Member States are
required to establish and maintain the functioning of
such new communication and information-exchange
systems that they consider necessary in accordance with
Article 4(1) of Decision No 888/98/EC;

Whereas the Member States,
in cooperation with the
Commission, are required to develop the necessary
common linguistic training tools in accordance with
Article 6 of Decision No 888/98/EC;

(1) OJ L 126, 28. 4. 1998, p. 1.

Whereas it is necessary to identify the necessary existing
and new comunication and information exchange systems
and common linguistic training tools;

Whereas it is necessary to make the arrangements for the
Community to meet its obligations with regard to these
necessary systems and tools in accordance with Articles
4(1), 4(2), 6(1)(c) and 8(2)(b) and (c) of Decision No 888/
98/EC;

Whereas it is necessary, in order to ensure the effective
and efficient establishment and functioning of
these
necessary systems and tools, to specify the obligations of
the Member States with regard to these necessary systems
and tools in accordance with Articles 4(2), 4(3), 6(1) and
8(3)(b);

Whereas each individual Member State shall ensure that
none of their actions will jeopardise the establishment
and functioning of these necessary systems or harm the
interests of the Community and the other Member States;

Whereas it is necessary, in order to ensure the effective
and efficient establishment and functioning of
these
necessary systems and tools, to coordinate the actions of
the Community and the Member States in fulfilling their
obligations with regard to these systems and tools;
whereas it is appropriate for the Commission to ensure
this coordination through the drawing up of management
plans for the establishment and functioning of each
system and tool;

L 247/10

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

5. 9. 98

Whereas the measures provided for in this decision are in
accordance with the opinion of the Committee referred to
in Article 11 of European Parliament and Council
Decision No 888/98/EC,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Work programme

1.
The functioning of the following existing commun-
ication and information exchange systems and infrastruc-
ture shall be ensured:

(cid:190) the VAT information exchange system (VIES),
(cid:190) Common Communication Network/Common System
Interface (CCN/CSI)
to the extent necessary to
support the functioning of the systems set out in this
paragraph and in paragraph two,

(cid:190) the system for exchange of excise data (SEED),
(cid:190) the excise movement verification system,
(cid:190) the excise duty tables system,
(cid:190) FiscalSCENT
NeTwork).

(System Customs

Enforcement

The functioning of

2.
the following new commun-
ication and information exchange system shall be
ensured:

(cid:190) the excise early warning system.

3.
Feasibility studies and pilot projects into the estab-
lishment of the following new communication and infor-
mation exchange systems and common linguistic training
tools shall be carried out:

(cid:190) excise movement and control system,
(cid:190) indirect taxation communication system,
(cid:190) multi-language support and training tools.

Article 2

tion with the Member States draw up management plans
for the proper establishment and subsequent functioning
of these systems and tools.

These management plan shall specify the initial and
ongoing tasks to be completed both by the Commission
and each Member State; the deadlines for completion of
these tasks and any proof required of their completion.

Article 3

Member State obligations

shall ensure that

they complete
1. Member States
within the deadline set
the initial and ongoing tasks
attributed to them in the management plans referred to in
Article 2. They shall report to the Commission on their
completion of these tasks, providing the required proof of
their completion.

functioning of

The Member States shall not take any action in
2.
relation to the establishment or
the
systems referred to in Article 1 that may have an effect
either on the overall interconnection and interoperability
of the systems or on their overall functioning. Any action
that a Member State wishes to take which may affect the
overall
the
systems or their overall functioning may only be taken
with the Commission’s prior agreement.

interconnection and interoperability of

shall

The Member States

regularly inform the
3.
Commission of any action they have taken in accordance
with Article 4(3) of Decision No 888/98/EC as appro-
priate
systems
throughout their administration.

exploitation of

these

full

the

for

Article 4

Entry into force

This decision shall enter into force on the day of its
publication in the Official Journal of the European
Communities.

Community obligations

It shall apply from 1 January 1998.

1.
To execute the Community’s obligations, as set down
in Article 4(1) and (2), Article 6(1)(c) and Article 8(2)(b)
and (c) of Decision No 888/98/EC,
for the systems
the Commission shall
referred to above in Article 1,
the
conclude the necessary contracts in the name of
Community.

2.
The Commission shall co-ordinate those aspects of
the establishment and functioning of the Community and
non-Community elements of the systems, infrastructure
and tools referred to in Article 1 necessary to ensure the
overall
the
systems. To this end, the Commission shall in co-opera-

interconnection and interoperability of

Article 5

Addressees

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 8 July 1998.

For the Commission

Mario MONTI

Member of the Commission