The aim of a report drafted by experts from the European Commission, presented at the Conference on Electronic Invoicing organized by the Spanish Presidency of the European Union, is to launch the use of electronic invoicing to reach the European regulatory framework in the field.

In the Conference on Electronic Invoicing, held on April 27 in Madrid under the organization of Spanish Presidency of the EU, a report on this service was presented. Said report recommends that member states focus on the specific needs of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), harmonise the European regulatory framework and adopt a standard for invoice data forms and content.

According to the study, electronic invoicing has great potential which is already being tapped into by some businesses and the public sector, although there are still some barriers which prevent it from being more widely adopted, as is the case for small enterprises or in cases of intra-European invoicing.

In relation to this last point, experts point out that electronic invoicing improves competitiveness, saves costs, improves “cash –flow”, encourages the development of the single market and benefits the environment. The EU is committed to the use of electronic invoicing and other initiatives that can help to reduce red tape and speed up administrative procedures, in the framework of its Better Regulation Principles.

For this reason, and to achieve the proposed European framework, the experts have included the following recommendations in the report:

• To focus on the specific business needs of SMEs, offering them easy-to-use electronic invoicing solutions with reduced processing times and management costs.
• The harmonisation of the regulatory framework applicable to electronic invoicing in Europe, based on giving equal treatment to paper and electronic invoices.
• Creation of a context of use for electronic invoicing which allows for maximum interoperability.
• Adoption of a common standard for invoice data content and forms.
• Identification of organisations at a national and European level who will lead the drive towards electronic invoicing.
• Definition of an effective communication plan which adequately expresses the value of the benefits of its adoption.