A report piloted by Nationalist MEP David Casa on EU cooperation in the field of excise duties, which is aimed at cutting down on fraud, has won unanimous support from a European Parliament committee.

The report is on the proposed revision of a 2004 regulation that had established a legal framework for administrative cooperation in the field of excise duties.

This regulation needs to be updated to provide a legal basis for the next phase of cooperation, which involves the introduction of the computerised Excise Movement and Control System. This is intended to streamline and harmonise administrative procedures to ensure that exchange of information is more efficient.

“Once fully implemented, this system will be instrumental in reducing fraud. The system will also greatly reduce administrative burdens on the competent authorities within member states as the need for the manual collection of information will be partially removed,” Mr Casa told MEPs in the economic and monetary affairs committee.

The revised regulation will also seek to reduce burdens for business through the introduction of automatic information exchanges.

The report will now be presented to the EP plenary next week for final approval.