A new European Commission measure to restrict VAT fraud has been approved.

The Commission argues that it will succeed because it shifts the burden of payment from the vender to the customer.

The measure focuses on the taxation of intra-community supplies and a generalised reverse charge.

The EC has insisted the introduction of a generalised reverse charge system could only work effectively if applied uniformly across all member states and has said it is not opposed to a pilot project by a willing member state.