1. 2. 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 24/1 (Acts whose publication is obligatory) COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) No 218/92 of 27 January 1992 on administrative cooperation in the field of indirect taxation (VAT) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 99 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ('), Having regard to the opinion of the European Par- liament (3, ‘ Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (%), Whereas the establishment of the internal market in accordance with Article 8a of the Treaty requires the crea- tion of an area without internal frontiers in which the free movement of goods, persons, services and capital is ensured ; whereas the internal market requires changes in the legislation on value added tax as provided in Article 99 of the Treaty; Whereas in order to avoid tax revenue losses for Member States the tax harmonization measures taken to complete the internal market and for the transitional period must include the establishment of a common system for the exchange of information on intra-Community transac- tions between the competent authorities of the Member States ; Whereas in order to permit the abolition of fiscal controls at internal frontiers in accordance with the aims set out in Article 8a of the Treaty the transitional value added tax system introduced by Directive 91/680/EEC (*), amending Directive 77/388/EEC (°), must be effectively established without the risk of fraud which might cause distortions of competition ; () OJ No C 187, 27. 7. 1990, p. 23 and OJ No C 131, 22. 5. 1991, p. S. (3 OJ No C 328, 24. 12. 1990, p. 265 and opinion delivered on 17 January 1992. (not yet published in the Official Journal). () OJ No C 332, 31. 12. 1990, p. 124. ‘) OJ No L 376, 31. 12. 1991, p. 1. () OJ No L 145, 13. 6. 1977, p. 1. Whereas this Regulation provides for a common system for the exchange of information on intra-Community transactions, supplementing Directive 77/799/EEC (%), as last amended by Directive 79/1070/EEC (), and intended to serve tax purposes; Whereas the Member States should provide the Commis- sion with any value added tax information which may be of interest at Community level ; Whereas the establishment of a common system of administrative cooperation may affect individuals’ legal positions, in particular because of the exchange of infor- mation concerning their tax positions ; Whereas care must be taken to ensure that the provisions concerning the control of indirect taxes are in balance with administrations’ needs for effective control and the administrative burdens imposed on taxable persons; Whereas the operation of such a system requires the establishment of a standing committee on administrative cooperation ; Whereas the Member States and the Commission must establish an effective system for the electronic storage and transmission of certain data for value added tax control purposes ; Whereas care must be taken to ensure that information provided in the course of such collaboration is not disclosed to unauthorized persons, so that the basic rights of citizens and undertakings are safeguarded ; whereas it is therefore necessary that an authority receiving such infor- mation should not, without the authorization of the authority supplying it, use it for purposes other than taxa- tion or to facilitate legal proceedings for failure to comply with the tax laws of the Member States concerned; whereas the receiving authority must also accord such information the same degree of confidentiality as it enjoyed in the Member State which provided it, if the latter so requires ; () OJ No L 336, 27. 12. 1977, p. 15. () OJ No L 331, 27. 12. 1979, p. 8.