4 JULY 2004. - An Act to amend the Act of 20 July 1979 concerning mutual assistance in the collection of claims relating to certain contributions, fees, taxes and other measures (1)

ALBERT II, King of the Belgians,
To all, present and to come, Hi.
The Chambers adopted and We sanction the following:
Article 1^er. This Act regulates a matter referred to in Article 78 of the Constitution.
Art. 2. Article 1^er the Act of 20 July 1979 concerning mutual assistance in the collection of claims relating to certain contributions, fees, taxes and other measures is replaced by the following provision:
“Article 1^er. - § 1^er. This Act transposes into domestic law:
-the provisions of Council Directive 76/308/EEC of 15 March 1976 concerning mutual assistance in the collection of claims relating to certain contributions, fees, taxes and other measures;
- the provisions of Commission Directive 2002/94/EC of 9 December 2002 setting out the practical modalities for the application of certain provisions of Council Directive 76/308/EEC on mutual assistance in the collection of claims relating to certain contributions, fees, taxes and other measures.
It sets out the rights and obligations of the requesting Belgian authorities and the Belgian authorities required in respect of claims referred to in Article 2 to be recovered outside the Kingdom in a Member State of the European Community, or to be recovered in the Kingdom at the request of the competent authority of another Member State.
§ 2. For the purposes of this Act:
(1) "electronic transmission" means transmission by means of electronic data processing equipment (including digital compression) by wire, radio, optical processes or any other electromagnetic process;
(2) CCN/CSI network, the common platform based on the common communication network (CCN) and the interface of the common system (CSI), developed by the Community to ensure all electronic transmissions between competent authorities in the field of customs and taxation;
(3) Belgian requesting authorities, those who are qualified to apply to the competent authority of another Member State of the European Community;
(4) Required Belgian authorities, those who are qualified to receive an application from the competent authority of another Member State of the European Community.
§ 3. The Belgian requesting authorities and the required Belgian authorities are designated by the King. "
Art. 3. The title of Chapter II of the Act is replaced by the following title:
"Chapter II: Rights and obligations of the requesting Belgian authority. "
Art. 4. Section 3 of the Act is replaced by the following provision:
“Art. 3. - The requesting Belgian authority may address to the competent authority of another Member State of the European Community, referred to below as the "required foreign authority" with respect to the claims referred to in Article 2:
(a) a request for information;
(b) a request for notification;
(c) a request for recovery;
(d) a request for interim measures. "
Art. 5. It is inserted in Chapter II of the Act, a section I^reincluding articles 4 to 4quinquies, as follows:
“Section I^re. Requests for information. "
Art. 6. Section 4 of the Act, amended by the Act of 29 January 2004, which is incorporated in Section 1^re, the words "applicant authority" are replaced by the words "applicant Belgian authority". "
Art. 7. An article 4bis, as follows, is inserted in the same section:
"Art. 4bis. - The request for information referred to in section 4 is prepared in writing by the requesting Belgian authority as set out in Appendix I to this Act. If the application cannot be transmitted electronically, it shall bear the official stamp of the requesting Belgian authority and shall be signed by an officer of the requesting Belgian authority duly authorized to make such a request.
If a similar request for information has been addressed to another authority, the requesting Belgian authority refers to the name of that authority in its application for information. "
Art. 8. An article 4ter, as follows, is inserted in the same section:
"Art. 4ter. - The request for information may include:
(1) the debtor;
(2) any other person held to pay the debt;
(3) any third party holding property belonging to any of the persons referred to in points (1) or (2). "
Art. 9. An article 4quater, as follows, is inserted in the same section:
"Art. 4quater. - In view of the information provided to it by the required foreign authority, the requesting Belgian authority may request the requesting Belgian authority to continue its research. This request must be made in writing within two months of receipt of the communication of the results of the research carried out by the required foreign authority. "
Art. 10. An article 4quinquies, as follows, is inserted in the same section:
"Art. 4quinquies. - The requesting Belgian authority may at any time withdraw the request for information transmitted to the required foreign authority. The withdrawal decision is communicated in writing to the required foreign authority. "
Art. 11. It is included in Chapter II of the Act, section II, including sections 5 to 5ter, as follows:
“Section II. Notification requests. "
Art. 12. In section 5, paragraph 2, of the Act, as amended by the Act of 29 January 2004, which is incorporated in Section II, the words "applicant authority" are replaced by the words "applicant Belgian authority". »
Art. 13. An article 5bis, as follows, is inserted in the same section:
"Art. 5bis. - The request for notification referred to in Article 5 shall be established by the requesting Belgian authority in writing in duplicate as set out in Appendix II to this Act. It bears the official stamp of the requesting Belgian authority and is signed by an agent of the requesting Belgian authority duly authorized to make such a request.
A request referred to in paragraph 1^er shall be affixed in duplicate the act or decision to which the notification is requested. "
Art. 14. An article 5ter, as follows, is inserted in the same section:
"Art. 5ter. - The application for notification by the requesting Belgian authority may be directed to any natural or legal person who, in accordance with Belgian law, must be aware of an act or decision concerning that person.
To the extent that the notice or decision requested does not indicate it, the request for notification from the requesting Belgian authority refers to the provisions of Belgian legislation concerning the procedure for contesting or recovering the claim. »
Art. 15. It is included in Chapter II of the Act, a section III, including sections 6 to 7septics, which read as follows:
"Section III. Requests for recovery or precautionary measures. »
Art. 16. Section 6 of the Act, amended by the Act of 29 January 2004, which is incorporated in Section III, is amended as follows:
1° to § 1^erin the Dutch text, the word "executoriale" is replaced by the word "uitvoerende";
2° to § 2, the words "appealing authority" are replaced by the words "appealing Belgian authority";
3° in § 3, littera b), the words "applicant authority" are replaced by the words "applicant Belgian authority";
4° in § 3, littera c), in the Dutch text, the word "executoriale" is replaced by the word "uitvoerende";
5° in § 3, littera c), the words "in the Member State where the applicant authority has its seat" are replaced by the words "in the Kingdom";
6° in § 3, littera e), the words "applicant authority" are replaced by the words "applicant Belgian authority" and the words "required authority" are replaced by the words "required foreign authority";
7° to § 3, littera f), the words "the rules of law in force in the Member State where the applicant authority has its seat" are replaced by the words "the Belgian law";
8° to § 4, the words "applicant authority" are replaced by the words "appealing Belgian authority";
9° in § 5, the words "applicant authority" are replaced by the words "applicant Belgian authority" and the words "required authority" are replaced by the words "required foreign authority". "
Art. 17. In Article 7, in the Dutch text of the same law, which is integrated in Section III, the word "conservative" is replaced by the word "bewarende" and the word "executoriale" by the word "uitvoerende".
Art. 18. An article 7bis, as follows, is inserted in the same section:
"Art. 7bis. § 1^er. The application for recovery or interim measures referred to in sections 6 and 7 shall be prepared by the requesting Belgian authority in writing as set out in Schedule III to this Act.
They contain a declaration certifying that the conditions set out in Directive 76/308/EEC for the initiation of the mutual assistance procedure in this matter are met, bear the official stamp of the requesting Belgian authority and are signed by an agent of the requesting Belgian authority duly authorized to make such a request.
§ 2. The enforceable title is attached to the request for recovery or interim measures. It can be issued globally for several claims, as long as it concerns one person.
For the purposes of sections 7ter to 7septies and 17bis to 17octies, all receivables subject to the same enforceable title are considered to constitute a single claim. "
Art. 19. An article 7ter, as follows, is inserted in the same section:
"Art. 7ter. - The request for recovery or interim measures from the requesting Belgian authority to the required foreign authority may concern any person referred to in section 4ter. "
Art. 20. An article 7quater, as follows, is inserted in the same section:
"Art. 7quater. § 1^er. If the currency of the Member State of the required foreign authority is different from the euro, the requesting Belgian authority indicates the amounts of the debt to be recovered in both currencies.
§ 2. The exchange rate to be used for the purposes of paragraph 1^er is the exchange rate published by the European Central Bank on the date the application for recovery is signed. "
Art. 21. An article 7quinquies, as follows, is inserted in the same section:
"Art. 7quinquies. - In the light of the information provided to it by the requested foreign authority, the requesting Belgian authority may request the requesting Belgian authority to reopen the recovery or interim measures procedure. This request must be made in writing within two months of receipt of the communication of the outcome of this procedure. "
Art. 22. An article 7sexies, as follows, is inserted in the same section:
"Art. 7sexies. - Any action in dispute of debt or title allowing the execution of its recovery that is brought on Belgian territory is notified in writing by the requesting Belgian authority to the required foreign authority immediately after the latter has been informed of this action. "
Art. 23. An article 7septies, as follows, is inserted in the same section:
"Art. 7septies. § 1^er. If the request for recovery or interim measures becomes irrelevant as a result of the payment of the debt, the cancellation of the debt or for any other reason, the requesting Belgian authority shall forthwith notify the required foreign authority in writing so that the requested foreign authority shall stop the action it has undertaken.
§ 2. Where the amount of the debt that is the subject of the application for recovery or interim measures is adjusted for any reason, the requesting Belgian authority shall forthwith notify the required foreign authority in writing and issue a new enforceable title if necessary.
§ 3. If the adjustment results in an increase in the amount of the debt, the requesting Belgian authority shall, as soon as possible, address to the required foreign authority a supplementary request for recovery or interim measures.
§ 4. For the conversion in the currency of the Member State of the required foreign authority of the adjusted amount of the debt, the requesting Belgian authority uses the exchange rate used in its original application. "
Art. 24. It is inserted in Chapter II of the Act, a section IV, including section 8, which reads as follows:
"Section IV. Translation of requests. "
Art. 25. In section 8 of the Act, which is incorporated in Section IV, the words "competent authority" are replaced by the words "required foreign authority" and the words "appealing authority" by the words "appealing Belgian authority". "
Art. 26. It is inserted in Chapter II of the Act, a section V, including section 9, as follows:
"Section V. Responsibility of the Belgian State. "
Art. 27. In section 9 of the Act, which is incorporated in Section V, the words "competent authority" are replaced by the words "required foreign authority" and the words "appealing authority" by the words "requiring Belgian authority". "
Art. 28. The title of Chapter III of the Act is replaced by the following title:
“Chapter III. - Rights and obligations of the required Belgian authority. "
Art. 29. It is inserted in Chapter III of the same Act, a section1st, including articles 10 to 10quinquies, as follows:
“Section 1^re. Requests for information. "
Art. 30. Section 10 of the Act, which is incorporated in Section 1^rethe following modifications are made:
1° to paragraph 1^erthe words "required authority" are replaced by the words "required Belgian authority" and the words "applicant authority" by the words "applicant foreign authority";
2° Paragraph 3 is replaced by the following provision:
"The Belgian authority required to decide the refusal referred to in paragraph 2 is designated by the King. "
Art. 31. An article 10bis, as follows, is inserted in the same section:
"Art. 10bis. § 1^er. The requested Belgian authority acknowledges receipt in writing of the request for information from the requesting foreign authority as soon as possible and, in any event, within seven days of the receipt.
§ 2. Upon receipt of the application, the requested Belgian authority shall, if necessary, invite the requesting foreign authority to provide any necessary additional information to which it normally has access. "
Art. 32. An article 10ter, written as follows, is inserted in the same section:
"Art. 10ter. § 1^er. The requested Belgian authority shall transmit to the requesting foreign authority the requested information as they are obtained.
§ 2. In the event that all or part of the requested information could not be obtained within a reasonable period of time, the requested Belgian authority shall inform the requesting foreign authority of the information, indicating the reasons for this situation.
In any event, on the expiry of a period of six months from the date of receipt of the application, the requested Belgian authority shall inform the requesting foreign authority of the results of the research it has conducted for the purpose of obtaining the requested information. "
Art. 33. An article 10quater, as follows, is inserted in the same section:
"Art. 10quater. - The requested Belgian authority deals with the additional request for information made by the requesting foreign authority as the original request. "
Art. 34. An article 10quinquies, as follows, is inserted in the same section:
"Art. 10quinquies. - When the requested Belgian authority decides not to give a favourable response to the request for information, it shall notify the requesting foreign authority in writing of the reasons that are contrary to the application being satisfied by expressly referring to the provisions of Article 10, paragraph 2, littera a) to (c), that it invokes. This notification shall be made by the requested Belgian authority as soon as it has arrested its decision and, in any case, before the expiry of a period of three months from the date of the receipt of the request. "
Art. 35. It is included in Chapter III of the Act, section II, including articles 11 and 11 bis, as follows:
“Section II. Notification requests. "
Art. 36. In Article 11, paragraph 1^er, of the same law, which is incorporated in Section II, the words "required authority" are replaced by the words "required Belgian authority" and the words "applicant authority" by the words "applicant foreign authority". "
Art. 37. An article 11bis, as follows, is inserted in the same section:
"Art. 11bis. § 1^er. The requested Belgian authority shall acknowledge receipt in writing of the request for notification from the requesting foreign authority as soon as possible and, in any event, within seven days of the receipt.
Upon receipt of the notification request, the requested Belgian authority shall take the necessary steps to make such notification in accordance with Belgian law.
If necessary, and without jeopardizing compliance with the notification deadline set out in the application, the requested Belgian authority invites the requesting foreign authority to provide additional information, to which it normally has access. In no case shall the required Belgian authority question the validity of the act or decision to which the notification is requested.
§ 2. The requested Belgian authority shall inform the requesting foreign authority of the date of the notification as soon as the notification was made. This communication is made by reference to the requesting foreign authority of one of the copies of the application duly supplemented by the establishment of the certificate in the reverse. "
Art. 38. It is included in Chapter III of the Act, a section III, including articles 12 to 17octies, which reads as follows:
"Section III. Requests for recovery or precautionary measures. "
Art. 39. Section 12 of the Act, amended by the Act of 29 January 2004, which is incorporated in Section III, is amended as follows:
1° in paragraph 1^erthe words "required authority" are replaced by the words "required Belgian authority" and the words "applicant authority" by the words "applicant foreign authority";
2° in paragraph 3, the words "authority required" are replaced by the words "Belgian authority required. "
Art. 40. In Article 13, § 3, of the Act, as amended by the Act of 29 January 2004, which is incorporated in Section III, the following amendments are made:
1st paragraph 1^er is replaced by the following provision:
"Without the application of the provisions of paragraph 3, the requested Belgian authority shall endeavour to complete the formalities of replacing the title within three months of the date of receipt of the application. » ;
2° in paragraph 2, the words "applicant authority" are replaced by the words "applicant foreign authority";
3° in paragraph 3, the words "applicant authority" are replaced by the words "applicant foreign authority." "
Art. 41. Section 14 of the Act, amended by the Act of 29 January 2004, which is incorporated in Section III, is amended as follows:
1° to § 1^erthe words "required authority" are replaced by the words "required Belgian authority" and the words "applicant authority" by the words "applicant foreign authority";
2° to § 2, paragraph 2, the words "applicant authority" are replaced by the words "applicant foreign authority". "
Art. 42. Section 16 of the Act, which is incorporated in Section III, is amended as follows:
1° to § 1^erParagraph 1^er, the words "applicant authority" are replaced by the words "applicant foreign authority";
2° to § 1^erParagraph 1^erin the Dutch text, the word "executoriale" is replaced by the word "uitvoerende";
3° to § 1^er, paragraph 2, the words "required authority" are replaced by the words "required Belgian authority" and the words "applicant authority" by the words "applicant foreign authority";
4° to § 1^er, paragraph 3, the words "applicant authority" are replaced by the words "applicant foreign authority";
5° in § 2, the words "Belgian law" are replaced by the words "Belgian law".
Art. 43. Article 17, paragraph 1^erthe same Act, which is incorporated in Section III, is amended as follows:
1° the words "authority required" are replaced by the words "Belgian authority required";
2° in the Dutch text, the word " conservatory" is replaced by the word "bewarende".
Art. 44. An article 17bis, as follows, is inserted in the same section:
"Art. 17bis. § 1^er. In writing, as soon as possible and, in any event, no later than seven days after the receipt of the request for recovery or interim measures by the requesting foreign authority, the required Belgian authority:
(a) acknowledgement of receipt of the request;
(b) invites the requesting foreign authority to complete the application if the information and other elements referred to in section 6, to which the requesting foreign authority normally has access, are not mentioned in the application.
§ 2. If the requested Belgian authority fails to take the necessary steps within the three-month period provided for in Article 13, it shall inform the requesting foreign authority in writing as soon as possible and, in any event, no later than seven days after the expiry of this period, of the reasons why this period is not met. "
Art. 45. An article 17ter, as follows, is inserted in the same section:
"Art. 17ter. - In the event that, in the light of the case of a species, it is not possible, within reasonable time, to recover all or part of the debt or to take interim measures, the requested Belgian authority shall inform the requesting foreign authority of the debt, indicating the reasons for this situation.
At the latest on the expiry of each six-month period from the date of the acknowledgement of receipt of the application, the requested Belgian authority shall inform the requesting foreign authority of the state or result of the recovery or interim measures procedure. "
Art. 46. An article 17quater, as follows, is inserted in the same section:
Art. 17quater. - If Belgian law does not permit the precautionary measures or recovery requested by the requesting foreign authority, the requested Belgian authority shall notify the latter as soon as possible and, in any event, within one month of the receipt of the notification referred to in Article 7Sexies. "
Art. 47. An article 17quinquies, as follows, is inserted in the same section:
"Art. 17quinquies. - Where the requested Belgian authority is informed by the requesting foreign authority of the decrease in the amount of the debt, the requested Belgian authority continues the action it has undertaken in order to recover or take precautionary measures, however this action is limited to the amount remaining to be collected.
If, at the time the requested Belgian authority is informed of the decrease in the amount of the debt, the recovery of an amount exceeding the amount remaining to be charged has already been made by the requested Belgian authority without the transfer procedure referred to in article 17septies being already initiated, the authority shall refund the overpayment to the entitled person. "
Art. 48. An article 17sexies, as follows, is inserted in the same section:
"Art. 17sexies. - The requested Belgian authority deals with the complementary request made by the requesting foreign authority as the original application.
This complementary application is, to the extent possible, treated by the Belgian authority required in conjunction with the original application of the requesting foreign authority. Where, in the light of the progress of the current procedure, the addition of the application to the original application is not possible, the requested Belgian authority is only required to comply with the request of the requesting foreign authority if it relates to an amount equal to or greater than that referred to in Article 22quater, § 2. "
Art. 49. An article 17septic, as follows, is inserted in the same section:
"Art. 17septies. - Any amount recovered by the required Belgian authority, including, where applicable, the interests referred to in Article 14, shall be transferred to the requesting foreign authority denominated in euro. This transfer shall be effected within one month of the date on which the recovery was made.
Competent Belgian authorities designated in accordance with Article 1^er§ 3, may agree with the competent authorities of another Member State of the European Community different provisions for the transfer of amounts below the threshold mentioned in Article 22quater, § 2. "
Art. 50. An article 17octies, as follows, is inserted in the same section:
"Art. 17octies. - With the exception of any amounts collected by the Belgian authority required for the interests referred to in article 14, the debt is deemed to be recovered in proportion to the recovery of the amount expressed in euro in the application by the requesting foreign authority. "
Art. 51. It is inserted in Chapter III of the Act, a section IV, including section 18, which reads as follows:
"Section IV. Refusal of requests for assistance. "
Art. 52. In section 18 of the Act, which is incorporated in Section IV, as amended by the Act of 29 January 2004, the following amendments are made:
1° in paragraph 1^er, the words "authority required" are replaced by the words "Belgian authority required";
2° in paragraph 1^er, littera b), the words "applicant authority" are replaced by the words "applicant foreign authority";
Paragraph 3 is replaced by the following provision:
"When the requested Belgian authority decides not to respond to the request for assistance, in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 1^er, it shall inform the requesting foreign authority of the reasons for its refusal. This communication is made in writing by the requested Belgian authority as soon as it has arrested its decision and, in any case, before the expiry of a period of three months after the receipt of the request for assistance. This reasoned refusal is also communicated to the Commission of the European Community. "
Art. 53. It is inserted in Chapter III of the Act, a section V, including section 19, which reads as follows:
"Section V. Translation of applications. "
Art. 54. In section 19 of the Act, amended by the Act of 29 January 2004, which is incorporated in Section V, the words "required authority" are replaced by the words "required Belgian authority". "
Art. 55. It is inserted in Chapter IV of the Act, section 1^reincluding section 20, as follows:
“Section 1^re. Limitation rules. "
Art. 56. In section 20 of the Act, which is incorporated in Section V, the following amendments are made:
1° to § 1^er, the words "applicant authority" are replaced by the words "applicant foreign authority";
2° in § 2, the words "required authority" are replaced by the words "required Belgian authority" and the words "applicant authority" by the words "applicant foreign authority". "
Art. 57. It is included in Chapter IV of the Act, section II, including sections 20bis to 21, as follows:
"Section II. - Transmission of information.
Art. 58 (former art. 57partm)
“An article 20bis, as follows, is inserted in Section II:
Art. 20 bis. § 1^er. All information provided in writing pursuant to this Act is transmitted, to the extent possible, only electronically, except:
(a) the request for notification referred to in Article 5, together with the act or decision to which the notification is requested;
(b) requests for recovery or interim measures referred to in articles 6 and 7, respectively, and the enforceable title accompanying them.
§ 2. Competent Belgian authorities designated in accordance with Article 1^er§ 3, may agree with the competent authorities of another Member State of the European Community to waive the paper communication of the requests and instruments listed in paragraph 1^er. "
Art. 59. An article 20ter, as follows, is inserted in the same section:
"Art. 20ter. - A central office, connected to the CCN/CSI network and responsible for sending communications electronically between the various competent Belgian authorities designated in accordance with Article 1^er§ 3, and the central offices of the other Member States, shall be designated by the King. "
Art. 60. An article 20quater, as follows, is inserted in the same section:
"Art. 20quater. § 1^er. When information is stored in electronic databases and electronically exchanged, the competent Belgian authorities designated in accordance with Article 1^er§ 3 shall take all necessary measures to ensure that any information provided in any form under this Act is treated in a confidential manner.
The information transmitted by the foreign authority required to the requesting Belgian authority is covered by the professional secrecy referred to in article 458 of the Criminal Code and is protected by Belgian law.
§ 2. The information referred to in paragraph 1^er may only be accessible to persons and authorities referred to in Article 21.
Such information may be used in judicial or administrative proceedings for the recovery of claims referred to in Article 2.
§ 3. When communicating electronically with the competent authorities of the other Member States of the European Community, the competent Belgian authorities designated in accordance with Article 1^er§ 3 shall take all necessary measures to ensure that all communications are duly authorized. "
Art. 61. An article 20quinquies, as follows, is inserted in the same section:
"Art. 20quinquies. - Information and other information provided by the requested Belgian authority to the requesting foreign authority is established in one of the official languages of the Kingdom, or in another language agreed between the requested Belgian authority and the requesting foreign authority. "
Art. 62. In article 21, which is incorporated in the same section, the words "authority required" are replaced by the words "Belgian authority required. "
Art. 63. It is included in Chapter IV of the Act, a section III, comprising sections 22 to 22ter, as follows:
"Section III. - Method of reimbursement of costs. "
Art. 64. In section 22 of the Act, amended by the Act of 29 January 2004, which is incorporated in Section III, the words "applicant authority" are replaced by the words "applicant foreign authority". "
Art. 65. An article 22bis, as follows, is inserted in the same section:
"Art. 22bis. - Agents authorized to agree on the terms and conditions for reimbursement of the procedures referred to in Article 22 shall be designated by the King. "
Art. 66. An article 22ter, as follows, is inserted in the same section:
"Art. 22ter. § 1^er. When the requested Belgian authority decides to apply for reimbursement of the costs incurred, it shall notify the requesting foreign authority in writing of the reasons for which it considers that the recovery of the debt is a specific problem, entails very high costs or falls within the framework of the fight against organized crime.
It includes a detailed estimate of the costs to which it seeks reimbursement by the requesting foreign authority.
§ 2. If the competent, Belgian and foreign authorities fail to agree on the terms of reimbursement, the requested Belgian authority shall continue the collection procedures in a manner that is customary.
§ 3. When the requesting Belgian authority receives a request from the requested foreign authority for reimbursement of the costs incurred, it shall acknowledge receipt in writing as soon as possible and, in any event, within seven days of the receipt.
Within two months from the date of receipt of this application, the requesting Belgian authority shall notify the required foreign authority if and to what extent it accepts the proposed reimbursement terms. "
Art. 67. It is included in Chapter IV of the Act, a section IV, which reads as follows:
"Section IV. - Acceptability of requests for assistance."
Art. 22quater. § 1^er. A request for assistance may be made by the requesting Belgian authority either for a single claim or for several claims, as long as they are at the expense of the same person.
§ 2. No assistance request may be made if the total amount of the claim(s) referred to in section 2, to which it relates is less than EUR 1500. "
Art. 68. It is included in Chapter IV of the Act, a Section V, as follows:
"Section V. - Information requirements. "
Art. 22quinquies. - The Minister of Finance or his delegate shall inform the Commission of the European Community before 15 March of each year, if possible electronically, of the use made of the procedures established by law and of the results obtained in the previous year, according to the model in annex IV to this Act.
Competent authorities designated in accordance with Article 1^er§ 3, which does not fall under the Federal Public Service Finance, shall transmit to the Minister of Finance or his delegate the elements referred to in paragraph 1^er before 15 February of each year according to the model in Annex IV to this Act. "
Promulgate this law, order that it be clothed with the seal of the State and published by the Belgian Monitor.
Given in Brussels on 4 July 2004.
ALBERT
By the King:
Minister of Finance,
D. REYNDERS
Minister of Economy, Energy, Foreign Trade and Science Policy,
Ms. F. MOERMAN
Minister of Average Class and Agriculture,
Mrs. S. LARUELLE
Seal of the state seal:
The Minister of Justice,
Ms. L. ONKELINX
____
Notes
(1) Parliamentary references:
Documents of the House of Representatives:
51-1087 -2003/2004:
- No. 1: Bill.
- No. 2: Text corrected by the commission.
- No. 3: Text adopted in plenary and transmitted to the Senate.
Full report: 3 June 2004.
Documents of the Senate:
3-733 - 2003/2004:
- No. 1: Project not referred to by the Senate.

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