Dear GENA Members, 

Read this newsletter to keep up with the latest activities and updates within GENA ! 

• PPCWG: May 21 at 10:00AM - LINK 

• IWG: May 28 at 10:00AM - LINK  

• IFWG: May 14 at 10:00AM - LINK 

• SCWG: May 7 at 10:00AM - LINK 

• Innovation WG (INWG): May 28 at 9:00AM - LINK 

Chapters 

• Nordics: 9 June from 13:00 to 14:30
• APAC: May 12 at 10:00AM - LINK 
• French : May 7 a morning session dedicated to Peppol France 
• UK: May 12 at 11:00AM - LINK 
• Greek: June 22

Please, note that you must register on the GENA website to join a working group. You can also find and register for all our upcoming meetings on the "Events" page. 

The  next GENA Annual General Meeting will take place on November 4 & 5 in Milano, Italy. It will start with a panel discussion on November 4th (end of the afternoon)and continue on Thursday until 4:00 pm. Further details regarding the venue and agenda will be shared later.  

E-invoicing and tax compliance requirements are evolving fast in the United States. To help professionals stay ahead, the GENA Academy is crossing the Atlantic for the first time, offering an intensive two-day training hosted by Vertex at the Fitler Club in Philadelphia. 

Whether you are new to e-invoicing or looking to deepen your expertise, this is a unique opportunity to gain practical, up-to-date knowledge from leading industry experts, in an international context. 

What's on the agenda? You can expect a comprehensive programme covering the latest US e-invoicing and tax reporting requirements, global developments and best practices, real-world implementation examples, technical deep dives into data formats, standards and Peppol applications, plus networking sessions. 

Date: 18 & 19 May  

Location: Fitler Club, 24 S. 24th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103  

Fees :  

GENA members: €1,000  

Non-members: €1,200 

Vertex Employees : €850 

This Academy session will be held in English  

Register now on Eventbrite and secure your place : link.  

Please promote also this event to your networks or repost on LinkedIn 

The European Commission is preparing a revision of the EU framework on eInvoicing, with a legislative proposal expected by the end of 2026. This initiative aims to improve interoperability, reduce administrative burden, and support the digitalisation of invoicing across the European Union. 

 You are invited to contribute through a public consultation with a deadline on June 10th. The PPCWG is writing a contribution but all members are invited to also share insights and directly answer to the consultation. If you need support, you can contact the secretariat and we will guide you in the process. 

The policy objective is to improve harmonisation and interoperability while reducing cross-border administrative burdens. The revision also aligned with the ViDA initiative, which will make e-invoicing mandatory for cross-border B2B transactions by 2030.  

Submit your feedback here : link 

 Survey on Data provision from the EU observatory of Payments in Commercial Transactions 

GENA was invited to share this questionnaire among its members to feed the work of the European Commission based on a study done by the EU Observatory of Payments in Commercial Transactions. It is actively seeking practical feedback and insights, particularly regarding: 

• current pilot projects on payment performance data, 

• any challenges or complications encountered, 

• operational considerations related to data collection and sharing. 

The questionnaire specifically aims to: 

• assess your organisation’s interest and willingness to support the Observatory; 

• understand the type, scope, and level of detail of the data you may be able to provide; 

• identify any conditions, constraints, or requirements related to data sharing. 

Please note that any data shared will be used exclusively for the Observatory’s activities, including analytical work and publications, with full transparency regarding sources. It’s a short questionnaire so please take 10 minutes to fill it ! 

 (LINK) as soon as possible as the deadline is May 8th. 

Below are the main topics discussed during the last French Chapter meeting: 

Participants highlighted several operational and technical challenges within the e-invoicing ecosystem. First, customer deregistration between platforms remains inefficient due to unreliable email-based processes, creating a need for clearer operational contacts and possible escalation to the tax authority. 

There are also inconsistencies between the PPF and Peppol directories, which can lead to invoice delivery failures and require better data synchronization. 

 In addition, insufficient anticipation and communication of technical releases from PPF and AIFE often cause disruptions, indicating a need for improved coordination. 

The management of invoice lifecycle statuses is considered complex and requires better alignment between regulatory requirements, technical specifications, and Peppol best practices. 

 Participants also raised concerns about the requirement to use separate certificates for B2G and B2B environments, which adds operational complexity. 

Finally, the upcoming implementation of a Peppol whitelist, based on dedicated certificates for authorized operators, is expected to strengthen system governance. 

 Co Chair of the French Chapter : a.dimulati@quadient.com 

SCWG : digital trade & e-invoicing 

The group agreed to strengthen its focus on logistics and EU freight frameworks, with a deep dive on cross-border digital trade & e-invoicing led by Marcus Laube. 

Cross-border trade is far more complex than e-invoicing, involving many documents, stakeholders, and significant manual data re-entry. Key challenges include regulatory differences, data requirements, and the gap between goods (customs-driven) and services. A “six-corner model” was proposed to extend interoperability to customs and trade platforms. 

The group highlighted a major market opportunity due to the scale of cross-border transactions and data duplication, with potential gains in efficiency and customs processes. 

Participants supported further work in this area, emphasizing the role of service providers, prioritization of core documents, and better user education. Asia (e.g. Singapore) was seen as more advanced, while EU initiatives like eFTI are emerging. 

The group agreed to collaborate more closely with Peppol, ICC, and others, explore a proof of concept, and continue discussions with external experts in future sessions. 

Linkto the recording. 

PPCWG : trust services and e-invoicing 

The meeting featured a presentation by Sander Dijkhuis on eIDAS trust services and the emerging EU Digital and Business Wallet ecosystem. He explained the role of qualified trust services (e-signatures, seals, timestamps, registered delivery) and their legal value, as well as how digital wallets could simplify integrations by allowing users to bring their own trust services. EU Digital Identity Wallets are expected to be available across Member States by 2026, while Business Wallets are being tested for use cases such as tax, AML, and e-invoicing. 

Wallets offer key benefits including strong authentication, low-cost legally valid signatures, and easier access to verified data for processes like KYC. The regulatory context includes eIDAS Regulation and NIS2 Directive, which define trust and cybersecurity requirements. The presentation also highlighted a four-corner model for trust services and the importance of API standardisation. 

Updates were also shared on several initiatives: 

• The VAT Expert Group is progressing on its work, focusing on definitions, roles, accreditation, and testing timelines, with final publication expected next year.  

• The Peppol ViDA pilot is advancing, with initial testing planned in the coming months and a connectathon scheduled before the June Peppol conference.  

• Two EU consultations on public procurement and e-invoicing are ongoing, with deadlines at the end of April and June.  

• Work continues on Peppol’s trust and security architecture, including changes to infrastructure governance and balancing centralisation with interoperability.  

Linkto the recording. 

Following the recent Executive Committee meeting in Barcelona, we are excited to announce plans for a GENA Conference in Singapore, taking place alongside the renowned Peppol Conference. 

The Peppol Conference will be held on 17–18 November, with the GENA Conference following on 19 November at the prestigious Pan Pacific Hotel. This event will bring together key industry players and place a strong focus on corporate customers, offering a unique platform for dialogue, innovation, and collaboration. 

To make this event truly impactful, we are building a dedicated organising team to help shape the agenda and deliver an outstanding experience. This is a great opportunity to contribute to a high-profile international event, expand your network, and help drive the GENA community forward. While we especially welcome volunteers from the region, we encourage participation from across our global community. 

If you would like to be part of this exciting initiative, we would love to hear from you. Please reach out to our Secretary General, Marcus Laube, to get involved. 

Let’s make this a standout event—together. 

Did you like this newsletter? Spread the word among your team!  

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If you want to share non promotional content thought this newsletter, do not hesitate to contact GENA head of secretariat: natacha.clarac@gena.net