Executive summaryOn 24 June 2020, the Council of the European Union (EU) announced that it adopted amendments to the EU Directive 2011/16 allowing Member States an option to defer by up to six months the time limits for the filing and exchange of information on cross-border arrangements under Directive 2018/822 (DAC6 or Directive) due to the COVID-19 pandemic.The amendments also provide the possibility of one further extension for a maximum additional three months by means of a unanimous decision of the Council depending on the evolution of the pandemic.Detailed discussionBackgroundDAC6 entered into force on 25 June 2018.1 The Directive requires intermediaries (including EU-based...