The French government is pushing ahead with its eInvoicing initiative – with a clear signal: the previous concept of “PDP” (Plateforme de Dématérialisation Partenaire) will in future be known as PA – Plateforme Agréée, or “approved platform.” But what initially sounds like a simple name change actually has far-reaching implications for companies operating in the French economy – and for anyone who wants to strategically prepare for electronic invoicing in Europe.

From PDP to PA: More than just a new term

The renaming serves a clear purpose: the French government is centralizing the electronic invoicing system while emphasizing the importance of official approval. While the term “PDP” (Plateforme de Dématérialisation Partenaire) still focused on the cooperative nature of the platforms, the term “PA” places greater emphasis on binding commitments and regulatory control.

For companies, this means that only officially approved platforms may be used for sending and receiving electronic invoices. In the future, invoice data will be validated and transmitted to the government portal – the Portail Public de Facturation (PPF) – exclusively via these PAs.

What does this mean in concrete terms for companies doing business with France?

Whether you are a German company sending invoices to French business partners or an international provider with customers in France, you must ensure that your systems and service providers are aligned with the new requirements.

Specifically, this means:

• All eInvoices must be processed via a PA in the future.
• The PA validates the invoice and forwards it to the recipient's PA, as well as an extract of its VAT-relevant data to the French tax platform (PPF).
• Only via a PA can legally compliant invoice exchange be guaranteed.

Those who are not prepared risk delays, rejections, or even tax consequences.

France's course is a sign of things to come for Europe

France is one of the countries that is creating clear, centralized structures for digital invoice exchange – an approach that is increasingly catching on. As part of the EU's ViDA initiative, it is foreseeable that more countries will establish comparable models with reporting requirements and certified platforms in the future.

This shows that companies need not only individual technical solutions, but also a strategic, interoperable approach that covers both national and cross-border requirements.

Securely positioned internationally with TRAFFIQX

This is exactly where the TRAFFIQX® network comes in: As one of the largest European networks for the secure, scalable, and legally compliant exchange of electronic invoices, TRAFFIQX® supports companies in setting up future-proof e-invoicing processes—both nationally and internationally.

Why TRAFFIQX® is the right partner:

• Experience with country-specific requirements and data formats such as Factur-X in France, FatturaPA in Italy, and XRechnung in Germany
• Interoperability across formats such as ZUGFeRD, XRechnung, Factur-X, and PEPPOL
• Certified eInvoicing providers and network nodes—soon to be available in France as well