It is well known that the UK operates a very high VAT registration threshold (which has been the past subject of discussion in my blog for other reasons than the following). Other EU states on average have a threshold in the region of €30k, compared with ours of £73k. This means that, if our businesses make supplies in another EU state (under rules which require them to register there rather than allow the reverse charge to apply to the overseas customer) they will be more likely to be swept up into VAT registration than if an overseas business makes similar supplies in the UK.