diff --git a/addons/base_vat/models/res_partner.py b/addons/base_vat/models/res_partner.py
index 1cdba70ab11..6f4184f65c3 100644
--- a/addons/base_vat/models/res_partner.py
+++ b/addons/base_vat/models/res_partner.py
@@ -577,6 +577,11 @@ class ResPartner(models.Model):
             return len(vat) == 11 and vat.isdigit()
         return check_func(vat)
 
+    def format_vat_eu(self, vat):
+        # Foreign companies that trade with non-enterprises in the EU
+        # may have a VATIN starting with "EU" instead of a country code.
+        return vat
+
     def format_vat_ch(self, vat):
         stdnum_vat_format = getattr(stdnum.util.get_cc_module('ch', 'vat'), 'format', None)
         return stdnum_vat_format('CH' + vat)[2:] if stdnum_vat_format else vat
diff --git a/addons/base_vat/tests/test_validate_ruc.py b/addons/base_vat/tests/test_validate_ruc.py
index 326b72f9a96..3cf9f73d640 100644
--- a/addons/base_vat/tests/test_validate_ruc.py
+++ b/addons/base_vat/tests/test_validate_ruc.py
@@ -80,6 +80,13 @@ class TestStructure(TransactionCase):
         # (for technical reasons due to ORM and res.company making related fields towards res.partner for country_id and vat)
         test_partner.write({'vat': '0477472701', 'country_id': None})
 
+    def test_vat_eu(self):
+        """ Foreign companies that trade with non-enterprises in the EU may have a VATIN starting with "EU" instead of
+        a country code.
+        """
+        test_partner = self.env['res.partner'].create({'name': "Turlututu", 'country_id': self.env.ref('base.fr').id})
+        test_partner.write({'vat': "EU528003646", 'country_id': None})
+
 
 @tagged('-standard', 'external')
 class TestStructureVIES(TestStructure):