diff --git a/intrastat_base/models/intrastat_common.py b/intrastat_base/models/intrastat_common.py
index a18ea07..ae892c0 100644
--- a/intrastat_base/models/intrastat_common.py
+++ b/intrastat_base/models/intrastat_common.py
@@ -85,14 +85,16 @@ class IntrastatCommon(models.AbstractModel):
         return True
 
     @api.model
-    def _check_xml_schema(self, xml_root, xml_string, xsd_file):
+    def _check_xml_schema(self, xml_string, xsd_file):
         '''Validate the XML file against the XSD'''
         from lxml import etree
+        from StringIO import StringIO
         xsd_etree_obj = etree.parse(
             tools.file_open(xsd_file))
         official_schema = etree.XMLSchema(xsd_etree_obj)
         try:
-            official_schema.assertValid(xml_root)
+            t = etree.parse(StringIO(xml_string))
+            official_schema.assertValid(t)
         except Exception, e:
             # if the validation of the XSD fails, we arrive here
             logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -124,6 +126,13 @@ class IntrastatCommon(models.AbstractModel):
             'datas_fname': filename})
         return attach.id
 
+    @api.multi
+    def _unlink_attachments(self):
+        atts = self.env['ir.attachment'].search(
+            [('res_model', '=', self._name),
+             ('res_id', '=', self.id)])
+        atts.unlink()
+
     @api.model
     def _open_attach_view(self, attach_id, title='XML file'):
         '''Returns an action which opens the form view of the
@@ -140,6 +149,20 @@ class IntrastatCommon(models.AbstractModel):
             }
         return action
 
+    @api.multi
+    def _generate_xml(self):
+        """
+        Inherit this method in the localization module
+        to generate the INTRASTAT Declaration XML file
+
+        Returns:
+        string with XML data
+
+        Call the _check_xml_schema() method
+        before returning the XML string.
+        """
+        return False
+
     @api.one
     def send_reminder_email(self, mail_template_xmlid):
         mail_template = self.env.ref(mail_template_xmlid)
diff --git a/intrastat_product/models/intrastat_product_declaration.py b/intrastat_product/models/intrastat_product_declaration.py
index ab35776..db561e2 100644
--- a/intrastat_product/models/intrastat_product_declaration.py
+++ b/intrastat_product/models/intrastat_product_declaration.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 ##############################################################################
 
 from openerp import models, fields, api, _
-from openerp.exceptions import RedirectWarning, ValidationError
+from openerp.exceptions import RedirectWarning, ValidationError, Warning
 import openerp.addons.decimal_precision as dp
 from datetime import datetime, date
 from dateutil.relativedelta import relativedelta
@@ -438,6 +438,7 @@ class IntrastatProductDeclaration(models.Model):
     @api.multi
     def action_gather(self):
         self.ensure_one()
+        self._check_generate_lines()
         self._note = ''
         self._uom_refs = {
             'weight_uom_categ': self.env.ref('product.product_uom_categ_kgm'),
@@ -518,6 +519,22 @@ class IntrastatProductDeclaration(models.Model):
                 cl.write({'declaration_line_id': declaration_line.id})
         return True
 
+    @api.multi
+    def generate_xml(self):
+        """ generate the INTRASTAT Declaration XML file """
+        self.ensure_one()
+        self._check_generate_xml()
+        self._unlink_attachments()
+        xml_string = self._generate_xml()
+        if xml_string:
+            attach_id = self._attach_xml_file(
+                xml_string, '%s_%s' % (self.type, self.revision))
+            return self._open_attach_view(attach_id)
+        else:
+            raise Warning(
+                _("Programming Error."),
+                _("No XML File has been generated."))
+
     @api.multi
     def done(self):
         self.write({'state': 'done'})
diff --git a/intrastat_product/views/intrastat_product_declaration.xml b/intrastat_product/views/intrastat_product_declaration.xml
index ed429e3..860c8da 100644
--- a/intrastat_product/views/intrastat_product_declaration.xml
+++ b/intrastat_product/views/intrastat_product_declaration.xml
@@ -12,7 +12,13 @@
                     attrs="{'invisible': ['|', ('state', '!=', 'draft'), ('action', '=', 'nihil')]}"
                     string="Generate lines from invoices"
                     class="oe_highlight"/>
-            <button name="generate_declaration" string="Generate Declaration" type="object"/>
+            <button name="generate_declaration" type="object"
+                    attrs="{'invisible': ['|', ('state', '!=', 'draft'), ('action', '=', 'nihil')]}"
+                    string="Generate Declaration Lines"/>
+            <button name="generate_xml"
+                    string="Generate XML Declaration File"
+                    type="object"
+                    attrs="{'invisible': [('state', '!=', 'draft')]}"/>
             <button name="done" string="Done" type="object" class="oe_highlight" states="draft"/>
             <button name="back2draft" string="Back to draft" type="object" states="done"/>
             <field name="state" widget="statusbar"/>
@@ -34,6 +40,7 @@
                   <field name="type"/>
                   <field name="action"/>
                   <field name="revision"/>
+                  <field name="reporting_level" invisible="1"/>
                 </group>
               </group>
               <group name="properties-2">