The European Commission’s (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen (see her speech) and subsequently Commissioner McGuinness (see her speech) gave speeches in March announcing new concrete proposals to streamline all EU reporting requirements by reducing them by 25%. The proposals are expected to come this autumn.
Commissioner McGuinness also informed that the EC requested the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG) to postpone its work on the sector-specific European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) potentially by one year. Instead, EFRAG was asked to develop additional guidance for companies to apply the first set of horizontal ESRS. As noted by the Commissioner, this would help to avoid overlapping consultations and burden on stakeholders willing to provide their input.
EC intends to cover “all” EU reporting requirements in its widest meaning (financial included). The intention is to look into both existing and upcoming reporting requirements, but the allocation of the 25% is yet to be determined. Implications for audit requirements, if any, included in the EU Accounting Directive, are therefore yet to be seen too.
The International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB) is developing a new overarching standard for sustainability assurance engagements, the proposed International Standard on Sustainability Assurance 5000, General Requirements for Sustainability Assurance Engagements (ISSA 5000).
The project proposal envisaged the exposure draft (ED) to be approved in September 2023. However, considering the importance of having a global standard as soon as possible, the IAASB now plans to approve the ED in June 2023.
The IAASB issued a public consultation proposing its strategy and work plan for 2024-2027.
Our response to the consultation:
The International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA) released its proposed strategy and work plan 2024-2027 for public comment.
Stakeholders are invited to submit their responses until 7 July 2023.
The International Foundation for Ethics and Audit (IFEA, the Foundation) is a new entity created to house two organisations as recommended by the Monitoring Group.
The objective in establishing the Foundation is to move the IESBA and IAASB to a new entity that is independent of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC).
The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) issued a report that:
Read more This curated content was brought to you by Júlia Bodnárová, Accountancy Europe Manager, Head of EU Audit Regulation since 2017. You can send her tips by email and connect with her on LinkedIn.
