25 October 2011

Commission proposes review of the existing Accounting Directives

What does this proposal cover?

As part of the Responsible Business package, the European Commission proposes to make changes to current EU rules for preparing companies’ individual and, where relevant, consolidated financial statements, with a view to improving the quality of the information disclosed. The proposal would also reduce the administrative burden for small companies.

What are the existing EU rules on accounting for limited liability companies?

There has been a Directive in place for individual financial statements since 1978, and one for consolidated financial statements since 1983. These two Directives provide a complete set of rules for the preparation and content of statutory financial statements. They are often referred to as the "Accounting Directives". The Commission proposes to replace these two Directives by a single Directive that is better adapted to the present and future needs of preparers and users of financial statements.

What are the main objectives of the proposal?

Unnecessary and disproportionate administrative costs imposed on small companies hamper economic activity and impede growth and employment. The primary objective of the proposal is therefore to simplify the preparation of financial statements for small companies. The proposal also aims to make company financial statements more comparable, clearer and easier to understand. This would allow the users of financial statements, such as shareholders, banks, suppliers and employees, to gain a better understanding of the performance and financial position of a company and hence better inform and protect them. The proposal foresees maximum harmonisation as far as the accounting obligations of small companies (as defined in the Directive) are concerned.

MEMO

Text of the proposal

© European Commission