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The IFRS Foundation has proposed to set up the Accounting Standards Advisory Forum (ASAF) with the aim to formalise, rationalise and streamline the relationships with the National Standard-Setters and other regional bodies around the world, and to engage with them on a collective basis on technical issues. EFRAG welcomes the proposal and supports the idea that the ASAF will be based on multilateral, productive, in-depth discussions on major technical issues, and sees this as a significant step forward in terms of contribution to the due process.
EFRAG supports the IFRS Foundation’s view that the size of the ASAF should be limited to allow for efficient and effective technical discussions. EFRAG believes it is important that the IFRS Foundation should allocate seats to organisations rather than to individuals so as to ensure optimum representation of participants in the Forum. However, the IFRS Foundation should give those organisations the flexibility to organise themselves to bring not only the right level of expertise and commitment to the discussion table, but also possible alternative views, more particularly in the early stages of projects. This could include the presentation of specific regional or national issues and concerns. EFRAG is confident that such flexibility is compatible with the need for continuity, expertise and constructive spirit in technical discussions.
EFRAG’s close collaboration with all National Standard-Setters in Europe combined with EFRAG’s mandate from the European Commission makes EFRAG well placed to represent Europe in the technical financial reporting debate. In forming its delegation to the ASAF, EFRAG intends to build on its past experience of EFRAG-IASB public meetings in which EFRAG delegation was composed of the Chairmen of EFRAG and of the Standard-Setters of France, Germany, Italy and the UK. EFRAG’s current enhancements of its due process have been designed to support greater involvement at an earlier stage of other National Standard-Setters in Europe. EFRAG intends also to take into account the agenda of the meetings and the various views or issues arising in Europe.
EFRAG agrees that participants in the ASAF are asked to make specific commitments. EFRAG believes some commitments should be reworded so as not to impede representatives of certain jurisdictions from participating, although they would be both able and genuinely willing to participate positively and constructively to serving the goal of one single set of high quality globally accepted financial reporting standards.