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EU update - September 2026

Welcome to our Brussels update, highlighting key developments for the ACCA community. Stay informed on policy shifts that strengthen our engagement, build connections, and boost ACCA’s impact in the EU and across Europe.

About ACCA Public Affairs Europe

ACCA has almost 80,000 members and students across the EU and Europe region. Our Europe public affairs engagement is led by our Brussels-based team working closely with our Europe market teams based in the Czech Republic, Ireland, Poland, Romania and Ukraine. 

This collaborative team approach to public affairs ensures that our members and communities are served both at the centre and local levels for a ‘One Europe’ solution.

Our public affairs engagement

We work with national and EU policymakers to monitor and influence policies affecting our members and the profession. This includes submitting position papers, sharing professional insights and expertise, participating in events and expert group meetings, and actively contributing as members of Accountancy Europe, the European Federation of Accountants and Auditors (EFAA), SMEunited and Early Warning Europe Network (EWEN).

European Commission in Brussels, Belgium, overlaid with the words 'Brussels buzz' and the ACCA logo

Highlight of the month

ACCA Brings the Skills Debate to Ireland's EU Presidency

As Ireland leads the Presidency of the EU Council until end of December 2026, addressing skills shortages and enhancing SME competitiveness remain central to Europe's long-term economic resilience and growth. To contribute to this important debate, ACCA Europe will convene policymakers, business leaders, academics and accounting professionals for its flagship conference, Investing in Skills for SME Competitiveness: An EU–Ireland Dialogue for the 2026 Presidency, hosted by BDO Ireland in Dublin on 22 October.  

The event will explore how investment in skills, lifelong learning and workforce development can help businesses boost productivity, accelerate innovation and build resilience. Discussions will contribute to an ACCA White Paper setting out recommendations for Irish and EU policymakers as work progresses on Europe's future investment priorities and the next Multiannual Financial Framework (2028-2034). 

The conference will feature a keynote address from European Commissioner Michael McGrath joining in person, alongside leading voices from government, business and the profession. Particular focus will be placed on the role of accountants and small and medium-sized accountancy practices in helping SMEs navigate digitalisation, evolving reporting requirements and sustainability-related challenges. 

Registrations are now open for both in-person and online participation. 

Ireland 2026 EU Presidency Associated Event logo.

Shaping policy: key developments driving ACCA engagement

EU policy is evolving at speed, and ACCA is helping members stay ahead of the curve. Our first EU policy webinar, EU Policy Update 2026: What Accountants Need to Know, on 30 September, attracted strong engagement from members across Europe, offering practical insights into the latest developments in sustainability reporting, audit, anti-money laundering, artificial intelligence and skills policy.

Following opening remarks from Jakub Wojnarowski, head of Western & Central Europe, the ACCA Europe public affairs team shared an overview of our Brussels advocacy priorities and how we are representing members' interests with EU stakeholders.

The session concluded with an engaging discussion alongside Accountancy Europe experts on what these changes mean for the profession and the businesses we support. The recording is available on Youtube for a wider audience.

Following the strong engagement and feedback received, ACCA will continue providing regular updates on this page, with a greater focus on the policy issues that matter most to members and that are shaping the future of the profession.

EU Policy Update 2026 webinar screen showing the session title, an EU flag and five panellists.

On 30 September 2026, the CEAOB technical advice – standard for limited assurance on sustainability reporting was published, setting out recommendations to the European Commission on EU-specific additions and carve-outs to ISSA 5000 for sustainability assurance engagements under the CSRD. The advice will inform the Commission’s development of a delegated act establishing EU limited assurance standards, currently expected in 2027. ACCA is reviewing the technical advice and will contribute to any positions or statements developed by Accountancy Europe and EFAA. 

The European Commission's Skills Portability Initiative, part of the broader Fair Labour Mobility Package, aims to facilitate the recognition and portability of skills and qualifications across borders through digital credentials and streamlined recognition procedures, including for non-EU professionals seeking to work in the EU.

ACCA has actively engaged on this agenda through its response to the consultation and discussions with Commission representatives at our European Parliament roundtable in February.

We are currently reviewing the proposals to assess opportunities and implications for the accountancy profession and will continue engaging as the legislative process progresses.

As implementation of the EU’s new AML framework progresses, ACCA has provided input through Accountancy Europe (AcE) and the European Federation of Accountants & Auditors for SMPs and SMPs (EFAA) on key draft Regulatory Technical Standards issued by the Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA), including customer due diligence, business relationships and group-wide requirements.

AMLA is currently reviewing feedback and preparing the final standards.

ACCA’s key messages focus on ensuring that the rules are tailored to the accounting profession rather than replicated from the banking sector, and that they remain proportionate for SMEs and aligned with the EU’s broader simplification and burden-reduction agenda under the Omnibus process. 

Europe’s sustainability reporting framework has reached another significant milestone with the adoption of the revised European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) and new Voluntary Sustainability Reporting Standard (VS).

The voluntary framework offers a more proportionate approach for organisations with fewer than 1,000 employees, providing a practical way to communicate sustainability information while limiting unnecessary reporting burdens.

As implementation begins, ACCA remains actively involved in discussions to help ensure the new framework works effectively for businesses and practitioners alike.

Members interested in understanding the implications of the changes are encouraged to join the upcoming event hosted by EFRAG and the European Commission on 9 October.

ACCA is preparing a response to the EFRAG public consultation on the proposed European Sustainability Reporting Standard for Third-Country Companies (ESRS-TC), which will apply to certain non-EU companies with significant operations in the EU.

Our engagement aims to help ensure that the standard is workable, proportionate and aligned with global reporting practices. As part of this work, ACCA has an upcoming meeting with EFRAG to discuss the ESRS-TC proposal and other sustainability reporting developments of relevance to the profession. 

Several important policy initiatives will continue to shape the regulatory environment for businesses and accountants in the months ahead:

30 September – CEAOB published limited assurance standards

CEAOB delivered its technical advice on EU limited assurance standards to the European Commission, which will launch a public consultation later this autumn. 

Deadline 30 October – European Commission call on financial literacy 

European Commission is seeking examples of best practices in financial literacy (investing, savings and risk literacy). Results will feed into a synthesis report, with further exercises planned for 2027.

Deadline 31 October – EFRAG consultation on ESRS for third-country undertakings 

EFRAG’s consultation on the ESRS-40a Exposure Draft for third-country companies with significant EU activities closes on 31 October.

Deadline 5 November - Simplifying EU rules on direct taxation – omnibus

European Commission is seeking views on the proposal for a direction on simplification of direct taxation rules. ACCA replied to the call for evidence back in March.

Q1 2027 – publication of implementation guidelines on the CSDDD

European Commission expected to publish implementation guidelines for the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), providing very large companies with practical guidance ahead of its application in July 2029. 

Early 2027 – possible consultation on the future of audit supervision in Europe

Mid-2027 – Fair Labour Mobility Package

The European Parliament and the Council will need to agree positions on the legislative proposals before negotiations can begin. No indicative timeline for a final interinstitutional agreement has yet been published.

Events and engagements

On 14 October, ACCA will join fellow professional accountancy organisations in Brussels for Accountancy Europe's Members' Engagement Day.

The event brings together senior representatives from across the profession to discuss the policy developments shaping accountancy's future.

ACCA's head of Europe, Caitriona Allis, will contribute to a high-level panel examining the opportunities and challenges presented by AI and its impact on the profession. 

Through these discussions, ACCA will continue to advocate for a proportionate, innovation-friendly policy framework, share members' perspectives with key stakeholders, and strengthen its engagement on the issues that will shape the future of accountancy and finance across Europe.

Supporting Europe's SMEs remains critical to economic growth and resilience. At this year's Early Warning Europe Day, on 18 September, policymakers, business support organisations and practitioners came together to discuss how the business environment can be improved for entrepreneurs and small businesses. Discussions focused on reducing barriers to cross-border business, improving access to finance for companies built on intangible assets, and encouraging a stronger culture of seeking advice and support. 

The event reinforced the importance of creating conditions that enable SMEs not only to survive, but to innovate, grow and compete. As a member of the Early Warning Europe Network (EWEN), ACCA is committed to raising awareness of the tools, support mechanisms and policy solutions that help SMEs build resilience, address challenges early and achieve sustainable growth.

ACCA and EFAA jointly hosted an in-person session in Brussels with accounting students from the University of Seattle, one of ACCA’s North American academic partners.

The discussion provided a valuable opportunity to exchange views on key issues shaping the future of the profession, including artificial intelligence, sustainability, and talent development.

The event highlighted ACCA and the accountancy profession to future practitioners, while reinforcing collaboration with EFAA as a key membership partner.

The strong engagement from students highlighted growing interest in the skills and opportunities needed to succeed in a rapidly evolving profession.

Three speakers in discussion with University of Seattle accounting students during a joint ACCA-EFAA session in Brussels.

Call to action

AI is transforming hiring practices across Europe yet concerns about transparency and fairness remain high.

According to ACCA's Global Talent Trends 2026 report, nearly two-thirds of European respondents expressed concerns about the use of AI in recruitment processes.

While technology can help organisations recruit more efficiently, trust, accountability and human oversight remain essential to ensuring fair outcomes. 

As AI adoption accelerates, ACCA continues to advocate for responsible implementation that combines innovation with transparency and supports positive experiences for employers and candidates alike.

Explore the Global Talent Trends 2026 findings and join the conversation on the future of work.

ACCA Priorities for the EU 2024 – 2029

Read our recommendations to the EU institutions and priorities on sustainability, AI and Talent. 

Download (PDF, 1.1 MB)

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