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The global body for professional accountants

EU update - June 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 over 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 Ireland hosts 2026 EFAA International Conference in Dublin

ACCA Ireland welcomed delegates to the 2026 EFAA International Conference in Dublin on 21 May, bringing together EU policymakers and representatives of European Professional Accounting Organisations to address the policies and challenges facing small and medium‑sized accounting practices (SMPs).

With over 16,000 ACCA members in Ireland working closely with SMPs to support SME clients, the conference offered a valuable platform to highlight the profession’s priorities across ethics, AI, talent, education and upskilling.

A keynote from Gabriela Figueiredo Dias, Chair of IESBA, reinforced the importance of ethical standards and proportionate requirements backed by proper training and funding.

ACCA Head of Ireland Stephen Noonan and ACCA Head of Europe Caitriona Allis contributed to discussions on the urgent need for sustained investment in education and skills development to strengthen Europe’s talent pipeline.

A panel on strengthening skills, introduced by Brian McEnery of BDO Ireland, highlighted opportunities for SMPs to lead Europe’s digital and AI transformation by attracting new talent and deepening collaboration with educators.  

For ACCA, hosting the conference strengthened engagement with European bodies, advanced our strategic agenda on digitalisation, skills and SME support, and reinforced our role as a forward‑looking voice shaping the profession’s response to emerging EU priorities. 

Shaping policy: key developments driving ACCA engagement

Building on the insights gathered in Dublin, ACCA continues to deepen its policy engagement across Europe, particularly in the areas of financial literacy and vocational education and training (VET).

Exchanges with national teams and EU-level stakeholders help identify new opportunities for collaboration, including alignment with initiatives such as Ireland’s Springboard+ and engagement on the EU Financial Literacy Strategy, and its related activities.

This work positions ACCA as a proactive, solutions-driven partner whose expertise informs policy, advocacy and member-value activities, strengthening our contribution to Europe’s evolving skills landscape and the wider public interest.

This growing focus on skills and competitiveness is reflected in the EU’s broader agenda to simplify the business environment.

ACCA welcomes the European Commission’s consultation on the proposal for a regulation on the 28th regime (EU Inc.) and will submit feedback. The proposal aims to simplify incorporation, reduce administrative burdens and support SME growth across the Single Market.

We advocate for a practical, digital‑by‑default framework that strengthens cross‑border operations and long‑term competitiveness as the legislative process moves forward, with discussion now progressing in the European Parliament and the Council toward an agreement by end-2026.

In the context of the European Commission’s simplification efforts, two significant consultations were launched following the adoption of the Omnibus I package in March 2026, which introduced streamlined reporting requirements and modifications to the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) scope.

The consultations on the revised European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) and the draft Voluntary Standard for SMEs (VSME) mark an important step in ensuring a more proportionate, coherent and SME‑friendly sustainability reporting framework.

ACCA will contribute to both processes through our partner bodies, Accountancy Europe and EFAA, advocating for standards that remain high‑quality, practical and supportive of Europe’s smaller businesses.

Events and engagements

EU policy developments on the Sustainability Omnibus Package were among the topics discussed at the Belgian Institute of Statutory Auditors (IBR/IRE) Annual Conference on the Future of the Profession.

ACCA engaged directly with organisations from across the audit and assurance landscape to examine how the profession can adapt to fast‑moving regulatory, technological and talent pressures.

Discussions centred on AI’s growing impact on professional practice, the need to attract and retain new talent, and the evolving expectations placed on auditors in safeguarding public trust.

The conference offered sharp, practice‑oriented insights and underscored the value of continued collaboration across the sector as Belgium and Europe navigate the next phase of professional transformation. 

ACCA engaged with Irish MEPs at an evening reception focused on priorities for the upcoming Irish EU Council Presidency, providing an opportunity to exchange views with MEPs Regina Doherty, Cynthia Ní Mhurchú and Nina Carberry, as well as former European Commissioner Mairéad McGuinness, who emphasised the urgent need to strengthen financial literacy and empower citizens to participate more confidently in capital markets to support Europe’s competitiveness.

The accounting profession plays a vital role in this effort by teaching and promoting financial education, helping to build public trust and improve financial capability across society. Within the framework of the Savings and Investment Union, these priorities present valuable opportunities for collaboration, partnerships and investment in education to enhance financial participation across Ireland and the wider EU.

As Europe’s reporting landscape continues to evolve, EFRAG will mark its 25th anniversary on 8 June with the conference 25 Years of EFRAG: Leading the Next Era of Corporate Reporting, bringing together policymakers, standard setters and stakeholders to reflect on past achievements and explore the priorities shaping the next era of reporting.

ACCA will join the event in person as part of its ongoing engagement with EU institutions, contributing to discussions on the future of financial reporting, the continued development of sustainability standards and the profession’s role in supporting high-quality, decision useful information.

Call to action

ACCA’s 2026 Global Talent Trends survey – the world’s largest annual study of the finance profession, with over 11,000 respondents from 160 countries including nearly 1,500 across Europe – shows a European finance workforce reshaping its role and expectations.

Almost one in three professionals already contribute to environmental and social impact work, and nearly half now prioritise employers who take these responsibilities seriously.

The findings also highlight concerns around AI in hiring, the pressures of multi‑generational teams, rising entrepreneurial ambition among Gen Z, and ongoing challenges around wellbeing and compensation. With 45% of respondents expecting their next move to be outside their current organisation, employers face a clear imperative: act now to create the meaningful, future‑focused finance roles professionals want. 

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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