Building on the competitiveness agenda, ACCA continued shaping early thinking on the proposed “28th regime” Regulation (EU Inc.) at an in‑person European Parliament debate hosted by MEP Axel Voss and co‑organised with Accountancy Europe. Joined by stakeholders including IFAC, SMEunited and business representatives, we reinforced the potential of a simplified EU company formation model to unlock opportunities for members, including easier access to employee share options. This work builds on ACCA’s meeting in February with European Commissioner Michael McGrath, where the need for sustained investment in skills to support the green and digital transitions was underlined.  

Engagement with Europe’s sustainability reporting agenda advanced this month with ACCA’s submission of an expression of interest to join EFRAG’s work on developing voluntary sustainability reporting for non‑SME companies outside the scope of the CSRD. Our recommendations are to set a framework that is proportionate, practical and aligned with the realities of smaller organisations outside mandatory ESRS scope. The focus should be on improving clarity, usability and consistency so that preparers can strengthen transparency in a way that supports good reporting without adding unnecessary burden.

Our work on sustainability fed directly into a dedicated meeting with the European Commission on assurance under the ISSA 5000. Presenting the joint ACCA and CA ANZ report, Demystifying the assurance of estimates and forward-looking information in accordance with ISSA 5000, we set out recommendations to support high-quality and consistent limited EU assurance sustainability standards expected in July 2027, and to ensure coherence between reporting and assurance developments.

ACCA participated in an invitation‑only high‑level lifelong learning event hosted by the Irish Permanent Representation to the EU, joining senior stakeholders from the OECD, the European Commission and Ireland’s Department of Education & Youth. The discussion reinforced Ireland’s Presidency focus on investment in education, training and financial literacy, aligned with current EU priorities such as the financial literacy and VET strategies. Our participation strengthens ACCA’s positioning in these policy debates and highlighted opportunities for our Ireland and Europe markets to engage with institutions exploring new skills pathways, helping build potential pipelines for the profession. 

This shared commitment to skills and future readiness was echoed in Sofia, where the Federation of Mediterranean Accountants (FCM) met to reinforce regional collaboration. ACCA joined fellow members to discuss how AI is reshaping the profession, the urgency of addressing talent shortages, and the need for more agile, lifelong learning. These priorities align closely with ACCA’s work across the region to create practical opportunities and support members in a rapidly changing landscape. 

Support for Europe’s small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) came into sharper focus at the General Assembly of the Early Warning Europe Network in Brussels. The discussions revealed a strong shared commitment to reinforcing the ecosystem that helps SMEs anticipate challenges, build resilience and access professional expertise. Through this collaboration, ACCA is ready to contribute, throughout the year, to solutions that promote earlier intervention and ensure the profession’s perspective is reflected in policymaking at both EU and national levels. 

ACCA has released a new White Paper following our high-level conference AI Strategies for a Competitiveness Europe: Empowering the Finance and Accounting Professions. The paper calls on the European Union and its Member States to accelerate investment in digital skills, modern learning and strong governance frameworks.

Our goal is clear: to ensure that accountants are fully equipped to guide organisations through rapid technological change and to strengthen Europe’s long-term competitiveness. 

Take action today - read the White Paper and join the push for a more digitally empowered Europe.