Commission proposals
Proposal for a regulation on the quality of audits of public-interest entities and proposal for a directive to enhance the single market for statutory audits (November 2011)
- Press release
- Frequently asked questions
- Technical briefing by Claire Bury, Acting Director “Capital and Companies”
- Proposals:
- Impact Assessment
- Study on the effects of the implementation of the “acquis” on statutory audits of annual and consolidated accounts including the consequences on the audit market
See also:
Consultations
Consultation on audit policy (13.10 – 8.12.2010)
On October 2010 the Commission launched a consultation on the role of the auditor, the governance and the independence of audit firms, the supervision of auditors, the configuration of the audit market, the creation of a single market for the provision of audit services, the simplification of rules for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) and Practitioners (SMPs) and the international co-operation for the supervision of global audit networks. The deadline for responses was 8 December 2010.
Consultation on ways to help create more market players (11.11.2008 – 28.2.2009)
On November 2008, the European Commission launched a public consultation on control structures in audit firms and on the possible ways forward. This followed an independent study on the ownership rules of audit firms and their consequences for audit market concentration (IP/07/1570).
- Press release (11.11.2008)
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Consultation
The consultation was closed on 28 February 2009.
Studies
Study on the effects of the implementation of the "acquis" on statutory audits of annual and consolidated accounts including the consequences on the audit market (2011)
The European Commission has published an independent study providing data on concentration of the audit market in the European Union and its 27 Member States. The study describes the audit market, identifies criteria to assess the functioning of this market and analyses possible measures that might help improve the functioning of the audit market. The study contributes to the Commission's work on how to improve the functioning of the audit market.
Study on the ownership rules of audit firms (2007)
The European Commission has published an independent study on the ownership rules that apply to audit firms and their consequences on audit market concentration. The study analyses whether changes to the ownership rules of audit firms might help increase the number of international players in the audit market. At present, the European Statutory Audit Directive requires that auditors hold a majority of the voting rights in an audit firm and control the management board. The study will contribute to the Commission's work on how to improve competition in the audit market.
- Press release (23.10.2007)
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Report
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Annex
Conferences
Financial reporting and auditing. A time for change?
On 9 and 10 February 2011, the European Commission held a high-level conference on accounting and auditing issues. The second day was dedicated to the European audit market. Discussions with a wide range of stakeholders considered the need to further improve the European audit market and explore the best possible ways forward.