The proposal for updating the EU Accounting Directives: The adequacy of the proposal versus the legislative targets

Abstract

The European Commission issued its proposal for a new accounting Directive at the end of 2010, aimed at substituting the Directives currently in force and applicable to limited companies - the 4th and 7th Directives for company regulation. This article is intended to present a critical examination of such a proposal. It presents an initial evaluation as to the overall adequacy of the proposal as issued, versus the legislative objectives set up as goals by the Commission. In particular, it takes into consideration the set of accounting rules proposed as to their capacity to satisfy the legislative objectives in a reasonably exhaustive manner. This involves an in-depth evaluation of the actual progress made by the Commission in the arena of the accounting Directives, as well as identifying the gaps still present and the further corrective actions that appear necessary to fully realize the objectives set forth.