Beyond the GAAP

In mid-July, the European adoption process for IFRS 17 took a big step forward when the Accounting Regulatory Committee voted to endorse the new standard. EU endorsement is now expected in the fourth quarter of 2021.

In its final report on the “fitness check” on the EU framework for public reporting by companies, which began in 2018, the European Commission has concluded that IFRSs ensure high-quality financial information and comparability of financial statements. However, the findings on non-financial reporting were less encouraging, despite some progress thanks to the Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD).

Here we are in March again with something of a feeling of déjà vu, and it is unfortunately still difficult to estimate the full extent of the pandemic’s impact on companies’ financial performance.

A major development this month is the publication of a proposed amendment to IFRS 16 in the light of the ongoing public health crisis: the practical expedient that was rushed through by the IASB last spring may now be applied to rent concessions granted up to 30 June 2022, rather than 30 June 2021.

While 2020 has required a lot of work on the accounting impacts of the public health crisis, it should also be noted that most companies are now done with the upheaval resulting from the implementation of new standards (although IFRS 16 remains an enforcement priority at 31 December).