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Norms

Original German

Article 1 — Amendments to Directive 2013/34/EU Article 1 — Amendments to Directive 2013/34/EU Article 1 — Änderung der Richtlinie 2013/34/EU

Directive 2013/34/EU is amended as follows:

(1) in Article 1, the following paragraphs are added:

The coordination measures prescribed by Articles 19a, 29a, 29d, 30 and 33, point (aa) of the second subparagraph of Article 34(1), Article 34(2) and (3) and Article 51 of this Directive shall also apply to the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States relating to the following undertakings regardless of their legal form, provided that those undertakings are large undertakings, or small and medium-sized undertakings, except micro undertakings, which are public-interest entities as defined in point (a) of point (1) of Article 2 of this Directive:

(a) insurance undertakings within the meaning of Article 2(1) of Council Directive 91/674/EEC

Council Directive 91/674/EEC of 19 December 1991 on the annual accounts and consolidated accounts of insurance undertakings (OJ L 374, 31.12.1991, p. 7).

;
- (b) credit institutions as defined in point (1) of Article 4(1) of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council

Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on prudential requirements for credit institutions and amending Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 (OJ L 176, 27.6.2013, p. 1).

Member States may choose not to apply the coordination measures referred to in the first subparagraph of this paragraph to the undertakings listed in points (2) to (23) of Article 2(5) of Directive 2013/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council

Directive 2013/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on access to the activity of credit institutions and the prudential supervision of credit institutions, amending Directive 2002/87/EC and repealing Directives 2006/48/EC and 2006/49/EC (OJ L 176, 27.6.2013, p. 338).

4. The coordination measures prescribed by Articles 19a, 29a and 29d shall not apply to financial products listed in points (b) and (f) of point (12) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 of the European Parliament and of the Council

Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 November 2019 on sustainability-related disclosures in the financial services sector (OJ L 317, 9.12.2019, p. 1).;

5. The coordination measures prescribed by Articles 40a to 40d shall also apply to the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States relating to subsidiary undertakings and branches of undertakings which are not governed by the law of a Member State but whose legal form is comparable with the types of undertakings listed in Annex I.

(2) Article 2 is amended as follows:
- (a) point (5) is replaced by the following:
(5) net turnover means the amounts derived from the sale of products and the provision of services after deducting sales rebates and value added tax and other taxes directly linked to turnover; however, for insurance undertakings referred to in point (a) of the first subparagraph of Article 1(3) of this Directive, net turnover shall be defined in accordance with Article 35 and point 2 of Article 66 of Council Directive 91/674/EEC

Council Directive 91/674/EEC of 19 December 1991 on the annual accounts and consolidated accounts of insurance undertakings (OJ L 374, 31.12.1991, p. 7).

; for credit institutions referred to in point (b) of the first subparagraph of Article 1(3) of this Directive, net turnover shall be defined in accordance with point (c) of Article 43(2) of Council Directive 86/635/EEC

Council Directive 86/635/EEC of 8 December 1986 on the annual accounts and consolidated accounts of banks and other financial institutions (OJ L 372, 31.12.1986, p. 1).;

; and for undertakings falling under the scope of Article 40a(1) of this Directive, net turnover means the revenue as defined by or within the meaning of the financial reporting framework on the basis of which the financial statements of the undertaking are prepared;

(b) the following points are added:
- (17) sustainability matters means environmental, social and human rights, and governance factors, including sustainability factors defined in point (24) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 2019/2088;
- (18) sustainability reporting means reporting information related to sustainability matters in accordance with Articles 19a, 29a and 29d;
- (19) key intangible resources means resources without physical substance on which the business model of the undertaking fundamentally depends and which are a source of value creation for the undertaking;
- (20) independent assurance services provider means a conformity assessment body accredited in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council

Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 July 2008 setting out the requirements for accreditation and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 339/93 (OJ L 218, 13.8.2008, p. 30).;

for the specific conformity assessment activity referred to in point (aa) of the second subparagraph of Article 34(1) of this Directive.

(3) in Article 19(1), the following subparagraph is added:

Large undertakings, and small and medium-sized undertakings, except micro undertakings, which are public-interest entities as defined in point (a) of point (1) of Article 2 shall report information on the key intangible resources and explain how the business model of the undertaking fundamentally depends on such resources and how such resources are a source of value creation for the undertaking.;

(4) Article 19a is replaced by the following:

Article 19aSustainability reporting

1. Large undertakings, and small and medium-sized undertakings, except micro undertakings, which are public-interest entities as defined in point (a) of point (1) of Article 2 shall include in the management report information necessary to understand the undertaking’s impacts on sustainability matters, and information necessary to understand how sustainability matters affect the undertaking’s development, performance and position.The information referred to in the first subparagraph shall be clearly identifiable within the management report, through a dedicated section of the management report.

The information referred to in paragraph 1 shall contain:

(a) a brief description of the undertaking’s business model and strategy, including:
- (i) the resilience of the undertaking’s business model and strategy in relation to risks related to sustainability matters;
- (ii) the opportunities for the undertaking related to sustainability matters;
- (iii) the plans of the undertaking, including implementing actions and related financial and investment plans, to ensure that its business model and strategy are compatible with the transition to a sustainable economy and with the limiting of global warming to 1,5 °C in line with the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change adopted on 12 December 2015 (the Paris Agreement) and the objective of achieving climate neutrality by 2050 as established in Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 of the European Parliament and of the Council

Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 June 2021 establishing the framework for achieving climate neutrality and amending Regulations (EC) No 401/2009 and (EU) 2018/1999 (European Climate Law) (OJ L 243, 9.7.2021, p. 1).

, and, where relevant, the exposure of the undertaking to coal-, oil- and gas-related activities;
- (iv) how the undertaking’s business model and strategy take account of the interests of the undertaking’s stakeholders and of the impacts of the undertaking on sustainability matters;
- (v) how the undertaking’s strategy has been implemented with regard to sustainability matters;

(b) a description of the time-bound targets related to sustainability matters set by the undertaking, including, where appropriate, absolute greenhouse gas emission reduction targets at least for 2030 and 2050, a description of the progress the undertaking has made towards achieving those targets, and a statement of whether the undertaking’s targets related to environmental factors are based on conclusive scientific evidence;
(c) a description of the role of the administrative, management and supervisory bodies with regard to sustainability matters, and of their expertise and skills in relation to fulfilling that role or the access such bodies have to such expertise and skills;
(d) a description of the undertaking’s policies in relation to sustainability matters;
(e) information about the existence of incentive schemes linked to sustainability matters which are offered to members of the administrative, management and supervisory bodies;
(f) a description of:
- (i) the due diligence process implemented by the undertaking with regard to sustainability matters, and, where applicable, in line with Union requirements on undertakings to conduct a due diligence process;
- (ii) the principal actual or potential adverse impacts connected with the undertaking’s own operations and with its value chain, including its products and services, its business relationships and its supply chain, actions taken to identify and monitor those impacts, and other adverse impacts which the undertaking is required to identify pursuant to other Union requirements on undertakings to conduct a due diligence process;
- (iii) any actions taken by the undertaking to prevent, mitigate, remediate or bring an end to actual or potential adverse impacts, and the result of such actions;
(g) a description of the principal risks to the undertaking related to sustainability matters, including a description of the undertaking’s principal dependencies on those matters, and how the undertaking manages those risks;
(h) indicators relevant to the disclosures referred to in points (a) to (g).

Undertakings shall report the process carried out to identify the information that they have included in the management report in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Article. The information listed in the first subparagraph of this paragraph shall include information related to short-, medium- and long-term time horizons, as applicable.

3. Where applicable, the information referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall contain information about the undertaking’s own operations and about its value chain, including its products and services, its business relationships and its supply chain.For the first three years of the application of the measures to be adopted by the Member States in accordance with Article 5(2) of Directive (EU) 2022/2464 of the European Parliament and of the Council

Directive (EU) 2022/2464 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 December 2022 amending Regulation (EU) No 537/2014, Directive 2004/109/EC, Directive 2006/43/EC and Directive 2013/34/EU, as regards corporate sustainability reporting (OL L 322, 16.12.2022, p. 15).

, and in the event that not all the necessary information regarding its value chain is available, the undertaking shall explain the efforts made to obtain the necessary information about its value chain, the reasons why not all of the necessary information could be obtained, and its plans to obtain the necessary information in the future.Where applicable, the information referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall also contain references to, and additional explanations of, the other information included in the management report in accordance with Article 19, and the amounts reported in the annual financial statements.Member States may allow information relating to impending developments or matters in the course of negotiation to be omitted in exceptional cases where, in the duly justified opinion of the members of the administrative, management and supervisory bodies, acting within the competences assigned to them by national law and having collective responsibility for that opinion, the disclosure of such information would be seriously prejudicial to the commercial position of the undertaking, provided that such omission does not prevent a fair and balanced understanding of the undertaking’s development, performance and position, and the impact of its activity.

4. Undertakings shall report the information referred to in paragraphs 1 to 3 of this Article in accordance with the sustainability reporting standards adopted pursuant to Article 29b.

5. The management of the undertaking shall inform the workers’ representatives at the appropriate level and discuss with them the relevant information and the means of obtaining and verifying sustainability information. The workers’ representatives’ opinion shall be communicated, where applicable, to the relevant administrative, management or supervisory bodies.

By way of derogation from paragraphs 2 to 4 of this Article, and without prejudice to paragraphs 9 and 10 of this Article, small and medium-sized undertakings referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, small and non-complex institutions defined in point (145) of Article 4(1) of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013, captive insurance undertakings defined in point (2) of Article 13 of Directive 2009/138/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council

Directive 2009/138/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 on the taking-up and pursuit of the business of Insurance and Reinsurance (Solvency II) (OJ L 335, 17.12.2009, p. 1).

and captive reinsurance undertakings defined in point (5) of Article 13 of that Directive may limit their sustainability reporting to the following information:

(a) a brief description of the undertaking’s business model and strategy;
(b) a description of the undertaking’s policies in relation to sustainability matters;
(c) the principal actual or potential adverse impacts of the undertaking on sustainability matters, and any actions taken to identify, monitor, prevent, mitigate or remediate such actual or potential adverse impacts;
(d) the principal risks to the undertaking related to sustainability matters and how the undertaking manages those risks;
(e) key indicators necessary for the disclosures referred to in points (a) to (d).

Small and medium-sized undertakings, small and non-complex institutions and captive insurance and reinsurance undertakings that rely on the derogation referred to in the first subparagraph shall report in accordance with the sustainability reporting standards for small and medium-sized undertakings referred to in Article 29c.

7. For financial years starting before 1 January 2028, by way of derogation from paragraph 1 of this Article, small and medium-sized undertakings which are public-interest entities as defined in point (a) of point (1) of Article 2 may decide not to include in their management report the information referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article. In such cases, the undertaking shall, nevertheless, briefly state in its management report why the sustainability reporting was not provided.

8. Undertakings that comply with the requirements set out in paragraphs 1 to 4 of this Article and undertakings that rely on the derogation laid down in paragraph 6 of this Article shall be deemed to have complied with the requirement set out in the third subparagraph of Article 19(1).

9. Provided that the conditions set out in the second subparagraph of this paragraph are met, an undertaking which is a subsidiary undertaking shall be exempted from the obligations set out in paragraphs 1 to 4 of this Article (the exempted subsidiary undertaking) if such undertaking and its subsidiary undertakings are included in the consolidated management report of a parent undertaking, drawn up in accordance with Articles 29 and 29a. An undertaking which is a subsidiary undertaking of a parent undertaking that is established in a third country shall also be exempted from the obligations set out in paragraphs 1 to 4 of this Article where such undertaking and its subsidiary undertakings are included in the consolidated sustainability reporting of that parent undertaking that is established in a third country and where that consolidated sustainability reporting is carried out in accordance with the sustainability reporting standards adopted pursuant to Article 29b or in a manner equivalent to those sustainability reporting standards, as determined in accordance with an implementing act on the equivalence of sustainability reporting standards adopted pursuant to the third subparagraph of Article 23(4) of Directive 2004/109/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council

Directive 2004/109/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 December 2004 on the harmonisation of transparency requirements in relation to information about issuers whose securities are admitted to trading on a regulated market and amending Directive 2001/34/EC (OJ L 390, 31.12.2004, p. 38).

The exemption in the first subparagraph shall be subject to the following conditions:

(a) the management report of the exempted subsidiary undertaking contains all of the following information:
- (i) the name and registered office of the parent undertaking that reports information at group level in accordance with this Article or in a manner equivalent to the sustainability reporting standards adopted pursuant to Article 29b of this Directive, as determined in accordance with an implementing act on the equivalence of sustainability reporting standards adopted pursuant to the third subparagraph of Article 23(4) of Directive 2004/109/EC;
- (ii) the weblinks to the consolidated management report of the parent undertaking or, where applicable, to the consolidated sustainability reporting of the parent undertaking, as referred to in the first subparagraph of this paragraph, and to the assurance opinion referred to in point (aa) of the second subparagraph of Article 34(1) of this Directive or to the assurance opinion referred to in point (b) of this subparagraph;
- (iii) the information that the undertaking is exempted from the obligations set out in paragraphs 1 to 4 of this Article;
(b) if the parent undertaking is established in a third country, its consolidated sustainability reporting and the assurance opinion on the consolidated sustainability reporting, expressed by one or more person(s) or firm(s) authorised to give an opinion on the assurance of sustainability reporting under the law governing that parent undertaking, are published in accordance with Article 30 of this Directive, and in accordance with the law of the Member State by which the exempted subsidiary undertaking is governed;
(c) if the parent undertaking is established in a third country, the disclosures laid down in Article 8 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council

Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2020 on the establishment of a framework to facilitate sustainable investment, and amending Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 (OJ L 198, 22.6.2020, p. 13).;

, covering the activities carried out by the exempted subsidiary undertaking established in the Union and its subsidiary undertakings, are included in the management report of the exempted subsidiary undertaking, or in the consolidated sustainability reporting carried out by the parent undertaking established in a third country.
The Member State by whose national law the exempted subsidiary undertaking is governed may require that the consolidated management report or, where applicable, the consolidated sustainability report, of the parent undertaking is published in a language that that Member State accepts, and that any necessary translation into such language is provided. Any translation that has not been certified shall include a statement to that effect.Undertakings which are exempted from preparing a management report in accordance with Article 37 shall not be obliged to provide the information referred to in points (a)(i) to (iii) of the second subparagraph of this paragraph, provided that such undertakings publish the consolidated management report in accordance with Article 37.For the purposes of the first subparagraph of this paragraph, and where Article 10 of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 applies, credit institutions referred to in point (b) of the first subparagraph of Article 1(3) of this Directive that are permanently affiliated to a central body which supervises them under the conditions laid down in Article 10 of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 shall be treated as subsidiary undertakings of that central body.For the purposes of the first subparagraph of this paragraph, insurance undertakings referred to in point (a) of the first subparagraph of Article 1(3) of this Directive that are part of a group, on the basis of financial relationships as referred to in point (c)(ii) of Article 212(1) of Directive 2009/138/EC, and which are subject to group supervision in accordance with points (a) to (c) of Article 213(2) of that Directive shall be treated as subsidiary undertakings of the parent undertaking of that group.

10. The exemption laid down in paragraph 9 shall also apply to public-interest entities subject to the requirements of this Article, with the exception of large undertakings which are public-interest entities defined in point (a) of point (1) of Article 2 of this Directive.

(5) Article 20(1) is amended as follows:
(a) point (g) is replaced by the following:
(g) a description of the diversity policy applied in relation to the undertaking’s administrative, management and supervisory bodies with regard to gender and other aspects such as, age, disabilities or educational and professional background, the objectives of that diversity policy, how it has been implemented and the results in the reporting period. If no such policy is applied, the statement shall contain an explanation as to why that is the case.;
(b) the following subparagraph is added:

Undertakings subject to Article 19a shall be deemed to have complied with the obligation laid down in point (g) of the first subparagraph of this paragraph where they include the information required under that point as part of their sustainability reporting and a reference thereto is included in the corporate governance statement.;

(6) Article 23 is amended as follows:
(a) in paragraph 4, point (b) is replaced by the following:
(b) the consolidated financial statements referred to in point (a) and the consolidated management report of the larger body of undertakings are drawn up by the parent undertaking of that body, in accordance with the law of the Member State by which that parent undertaking is governed, in accordance with this Directive, with the exception of the requirements laid down in Article 29a, or in accordance with international accounting standards adopted in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1606/2002;;
(b) in paragraph 8, point (b)(i) is replaced by the following:
(i) in accordance with this Directive, with the exception of the requirements laid down in Article 29a,;
(c) in paragraph 8, point (b)(iii) is replaced by the following:
(iii) in a manner equivalent to consolidated financial statements and consolidated management reports drawn up in accordance with this Directive, with the exception of the requirements laid down in Article 29a, or;
(7) Article 29a is replaced by the following:

Article 29aConsolidated sustainability reporting

1. Parent undertakings of a large group as referred to in Article 3(7) shall include in the consolidated management report information necessary to understand the group’s impacts on sustainability matters, and information necessary to understand how sustainability matters affect the group’s development, performance and position.The information referred to in the first subparagraph shall be clearly identifiable within the consolidated management report, through a dedicated section of the consolidated management report.

The information referred to in paragraph 1 shall contain:

(a) a brief description of the group’s business model and strategy, including:
- (i) the resilience of the group’s business model and strategy in relation to risks related to sustainability matters;
- (ii) the opportunities for the group related to sustainability matters;
- (iii) the plans of the group, including implementing actions and related financial and investment plans, to ensure that its business model and strategy are compatible with the transition to a sustainable economy and with the limiting of global warming to 1,5 °C in line with the Paris Agreement and the objective of achieving climate neutrality by 2050 as established in Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 and where relevant, the exposure of the group to coal-, oil- and gas-related activities;
- (iv) how the group’s business model and strategy take account of the interests of the group’s stakeholders and of the impacts of the group on sustainability matters;
- (v) how the group’s strategy has been implemented with regard to sustainability matters;
(b) a description of the time-bound targets related to sustainability matters set by the group, including, where appropriate, absolute greenhouse gas emission reduction targets at least for 2030 and 2050, a description of the progress the group has made towards achieving those targets, and a statement of whether the group’s targets related to environmental factors are based on conclusive scientific evidence;
(c) a description of the role of the administrative, management and supervisory bodies with regard to sustainability matters, and of their expertise and skills in relation to fulfilling that role or the access such bodies have to such expertise and skills;
(d) a description of the group’s policies in relation to sustainability matters;
(e) information about the existence of incentive schemes linked to sustainability matters which are offered to members of the administrative, management and supervisory bodies;
(f) a description of:
(i) the due diligence process implemented by the group with regard to sustainability matters, and, where applicable, in line with Union requirements on undertakings to conduct a due diligence process;
(ii) the principal actual or potential adverse impacts connected with the group’s own operations and with its value chain, including its products and services, its business relationships and its supply chain, actions taken to identify and monitor those impacts, and other adverse impacts which the parent undertaking is required to identify pursuant to other Union requirements to conduct a due diligence process;
(iii) any actions taken by the group to prevent, mitigate, remediate or bring an end to actual or potential adverse impacts, and the result of such actions;
(g) a description of the principal risks to the group related to sustainability matters, including the group’s principal dependencies on those matters, and how the group manages those risks;
(h) indicators relevant to the disclosures referred to in points (a) to (g).
Parent undertakings shall report the process carried out to identify the information that they have included in the consolidated management report in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Article. The information listed in the first subparagraph of this paragraph shall include information related to short-, medium- and long-term time horizons, as applicable.

3. Where applicable, the information referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall contain information about the group’s own operations and about its value chain, including its products and services, its business relationships and its supply chain.For the first three years of the application of the measures to be adopted by the Member States in accordance with Article 5(2) of Directive (EU) 2022/2464, and in the event that not all the necessary information regarding its value chain is available, the parent undertaking shall explain the efforts made to obtain the necessary information about its value chain, the reasons why not all of the necessary information could be obtained, and its plans to obtain the necessary information in the future.Where applicable, the information referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall also include references to, and additional explanations of, the other information included in the consolidated management report in accordance with Article 29 of this Directive and the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements.Member States may allow information relating to impending developments or matters in the course of negotiation to be omitted in exceptional cases where, in the duly justified opinion of the members of the administrative, management and supervisory bodies, acting within the competences assigned to them by national law and having collective responsibility for that opinion, the disclosure of such information would be seriously prejudicial to the commercial position of the group, provided that such omission does not prevent a fair and balanced understanding of the group’s development, performance, and position, and the impact of its activity.

4. Where the reporting undertaking identifies significant differences between the risks for, or impacts of, the group and the risks for, or impacts of, one or more of its subsidiary undertakings, the undertaking shall provide an adequate understanding of, as appropriate, the risks for, and impacts of, the subsidiary undertaking or subsidiary undertakings concerned.Undertakings shall indicate which subsidiary undertakings included in the consolidation are exempted from annual or consolidated sustainability reporting pursuant to Articles 19a(9) or 29a(8) respectively.

5. Parent undertakings shall report the information referred to in paragraphs 1 to 3 of this Article in accordance with the sustainability reporting standards adopted pursuant to Article 29b.

6. The management of the parent undertaking shall inform the workers’ representatives at the appropriate level and discuss with them the relevant information and the means of obtaining and verifying sustainability information. The workers’ representatives’ opinion shall be communicated, where applicable, to the relevant administrative, management or supervisory bodies.

7. A parent undertaking that complies with the requirements set out in paragraphs 1 to 5 of this Article shall be deemed to have complied with the requirements set out in the third subparagraph of Article 19(1) and Article 19a.

8. Provided that the conditions set out in the second subparagraph of this paragraph are met, a parent undertaking which is a subsidiary undertaking shall be exempted from the obligations set out in paragraphs 1 to 5 of this Article (the exempted parent undertaking) if such parent undertaking and its subsidiary undertakings are included in the consolidated management report of another undertaking, drawn up in accordance with Article 29 and this Article. A parent undertaking which is a subsidiary undertaking of a parent undertaking that is established in a third country shall also be exempted from the obligations set out in paragraphs 1 to 5 of this Article where such parent undertaking and its subsidiary undertakings are included in the consolidated sustainability reporting of that parent undertaking that is established in a third country and where that consolidated sustainability reporting is carried out in accordance with the sustainability reporting standards adopted pursuant to Article 29b or in a manner equivalent to those sustainability reporting standards, as determined in accordance with an implementing act on the equivalence of sustainability reporting standards adopted pursuant to the third subparagraph of Article 23(4) of Directive 2004/109/EC.

The exemption in the first subparagraph shall be subject to the following conditions:

(a) the management report of the exempted parent undertaking contains all of the following information:
- (i) the name and registered office of the parent undertaking that reports information at group level in accordance with this Article, or in a manner equivalent to the sustainability reporting standards adopted pursuant to Article 29b of this Directive, as determined in accordance with an implementing act on the equivalence of sustainability reporting standards adopted pursuant to the third subparagraph of Article 23(4) of Directive 2004/109/EC;
- (ii) the weblinks to the consolidated management report of the parent undertaking or, where applicable, to the consolidated sustainability reporting of the parent undertaking, as referred to in the first subparagraph of this paragraph, and to the assurance opinion referred to in point (aa) of the second subparagraph of Article 34(1) of this Directive or to the assurance opinion referred to in point (b) of this subparagraph;
- (iii) the information that the parent undertaking is exempted from the obligations set out in paragraphs 1 to 5 of this Article;
(b) if the parent undertaking is established in a third country, its consolidated sustainability reporting and the assurance opinion, expressed by one or more person(s) or firm(s) authorised to give an opinion on the assurance of sustainability reporting under the national law governing the parent undertaking, are published in accordance with Article 30, and in accordance with the law of the Member State by which the exempted parent undertaking is governed;
(c) if the parent undertaking is established in a third country, the disclosures laid down in Article 8 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, covering the activities carried out by the subsidiary undertaking established in the Union and exempted from sustainability reporting on the basis of Article 19a(9) of this Directive, shall be included in the management report of the exempted parent undertaking, or in the consolidated sustainability reporting carried out by the parent undertaking established in a third country.
The Member State by whose national law the exempted parent undertaking is governed may require that the consolidated management report or, where applicable, the consolidated sustainability report of the parent undertaking is published in a language that that Member State accepts, and that any necessary translation into such language is provided. Any translation that has not been certified shall include a statement to that effect.Parent undertakings which are exempted from preparing a management report pursuant to Article 37 shall not be obliged to provide the information referred to in points (a)(i) to (a)(iii) of the second subparagraph of this paragraph, provided that such undertakings publish the consolidated management report in accordance with Article 37.For the purposes of the first subparagraph of this paragraph, and where Article 10 of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 applies, credit institutions referred to in point (b) of the first subparagraph of Article 1(3) of this Directive that are permanently affiliated to a central body which supervises them under the conditions laid down in Article 10 of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 shall be treated as subsidiary undertakings of that central body.For the purposes of the first subparagraph of this paragraph, insurance undertakings referred to in point (a) of the first subparagraph of Article 1(3) of this Directive that are part of a group, on the basis of financial relationships referred to in point (c)(ii) of Article 212(1) of Directive 2009/138/EC, and which are subject to group supervision in accordance with points (a) to (c) of Article 213(2) of that Directive shall be treated as subsidiary undertakings of the parent undertaking of that group.

9. The exemption laid down in paragraph 8 shall also apply to public-interest entities subject to the requirements of this Article, with the exception of large undertakings which are public-interest entities defined in point (a) of point (1) of Article 2 of this Directive.;

(8) the following chapter is inserted:

CHAPTER 6a

SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING STANDARDS

Article 29bSustainability reporting standards

1. The Commission shall adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 49 supplementing this Directive to provide for sustainability reporting standards. Those sustainability reporting standards shall specify the information that undertakings are to report in accordance with Articles 19a and 29a and, where relevant, shall specify the structure to be used to present that information.In the delegated acts referred to in the first subparagraph of this paragraph the Commission shall, by 30 June 2023, specify the information that undertakings are to report in accordance with Article 19a(1) and (2), and Article 29a(1) and (2) where appropriate, which shall at least include the information that financial market participants subject to the disclosure obligations of Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 need in order to comply with those obligations.

In the delegated acts referred to in the first subparagraph the Commission shall, by 30 June 2024, specify:

(i) complementary information that undertakings are to report with regard to the sustainability matters and reporting areas listed in Article 19a(2), where necessary;
(ii) information that undertakings are to report that is specific to the sector in which they operate.

The reporting requirements laid down in the delegated acts referred to in the first subparagraph shall not enter into force earlier than four months after their adoption by the Commission.When adopting delegated acts to specify the information required under point (ii) of the third subparagraph, the Commission shall pay particular attention to the scale of the risks and impacts related to sustainability matters for each sector, taking account of the fact that risks and impacts are higher for some sectors than for others.The Commission shall, at least every three years after their date of application, review the delegated acts adopted pursuant to this Article, taking into consideration the technical advice of the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG), and, where necessary, it shall amend such delegated acts to take into account relevant developments, including developments with regard to international standards.The Commission shall, at least once a year, consult the European Parliament, and consult jointly the Member State Expert Group on Sustainable Finance, referred to in Article 24 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, and the Accounting Regulatory Committee, referred to in Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 1606/2002, on EFRAG’s work programme as regards the development of sustainability reporting standards.

2. The sustainability reporting standards shall ensure the quality of reported information, by requiring that it is understandable, relevant, verifiable, comparable and represented in a faithful manner. The sustainability reporting standards shall avoid imposing a disproportionate administrative burden on undertakings, including by taking account, to the greatest extent possible, of the work of global standard-setting initiatives for sustainability reporting as required by point (a) of paragraph 5.

The sustainability reporting standards shall, taking into account the subject matter of a particular sustainability reporting standard:

(a) specify the information that undertakings are to disclose about the following environmental factors:
- (i) climate change mitigation, including as regards scope 1, scope 2 and, where relevant, scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions;
- (ii) climate change adaptation;
- (iii) water and marine resources;
- (iv) resource use and the circular economy;
- (v) pollution;
- (vi) biodiversity and ecosystems;
(b) specify the information that undertakings are to disclose about the following social and human rights factors:
(i) equal treatment and opportunities for all, including gender equality and equal pay for work of equal value, training and skills development, the employment and inclusion of people with disabilities, measures against violence and harassment in the workplace, and diversity;
(ii) working conditions, including secure employment, working time, adequate wages, social dialogue, freedom of association, existence of works councils, collective bargaining, including the proportion of workers covered by collective agreements, the information, consultation and participation rights of workers, work-life balance, and health and safety;
(iii) respect for the human rights, fundamental freedoms, democratic principles and standards established in the International Bill of Human Rights and other core UN human rights conventions, including the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the International Labour Organization’s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and the fundamental conventions of the International Labour Organization, the European Convention for the protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, the European Social Charter, and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union;
(c) specify the information that undertakings are to disclose about the following governance factors:
(i) the role of the undertaking’s administrative, management and supervisory bodies with regard to sustainability matters, and their composition, as well as their expertise and skills in relation to fulfilling that role or the access such bodies have to such expertise and skills;
(ii) the main features of the undertaking’s internal control and risk management systems, in relation to the sustainability reporting and decision-making process;
(iii) business ethics and corporate culture, including anti-corruption and anti-bribery, the protection of whistleblowers and animal welfare;
(iv) activities and commitments of the undertaking related to exerting its political influence, including its lobbying activities;
(v) the management and quality of relationships with customers, suppliers and communities affected by the activities of the undertaking, including payment practices, especially with regard to late payment to small and medium-sized undertakings.

3. The sustainability reporting standards shall specify the forward-looking, retrospective, qualitative and quantitative information, as appropriate, to be reported by undertakings.

4. Sustainability reporting standards shall take account of the difficulties that undertakings may encounter in gathering information from actors throughout their value chain, especially from those which are not subject to the sustainability reporting requirements laid down in Article 19a or 29a and from suppliers in emerging markets and economies. Sustainability reporting standards shall specify disclosures on value chains that are proportionate and relevant to the capacities and the characteristics of undertakings in value chains, and to the scale and complexity of their activities, especially those of undertakings that are not subject to the sustainability reporting requirements in Article 19a or 29a. Sustainability reporting standards shall not specify disclosures that would require undertakings to obtain information from small and medium-sized undertakings in their value chain that exceeds the information to be disclosed pursuant to the sustainability reporting standards for small and medium-sized undertakings referred to in Article 29c.The first subparagraph is without prejudice to Union requirements on undertakings to conduct a due diligence process.

When adopting delegated acts pursuant to paragraph 1, the Commission shall, to the greatest extent possible, take account of:

(a) the work of global standard-setting initiatives for sustainability reporting, and existing standards and frameworks for natural capital accounting and for greenhouse gas accounting, responsible business conduct, corporate social responsibility, and sustainable development;
(b) the information that financial market participants need in order to comply with their disclosure obligations laid down in Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 and the delegated acts adopted pursuant to that Regulation;
(c) the criteria, indicators and methodologies set out in the delegated acts adopted pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2020/852, including the technical screening criteria established pursuant to Article 10(3), Article 11(3), Article 12(2), Article 13(2), Article 14(2) and Article 15(2) of that Regulation and the reporting requirements set out in the delegated act adopted pursuant to Article 8 of that Regulation;
(d) the disclosure requirements applicable to benchmark administrators in the benchmark statement and in the benchmark methodology and the minimum standards for the construction of EU Climate Transition Benchmarks and EU Paris-aligned Benchmarks in accordance with Commission Delegated Regulations (EU) 2020/1816

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/1816 of 17 July 2020 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1011 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the explanation in the benchmark statement of how environmental, social and governance factors are reflected in each benchmark provided and published (OJ L 406, 3.12.2020, p. 1).

, (EU) 2020/1817

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/1817 of 17 July 2020 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1011 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the minimum content of the explanation on how environmental, social and governance factors are reflected in the benchmark methodology (OJ L 406, 3.12.2020, p. 12).

and (EU) 2020/1818

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/1818 of 17 July 2020 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1011 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards minimum standards for EU Climate Transition Benchmarks and EU Paris-aligned Benchmarks (OJ L 406, 3.12.2020, p. 17).

;
- (e) the disclosures specified in the implementing acts adopted pursuant to Article 434a of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013;
- (f) Commission Recommendation 2013/179/EU

Commission Recommendation 2013/179/EU of 9 April 2013 on the use of common methods to measure and communicate the life cycle environmental performance of products and organisations (OJ L 124, 4.5.2013, p. 1).

;
- (g) Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council

Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 2003 establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community and amending Council Directive 96/61/EC (OJ L 275, 25.10.2003, p. 32).

;
- (h) Regulation (EU) 2021/1119;
- (i) Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council

Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 on the voluntary participation by organisations in a Community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS), repealing Regulation (EC) No 761/2001 and Commission Decisions 2001/681/EC and 2006/193/EC (OJ L 342, 22.12.2009, p. 1).

;
- (j) Directive (EU) 2019/1937 of the European Parliament and of the Council

Directive (EU) 2019/1937 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2019 on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law (OJ L 305, 26.11.2019, p. 17).;

Article 29cSustainability reporting standards for small and medium-sized undertakings

1. The Commission shall, by 30 June 2024, adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 49 supplementing this Directive to provide for sustainability reporting standards proportionate and relevant to the capacities and the characteristics of small and medium-sized undertakings and to the scale and complexity of their activities. Those sustainability reporting standards shall specify for the small and medium-sized undertakings referred to in point (1)(a) of Article 2 the information that is to be reported in accordance with Article 19a(6).The reporting requirements laid down in the delegated acts referred to in the first subparagraph shall not enter into force earlier than four months after their adoption by the Commission.

2. Sustainability reporting standards for small and medium-sized undertakings shall take into account the criteria set out in Article 29b(2) to (5). They shall also, to the extent possible, specify the structure to be used to present that information.

3. The Commission shall, at least every three years after their date of application, review the delegated acts adopted pursuant to this Article, taking into consideration the technical advice of the EFRAG and, where necessary, it shall amend such delegated acts to take into account relevant developments, including developments with regard to international standards.

(9) the following chapter is inserted:

CHAPTER 6b

SINGLE ELECTRONIC REPORTING FORMAT

Article 29dSingle electronic reporting format

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/815 of 17 December 2018 supplementing Directive 2004/109/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to regulatory technical standards on the specification of a single electronic reporting format (OJ L 143, 29.5.2019, p. 1).;

and shall mark up their sustainability reporting, including the disclosures provided for in Article 8 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, in accordance with the electronic reporting format specified in that Delegated Regulation.

2. Parent undertakings subject to the requirements of Article 29a shall prepare their consolidated management report in the electronic reporting format specified in Article 3 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/815 and shall mark up their sustainability reporting, including the disclosures provided for in Article 8 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, in accordance with the electronic reporting format specified in that Delegated Regulation.

(10) in Article 30, paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:

1. Member States shall ensure that undertakings publish within a reasonable period of time, which shall not exceed 12 months after the balance sheet date, the duly approved annual financial statements and the management report, in the electronic reporting format referred to in Article 29d of this Directive where applicable, together with the opinion and statement submitted by the statutory auditor or audit firm referred to in Article 34 of this Directive, as laid down by the laws of each Member State in accordance with Chapter III of Title 1 of Directive (EU) 2017/1132 of the European Parliament and of the Council

Directive (EU) 2017/1132 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2017 relating to certain aspects of company law (OJ L 169, 30.6.2017, p. 46).;

.Member States may require undertakings subject to Articles 19a and 29a to make the management report available to the public on their website, free of charge. Where an undertaking does not have a website, Member States may require it to make a written copy of its management report available upon request.Where an independent assurance services provider expresses the opinion referred to in point (aa) of the second subparagraph of Article 34(1), that opinion shall be published together with the documents referred to in the first subparagraph of this paragraph.Member States may, however, exempt undertakings from the obligation to publish the management report where a copy of all or part of any such report can be easily obtained upon request at a price not exceeding its administrative cost.The exemption laid down in the fourth subparagraph of this paragraph shall not apply to undertakings subject to the requirements on sustainability reporting laid down in Articles 19a and 29a.

(11) in Article 33, paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:

Member States shall ensure that the members of the administrative, management and supervisory bodies of an undertaking, acting within the competences assigned to them by national law, have collective responsibility for ensuring that the following documents are drawn up and published in accordance with the requirements of this Directive and, where applicable, with the international accounting standards adopted pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1606/2002, with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/815, with the sustainability reporting standards referred to in Article 29b or Article 29c of this Directive, and with the requirements of Article 29d of this Directive:

(a) the annual financial statements, the management report and the corporate governance statement when provided separately; and
(b) the consolidated financial statements, the consolidated management reports and the consolidated corporate governance statement when provided separately.;
(12) the title of Chapter 8 is replaced by the following:

Auditing and assurance of sustainability reporting;

(13) Article 34 is amended as follows:
(a) in paragraph 1, the second subparagraph is amended as follows:
- (i) point (a)(ii) is replaced by the following:
(ii) whether the management report has been prepared in accordance with the applicable legal requirements, excluding the requirements on sustainability reporting laid down in Article 19a of this Directive;;
- (ii) the following point is inserted:
(aa) where applicable, express an opinion based on a limited assurance engagement as regards the compliance of the sustainability reporting with the requirements of this Directive, including the compliance of the sustainability reporting with the sustainability reporting standards adopted pursuant to Article 29b or Article 29c, the process carried out by the undertaking to identify the information reported pursuant to those sustainability reporting standards, and the compliance with the requirement to mark up sustainability reporting in accordance with Article 29d, and as regards the compliance with the reporting requirements provided for in Article 8 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852;;
(b) paragraph 3 is replaced by the following:

3. Member States may allow a statutory auditor or an audit firm other than the one(s) carrying out the statutory audit of financial statements to express the opinion referred to in point (aa) of the second subparagraph of paragraph 1.;

(c) the following paragraphs are added:

Member States may allow an independent assurance services provider established in their territory to express the opinion referred to in point (aa) of the second subparagraph of paragraph 1, provided that such independent assurance services provider is subject to requirements that are equivalent to those set out in Directive 2006/43/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council

Directive 2006/43/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2006 on statutory audits of annual accounts and consolidated accounts, amending Council Directives 78/660/EEC and 83/349/EEC and repealing Council Directive 84/253/EEC (OJ L 157, 9.6.2006, p. 87).;

as regards the assurance of sustainability reporting as defined in point 22 of Article 2 of that Directive, in particular the requirements on:

(a) training and examination, ensuring that independent assurance services providers acquire the necessary expertise concerning sustainability reporting and the assurance of sustainability reporting;
(b) continuing education;
(c) quality assurance systems;
(d) professional ethics, independence, objectivity, confidentiality and professional secrecy;
(e) appointment and dismissal;
(f) investigations and sanctions;
(g) the organisation of the work of the independent assurance services provider, in particular in terms of sufficient resources and personnel and the maintenance of client account records and files; and
(h) reporting irregularities.

Member States shall ensure that, where an independent assurance services provider expresses the opinion referred to in point (aa) of the second subparagraph of paragraph 1 of this Article, that opinion is prepared in accordance with Articles 26a, 27a and 28a of Directive 2006/43/EC and that, where applicable, the audit committee, or a dedicated committee, reviews and monitors the independence of the independent assurance services provider in accordance with point (e) of Article 39(6) of Directive 2006/43/EC.Member States shall ensure that independent assurance services providers accredited before 1 January 2024 for the assurance of sustainability reporting, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 765/2008, are not subject to the training and examination requirements referred to in point (a) of the first subparagraph of this paragraph.Member States shall ensure that independent assurance services providers that on 1 January 2024 are undergoing the accreditation process in accordance with the relevant national requirements are not subject to the training and examination requirements referred to in point (a) of the first subparagraph as regards the assurance of sustainability reporting, provided they complete that process by 1 January 2026.Member States shall ensure that the independent assurance services providers referred to in the third and fourth subparagraphs acquire the necessary knowledge in sustainability reporting and the assurance of sustainability reporting via the continuing education requirement referred to in point (b) of the first subparagraph.If a Member State, pursuant to the first subparagraph, decides to allow an independent assurance services provider to express the opinion referred to in point (aa) of the second subparagraph of paragraph 1, it shall also allow a statutory auditor other than the one(s) carrying out the statutory audit of financial statements to do so, as provided for in paragraph 3.

5. From 6 January 2027, a Member State that has made use of the option provided for in paragraph 4 (the host Member State) shall allow independent assurance services provider established in a Member State other than the host Member State (the home Member State) to carry out the assurance of sustainability reporting.The home Member State shall be responsible for the supervision of the independent assurance services providers established in its territory, unless the host Member State decides to supervise the assurance of sustainability reporting carried out by independent assurance services providers in its territory.

If the host Member State decides to supervise the assurance of sustainability reporting carried out in its territory by independent assurance services providers registered in another Member State, the host Member State shall:

(a) not impose more stringent requirements or liability on such independent assurance services providers than those required for assurance of sustainability reporting by the national laws for the independent assurance services providers or auditors established in that host Member State; and
(b) inform other Member States about its decision to supervise the assurance of sustainability reporting carried out by independent assurance services providers established in other Member States.

6. Member States shall ensure that where an undertaking is required by Union law to have elements of its sustainability reporting verified by an accredited independent third party, the report of the accredited independent third party is made available either as an annex to the management report or by other publicly accessible means.

(14) the following chapter is inserted:

CHAPTER 9a

REPORTING CONCERNING THIRD-COUNTRY UNDERTAKINGS

Article 40aSustainability reports concerning third-country undertakings

1. A Member State shall require that a subsidiary undertaking established in its territory whose ultimate parent undertaking is governed by the law of a third country publish and make accessible a sustainability report covering the information specified in points (a)(iii) to (a)(v), points (b) to (f) and, where appropriate, point (h) of Article 29a(2) at the group level of that ultimate third-country parent undertaking.The first subparagraph shall only apply to large subsidiary undertakings and to small and medium-sized subsidiary undertakings, except micro undertakings, which are public-interest entities as defined in point (a) of point (1) of Article 2.A Member State shall require that a branch located in its territory, and which is a branch of an undertaking governed by the law of a third country, which is either not part of a group or is ultimately held by an undertaking that is formed in accordance with the law of a third country publish and make accessible a sustainability report covering the information specified in points (a)(iii) to (a)(v), points (b) to (f) and, where appropriate, point (h) of Article 29a(2), at the group level, or, if not applicable, the individual level, of the third-country undertaking.The rule referred to in the third subparagraph shall only apply to a branch where the third-country undertaking does not have a subsidiary undertaking as referred to in the first subparagraph, and where the branch generated a net turnover of more than EUR 40 million in the preceding financial year.The first and third subparagraphs shall only apply to the subsidiary undertakings or branches referred to in those subparagraphs where the third-country undertaking, at its group level, or, if not applicable, the individual level, generated a net turnover of more than EUR 150 million in the Union for each of the last two consecutive financial years.Member States may require subsidiary undertakings or branches referred to in the first and third subparagraphs to send them information about the net turnover generated in their territory and in the Union by the third-country undertakings.

2. Member States shall require that the sustainability report communicated by the subsidiary undertaking or branch as referred to in paragraph 1 is drawn up in accordance with the standards adopted pursuant to Article 40b.By way of derogation from the first subparagraph of this paragraph, the sustainability report referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article may be drawn up in accordance with the sustainability reporting standards adopted pursuant to Article 29b or in a manner equivalent to those sustainability reporting standards, as determined in accordance with an implementing act on the equivalence of sustainability reporting standards adopted pursuant to the third subparagraph of Article 23(4) of Directive 2004/109/EC.Where the information required to draw up the sustainability report referred to in the first subparagraph of this paragraph is not available, the subsidiary undertaking or branch referred to in paragraph 1 shall request the third-country undertaking to provide them with all information necessary to enable them to meet their obligations.In the event that not all the required information is provided, the subsidiary undertaking or branch referred to in paragraph 1 shall draw up, publish and make accessible the sustainability report referred to in paragraph 1, containing all information in its possession, obtained or acquired, and issue a statement indicating that the third-country undertaking did not make the necessary information available.

3. Member States shall require that the sustainability report referred to in paragraph 1 is published accompanied by an assurance opinion expressed by one or more person(s) or firm(s) authorised to give an opinion on the assurance of sustainability reporting under the national law of the third-country undertaking or of a Member State.In the event that the third-country undertaking does not provide the assurance opinion in accordance with the first subparagraph, the subsidiary undertaking or branch shall issue a statement indicating that the third-country undertaking did not make the necessary assurance opinion available.

4. Member States may inform the Commission on an annual basis of the subsidiary undertakings or branches of third-country undertakings that fulfilled the publication requirement laid down in Article 40d and of the cases where a report was published but where the subsidiary undertaking or branch has acted in accordance with the fourth subparagraph of paragraph 2 of this Article. The Commission shall make publicly available on its website a list of the third-country undertakings that publish a sustainability report.

Article 40bSustainability reporting standards for third-country undertakingsThe Commission shall adopt by 30 June 2024 a delegated act in accordance with Article 49 supplementing this Directive to provide for sustainability reporting standards for third-country undertakings that specify the information that is to be included in the sustainability reports referred to in Article 40a.

Article 40cResponsibility for drawing up, publishing and making accessible sustainability reports concerning third-country undertakingsMember States shall provide that the branches of third-country undertakings are responsible for ensuring, to the best of their knowledge and ability, that their sustainability report is drawn up in accordance with Article 40a, and that that report is published and made accessible in accordance with Article 40d.Member States shall provide that the members of the administrative, management and supervisory bodies of the subsidiary undertakings referred to in Article 40a have collective responsibility for ensuring, to the best of their knowledge and ability, that their sustainability report is drawn up in accordance with Article 40a, and that that report is published and made accessible in accordance with Article 40d.

Article 40dPublication

1. The subsidiary undertakings and branches referred to in Article 40a(1) of this Directive shall publish their sustainability report, together with the assurance opinion and, where applicable, the statement mentioned in the fourth subparagraph of Article 40a(2) of this Directive, within 12 months of the balance sheet date of the financial year for which the report is drawn up, as provided for by each Member State, in accordance with Articles 14 to 28 of Directive (EU) 2017/1132 and, where relevant, in accordance with Article 36 of that Directive.

2. Where the sustainability report together with the assurance opinion and, where applicable, with the statement published in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Article, are not made accessible, free of charge, to the public on the website of the register referred to in Article 16 of Directive (EU) 2017/1132, Member States shall ensure that the sustainability report together with the assurance opinion and, where applicable, with the statement published by the undertakings in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Article, are made accessible to the public in at least one of the official languages of the Union, free of charge, no later than 12 months after the balance sheet date of the financial year for which the report is drawn up, on the website of the subsidiary undertaking or the branch as referred to in Article 40a(1) of this Directive.;

(15) the title of Chapter 11 is replaced by the following:

CHAPTER 11

TRANSITIONAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS;

(16) The following article is inserted:

Article 48iTransitional provisions

1. Until 6 January 2030, Member States shall permit a Union subsidiary undertaking which is subject to Article 19a or 29a and whose parent undertaking is not governed by the law of a Member State to prepare consolidated sustainability reporting, in accordance with the requirements of Article 29a, that includes all Union subsidiary undertakings of such parent undertaking that are subject to Article 19a or 29a.Until 6 January 2030, Member States shall permit the consolidated sustainability reporting referred to in the first subparagraph of this paragraph to include the disclosures laid down in Article 8 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, covering the activities carried out by all Union subsidiary undertakings of the parent undertaking referred to in the first subparagraph of this paragraph that are subject to Article 19a or 29a of this Directive.

2. The Union subsidiary undertaking referred to in paragraph 1 shall be one of the Union subsidiary undertakings of the group that generated the greatest turnover in the Union in at least one of the preceding five financial years, on a consolidated basis where applicable.

3. The consolidated sustainability reporting referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall be published in accordance with Article 30.

4. For the purpose of the exemption laid down in Article 19a(9) and Article 29a(8), reporting in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Article shall be considered to be reporting by a parent undertaking at group level with respect to the undertakings included in the consolidation. Reporting in accordance with the second subparagraph of paragraph 1 of this Article shall be considered to fulfil the conditions referred to in point (c) of the second subparagraph of Article 19a(9) and point (c) of the second subparagraph of Article 29a(8), respectively.;

(17) Article 49 is amended as follows:
(a) paragraphs 2 and 3 are replaced by the following:

2.
The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in Article 1(2), Article 3(13), Articles 29b, 29c and 40b, and Article 46(2) shall be conferred on the Commission for a period of 5 years from 5 January 2023. The Commission shall draw up a report in respect of the delegation of power not later than nine months before the end of the 5-year period. The delegation of power shall be tacitly extended for periods of an identical duration, unless the European Parliament or the Council opposes such extension not later than three months before the end of each period.

3.
The delegation of power referred to in Article 1(2), Article 3(13), Articles 29b, 29c and 40b, and Article 46(2) may be revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision to revoke shall put an end to the delegation of the power specified in that decision. It shall take effect the day following the publication of that decision in the Official Journal of the European Union or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated acts already in force.;

(b) the following paragraph is inserted:

3b.

When adopting delegated acts pursuant to Articles 29b and 29c, the Commission shall take into consideration technical advice from EFRAG, provided that:

(a)
such advice has been developed with proper due process, public oversight and transparency, with the expertise and balanced participation of relevant stakeholders, and with sufficient public funding to ensure its independence, and on the basis of a work programme on which the Commission has been consulted;

(b)
such advice is accompanied by cost-benefit analyses that include analyses of the impacts of the technical advice on sustainability matters;

(c)
such advice is accompanied by an explanation of how it takes account of the elements listed in Article 29b(5);

(d)
participation in EFRAG’s work at technical level is based on expertise in sustainability reporting and is not conditional on a financial contribution.

Points (a) and (d) are without prejudice to the participation of public bodies and national standard-setting organisations in the technical work of EFRAG.
The accompanying documents for the EFRAG technical advice shall be submitted together with that technical advice.
The Commission shall consult jointly the Member State Expert Group on Sustainable Finance, referred to in Article 24 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, and the Accounting Regulatory Committee, referred to in Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 1606/2002, on the draft delegated acts prior to their adoption as referred to in Articles 29b and 29c of this Directive.
The Commission shall request the opinion of the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the European Banking Authority (EBA) and the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) on the technical advice provided by EFRAG, in particular with regard to its consistency with Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 and the delegated acts adopted pursuant to that Regulation. ESMA, EBA and EIOPA shall provide their opinions within two months of the date of receipt of the request from the Commission.
The Commission shall also consult the European Environment Agency, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, the European Central Bank, the Committee of European Auditing Oversight Bodies and the Platform on Sustainable Finance established pursuant to Article 20 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852 on the technical advice provided by EFRAG prior to the adoption of delegated acts referred to in Articles 29b and 29c of this Directive. If any of those bodies decide to submit an opinion, they shall do so within two months of the date of being consulted by the Commission.;

(c) paragraph 5 is replaced by the following:

5.
A delegated act adopted pursuant to Article 1(2), Article 3(13), Articles 29b, 29c or 40b, or Article 46(2) shall enter into force only if no objection has been expressed either by the European Parliament or the Council within a period of two months of notification of that act to the European Parliament and the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission that they will not object. That period shall be extended by two months at the initiative of the European Parliament or the Council..

Directive 2013/34/EU is amended as follows:

(1) in Article 1, the following paragraphs are added:

(a) insurance undertakings within the meaning of Article 2(1) of Council Directive 91/674/EEC

Council Directive 91/674/EEC of 19 December 1991 on the annual accounts and consolidated accounts of insurance undertakings (OJ L 374, 31.12.1991, p. 7).

;
- (b) credit institutions as defined in point (1) of Article 4(1) of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council

Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 November 2019 on sustainability-related disclosures in the financial services sector (OJ L 317, 9.12.2019, p. 1).;

(2) Article 2 is amended as follows:
- (a) point (5) is replaced by the following:
(5) net turnover means the amounts derived from the sale of products and the provision of services after deducting sales rebates and value added tax and other taxes directly linked to turnover; however, for insurance undertakings referred to in point (a) of the first subparagraph of Article 1(3) of this Directive, net turnover shall be defined in accordance with Article 35 and point 2 of Article 66 of Council Directive 91/674/EEC

Council Directive 91/674/EEC of 19 December 1991 on the annual accounts and consolidated accounts of insurance undertakings (OJ L 374, 31.12.1991, p. 7).

Council Directive 86/635/EEC of 8 December 1986 on the annual accounts and consolidated accounts of banks and other financial institutions (OJ L 372, 31.12.1986, p. 1).;

(b) the following points are added:
- (17) sustainability matters means environmental, social and human rights, and governance factors, including sustainability factors defined in point (24) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 2019/2088;
- (18) sustainability reporting means reporting information related to sustainability matters in accordance with Articles 19a, 29a and 29d;
- (19) key intangible resources means resources without physical substance on which the business model of the undertaking fundamentally depends and which are a source of value creation for the undertaking;
- (20) independent assurance services provider means a conformity assessment body accredited in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council

for the specific conformity assessment activity referred to in point (aa) of the second subparagraph of Article 34(1) of this Directive.

(3) in Article 19(1), the following subparagraph is added:

(4) Article 19a is replaced by the following:

Article 19aSustainability reporting

The information referred to in paragraph 1 shall contain:

(a) a brief description of the undertaking’s business model and strategy, including:
- (i) the resilience of the undertaking’s business model and strategy in relation to risks related to sustainability matters;
- (ii) the opportunities for the undertaking related to sustainability matters;
- (iii) the plans of the undertaking, including implementing actions and related financial and investment plans, to ensure that its business model and strategy are compatible with the transition to a sustainable economy and with the limiting of global warming to 1,5 °C in line with the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change adopted on 12 December 2015 (the Paris Agreement) and the objective of achieving climate neutrality by 2050 as established in Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 of the European Parliament and of the Council

(b) a description of the time-bound targets related to sustainability matters set by the undertaking, including, where appropriate, absolute greenhouse gas emission reduction targets at least for 2030 and 2050, a description of the progress the undertaking has made towards achieving those targets, and a statement of whether the undertaking’s targets related to environmental factors are based on conclusive scientific evidence;
(c) a description of the role of the administrative, management and supervisory bodies with regard to sustainability matters, and of their expertise and skills in relation to fulfilling that role or the access such bodies have to such expertise and skills;
(d) a description of the undertaking’s policies in relation to sustainability matters;
(e) information about the existence of incentive schemes linked to sustainability matters which are offered to members of the administrative, management and supervisory bodies;
(f) a description of:
- (i) the due diligence process implemented by the undertaking with regard to sustainability matters, and, where applicable, in line with Union requirements on undertakings to conduct a due diligence process;
- (ii) the principal actual or potential adverse impacts connected with the undertaking’s own operations and with its value chain, including its products and services, its business relationships and its supply chain, actions taken to identify and monitor those impacts, and other adverse impacts which the undertaking is required to identify pursuant to other Union requirements on undertakings to conduct a due diligence process;
- (iii) any actions taken by the undertaking to prevent, mitigate, remediate or bring an end to actual or potential adverse impacts, and the result of such actions;
(g) a description of the principal risks to the undertaking related to sustainability matters, including a description of the undertaking’s principal dependencies on those matters, and how the undertaking manages those risks;
(h) indicators relevant to the disclosures referred to in points (a) to (g).

4. Undertakings shall report the information referred to in paragraphs 1 to 3 of this Article in accordance with the sustainability reporting standards adopted pursuant to Article 29b.

and captive reinsurance undertakings defined in point (5) of Article 13 of that Directive may limit their sustainability reporting to the following information:

(a) a brief description of the undertaking’s business model and strategy;
(b) a description of the undertaking’s policies in relation to sustainability matters;
(c) the principal actual or potential adverse impacts of the undertaking on sustainability matters, and any actions taken to identify, monitor, prevent, mitigate or remediate such actual or potential adverse impacts;
(d) the principal risks to the undertaking related to sustainability matters and how the undertaking manages those risks;
(e) key indicators necessary for the disclosures referred to in points (a) to (d).

The exemption in the first subparagraph shall be subject to the following conditions:

(a) the management report of the exempted subsidiary undertaking contains all of the following information:
- (i) the name and registered office of the parent undertaking that reports information at group level in accordance with this Article or in a manner equivalent to the sustainability reporting standards adopted pursuant to Article 29b of this Directive, as determined in accordance with an implementing act on the equivalence of sustainability reporting standards adopted pursuant to the third subparagraph of Article 23(4) of Directive 2004/109/EC;
- (ii) the weblinks to the consolidated management report of the parent undertaking or, where applicable, to the consolidated sustainability reporting of the parent undertaking, as referred to in the first subparagraph of this paragraph, and to the assurance opinion referred to in point (aa) of the second subparagraph of Article 34(1) of this Directive or to the assurance opinion referred to in point (b) of this subparagraph;
- (iii) the information that the undertaking is exempted from the obligations set out in paragraphs 1 to 4 of this Article;
(b) if the parent undertaking is established in a third country, its consolidated sustainability reporting and the assurance opinion on the consolidated sustainability reporting, expressed by one or more person(s) or firm(s) authorised to give an opinion on the assurance of sustainability reporting under the law governing that parent undertaking, are published in accordance with Article 30 of this Directive, and in accordance with the law of the Member State by which the exempted subsidiary undertaking is governed;
(c) if the parent undertaking is established in a third country, the disclosures laid down in Article 8 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council

(5) Article 20(1) is amended as follows:
(a) point (g) is replaced by the following:
(g) a description of the diversity policy applied in relation to the undertaking’s administrative, management and supervisory bodies with regard to gender and other aspects such as, age, disabilities or educational and professional background, the objectives of that diversity policy, how it has been implemented and the results in the reporting period. If no such policy is applied, the statement shall contain an explanation as to why that is the case.;
(b) the following subparagraph is added:

(6) Article 23 is amended as follows:
(a) in paragraph 4, point (b) is replaced by the following:
(b) the consolidated financial statements referred to in point (a) and the consolidated management report of the larger body of undertakings are drawn up by the parent undertaking of that body, in accordance with the law of the Member State by which that parent undertaking is governed, in accordance with this Directive, with the exception of the requirements laid down in Article 29a, or in accordance with international accounting standards adopted in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1606/2002;;
(b) in paragraph 8, point (b)(i) is replaced by the following:
(i) in accordance with this Directive, with the exception of the requirements laid down in Article 29a,;
(c) in paragraph 8, point (b)(iii) is replaced by the following:
(iii) in a manner equivalent to consolidated financial statements and consolidated management reports drawn up in accordance with this Directive, with the exception of the requirements laid down in Article 29a, or;
(7) Article 29a is replaced by the following:

Article 29aConsolidated sustainability reporting

The information referred to in paragraph 1 shall contain:

(a) a brief description of the group’s business model and strategy, including:
- (i) the resilience of the group’s business model and strategy in relation to risks related to sustainability matters;
- (ii) the opportunities for the group related to sustainability matters;
- (iii) the plans of the group, including implementing actions and related financial and investment plans, to ensure that its business model and strategy are compatible with the transition to a sustainable economy and with the limiting of global warming to 1,5 °C in line with the Paris Agreement and the objective of achieving climate neutrality by 2050 as established in Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 and where relevant, the exposure of the group to coal-, oil- and gas-related activities;
- (iv) how the group’s business model and strategy take account of the interests of the group’s stakeholders and of the impacts of the group on sustainability matters;
- (v) how the group’s strategy has been implemented with regard to sustainability matters;
(b) a description of the time-bound targets related to sustainability matters set by the group, including, where appropriate, absolute greenhouse gas emission reduction targets at least for 2030 and 2050, a description of the progress the group has made towards achieving those targets, and a statement of whether the group’s targets related to environmental factors are based on conclusive scientific evidence;
(c) a description of the role of the administrative, management and supervisory bodies with regard to sustainability matters, and of their expertise and skills in relation to fulfilling that role or the access such bodies have to such expertise and skills;
(d) a description of the group’s policies in relation to sustainability matters;
(e) information about the existence of incentive schemes linked to sustainability matters which are offered to members of the administrative, management and supervisory bodies;
(f) a description of:
(i) the due diligence process implemented by the group with regard to sustainability matters, and, where applicable, in line with Union requirements on undertakings to conduct a due diligence process;
(ii) the principal actual or potential adverse impacts connected with the group’s own operations and with its value chain, including its products and services, its business relationships and its supply chain, actions taken to identify and monitor those impacts, and other adverse impacts which the parent undertaking is required to identify pursuant to other Union requirements to conduct a due diligence process;
(iii) any actions taken by the group to prevent, mitigate, remediate or bring an end to actual or potential adverse impacts, and the result of such actions;
(g) a description of the principal risks to the group related to sustainability matters, including the group’s principal dependencies on those matters, and how the group manages those risks;
(h) indicators relevant to the disclosures referred to in points (a) to (g).
Parent undertakings shall report the process carried out to identify the information that they have included in the consolidated management report in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Article. The information listed in the first subparagraph of this paragraph shall include information related to short-, medium- and long-term time horizons, as applicable.

5. Parent undertakings shall report the information referred to in paragraphs 1 to 3 of this Article in accordance with the sustainability reporting standards adopted pursuant to Article 29b.

The exemption in the first subparagraph shall be subject to the following conditions:

(a) the management report of the exempted parent undertaking contains all of the following information:
- (i) the name and registered office of the parent undertaking that reports information at group level in accordance with this Article, or in a manner equivalent to the sustainability reporting standards adopted pursuant to Article 29b of this Directive, as determined in accordance with an implementing act on the equivalence of sustainability reporting standards adopted pursuant to the third subparagraph of Article 23(4) of Directive 2004/109/EC;
- (ii) the weblinks to the consolidated management report of the parent undertaking or, where applicable, to the consolidated sustainability reporting of the parent undertaking, as referred to in the first subparagraph of this paragraph, and to the assurance opinion referred to in point (aa) of the second subparagraph of Article 34(1) of this Directive or to the assurance opinion referred to in point (b) of this subparagraph;
- (iii) the information that the parent undertaking is exempted from the obligations set out in paragraphs 1 to 5 of this Article;
(b) if the parent undertaking is established in a third country, its consolidated sustainability reporting and the assurance opinion, expressed by one or more person(s) or firm(s) authorised to give an opinion on the assurance of sustainability reporting under the national law governing the parent undertaking, are published in accordance with Article 30, and in accordance with the law of the Member State by which the exempted parent undertaking is governed;
(c) if the parent undertaking is established in a third country, the disclosures laid down in Article 8 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, covering the activities carried out by the subsidiary undertaking established in the Union and exempted from sustainability reporting on the basis of Article 19a(9) of this Directive, shall be included in the management report of the exempted parent undertaking, or in the consolidated sustainability reporting carried out by the parent undertaking established in a third country.
The Member State by whose national law the exempted parent undertaking is governed may require that the consolidated management report or, where applicable, the consolidated sustainability report of the parent undertaking is published in a language that that Member State accepts, and that any necessary translation into such language is provided. Any translation that has not been certified shall include a statement to that effect.Parent undertakings which are exempted from preparing a management report pursuant to Article 37 shall not be obliged to provide the information referred to in points (a)(i) to (a)(iii) of the second subparagraph of this paragraph, provided that such undertakings publish the consolidated management report in accordance with Article 37.For the purposes of the first subparagraph of this paragraph, and where Article 10 of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 applies, credit institutions referred to in point (b) of the first subparagraph of Article 1(3) of this Directive that are permanently affiliated to a central body which supervises them under the conditions laid down in Article 10 of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 shall be treated as subsidiary undertakings of that central body.For the purposes of the first subparagraph of this paragraph, insurance undertakings referred to in point (a) of the first subparagraph of Article 1(3) of this Directive that are part of a group, on the basis of financial relationships referred to in point (c)(ii) of Article 212(1) of Directive 2009/138/EC, and which are subject to group supervision in accordance with points (a) to (c) of Article 213(2) of that Directive shall be treated as subsidiary undertakings of the parent undertaking of that group.

(8) the following chapter is inserted:

CHAPTER 6a

SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING STANDARDS

Article 29bSustainability reporting standards

In the delegated acts referred to in the first subparagraph the Commission shall, by 30 June 2024, specify:

(i) complementary information that undertakings are to report with regard to the sustainability matters and reporting areas listed in Article 19a(2), where necessary;
(ii) information that undertakings are to report that is specific to the sector in which they operate.

The sustainability reporting standards shall, taking into account the subject matter of a particular sustainability reporting standard:

(a) specify the information that undertakings are to disclose about the following environmental factors:
- (i) climate change mitigation, including as regards scope 1, scope 2 and, where relevant, scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions;
- (ii) climate change adaptation;
- (iii) water and marine resources;
- (iv) resource use and the circular economy;
- (v) pollution;
- (vi) biodiversity and ecosystems;
(b) specify the information that undertakings are to disclose about the following social and human rights factors:
(i) equal treatment and opportunities for all, including gender equality and equal pay for work of equal value, training and skills development, the employment and inclusion of people with disabilities, measures against violence and harassment in the workplace, and diversity;
(ii) working conditions, including secure employment, working time, adequate wages, social dialogue, freedom of association, existence of works councils, collective bargaining, including the proportion of workers covered by collective agreements, the information, consultation and participation rights of workers, work-life balance, and health and safety;
(iii) respect for the human rights, fundamental freedoms, democratic principles and standards established in the International Bill of Human Rights and other core UN human rights conventions, including the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the International Labour Organization’s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and the fundamental conventions of the International Labour Organization, the European Convention for the protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, the European Social Charter, and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union;
(c) specify the information that undertakings are to disclose about the following governance factors:
(i) the role of the undertaking’s administrative, management and supervisory bodies with regard to sustainability matters, and their composition, as well as their expertise and skills in relation to fulfilling that role or the access such bodies have to such expertise and skills;
(ii) the main features of the undertaking’s internal control and risk management systems, in relation to the sustainability reporting and decision-making process;
(iii) business ethics and corporate culture, including anti-corruption and anti-bribery, the protection of whistleblowers and animal welfare;
(iv) activities and commitments of the undertaking related to exerting its political influence, including its lobbying activities;
(v) the management and quality of relationships with customers, suppliers and communities affected by the activities of the undertaking, including payment practices, especially with regard to late payment to small and medium-sized undertakings.

3. The sustainability reporting standards shall specify the forward-looking, retrospective, qualitative and quantitative information, as appropriate, to be reported by undertakings.

When adopting delegated acts pursuant to paragraph 1, the Commission shall, to the greatest extent possible, take account of:

(a) the work of global standard-setting initiatives for sustainability reporting, and existing standards and frameworks for natural capital accounting and for greenhouse gas accounting, responsible business conduct, corporate social responsibility, and sustainable development;
(b) the information that financial market participants need in order to comply with their disclosure obligations laid down in Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 and the delegated acts adopted pursuant to that Regulation;
(c) the criteria, indicators and methodologies set out in the delegated acts adopted pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2020/852, including the technical screening criteria established pursuant to Article 10(3), Article 11(3), Article 12(2), Article 13(2), Article 14(2) and Article 15(2) of that Regulation and the reporting requirements set out in the delegated act adopted pursuant to Article 8 of that Regulation;
(d) the disclosure requirements applicable to benchmark administrators in the benchmark statement and in the benchmark methodology and the minimum standards for the construction of EU Climate Transition Benchmarks and EU Paris-aligned Benchmarks in accordance with Commission Delegated Regulations (EU) 2020/1816

, (EU) 2020/1817

and (EU) 2020/1818

;
- (e) the disclosures specified in the implementing acts adopted pursuant to Article 434a of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013;
- (f) Commission Recommendation 2013/179/EU

;
- (g) Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council

;
- (h) Regulation (EU) 2021/1119;
- (i) Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council

;
- (j) Directive (EU) 2019/1937 of the European Parliament and of the Council

Directive (EU) 2019/1937 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2019 on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law (OJ L 305, 26.11.2019, p. 17).;

Article 29cSustainability reporting standards for small and medium-sized undertakings

(9) the following chapter is inserted:

CHAPTER 6b

SINGLE ELECTRONIC REPORTING FORMAT

Article 29dSingle electronic reporting format

(10) in Article 30, paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:

Directive (EU) 2017/1132 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2017 relating to certain aspects of company law (OJ L 169, 30.6.2017, p. 46).;

(11) in Article 33, paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:

(a) the annual financial statements, the management report and the corporate governance statement when provided separately; and
(b) the consolidated financial statements, the consolidated management reports and the consolidated corporate governance statement when provided separately.;
(12) the title of Chapter 8 is replaced by the following:

Auditing and assurance of sustainability reporting;

(13) Article 34 is amended as follows:
(a) in paragraph 1, the second subparagraph is amended as follows:
- (i) point (a)(ii) is replaced by the following:
(ii) whether the management report has been prepared in accordance with the applicable legal requirements, excluding the requirements on sustainability reporting laid down in Article 19a of this Directive;;
- (ii) the following point is inserted:
(aa) where applicable, express an opinion based on a limited assurance engagement as regards the compliance of the sustainability reporting with the requirements of this Directive, including the compliance of the sustainability reporting with the sustainability reporting standards adopted pursuant to Article 29b or Article 29c, the process carried out by the undertaking to identify the information reported pursuant to those sustainability reporting standards, and the compliance with the requirement to mark up sustainability reporting in accordance with Article 29d, and as regards the compliance with the reporting requirements provided for in Article 8 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852;;
(b) paragraph 3 is replaced by the following:

(c) the following paragraphs are added:

as regards the assurance of sustainability reporting as defined in point 22 of Article 2 of that Directive, in particular the requirements on:

(a) training and examination, ensuring that independent assurance services providers acquire the necessary expertise concerning sustainability reporting and the assurance of sustainability reporting;
(b) continuing education;
(c) quality assurance systems;
(d) professional ethics, independence, objectivity, confidentiality and professional secrecy;
(e) appointment and dismissal;
(f) investigations and sanctions;
(g) the organisation of the work of the independent assurance services provider, in particular in terms of sufficient resources and personnel and the maintenance of client account records and files; and
(h) reporting irregularities.

(a) not impose more stringent requirements or liability on such independent assurance services providers than those required for assurance of sustainability reporting by the national laws for the independent assurance services providers or auditors established in that host Member State; and
(b) inform other Member States about its decision to supervise the assurance of sustainability reporting carried out by independent assurance services providers established in other Member States.

(14) the following chapter is inserted:

CHAPTER 9a

REPORTING CONCERNING THIRD-COUNTRY UNDERTAKINGS

Article 40aSustainability reports concerning third-country undertakings

Article 40dPublication

(15) the title of Chapter 11 is replaced by the following:

CHAPTER 11

TRANSITIONAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS;

(16) The following article is inserted:

Article 48iTransitional provisions

3. The consolidated sustainability reporting referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall be published in accordance with Article 30.

(17) Article 49 is amended as follows:
(a) paragraphs 2 and 3 are replaced by the following:

(b) the following paragraph is inserted:

3b.

When adopting delegated acts pursuant to Articles 29b and 29c, the Commission shall take into consideration technical advice from EFRAG, provided that:

(a)
such advice has been developed with proper due process, public oversight and transparency, with the expertise and balanced participation of relevant stakeholders, and with sufficient public funding to ensure its independence, and on the basis of a work programme on which the Commission has been consulted;

(b)
such advice is accompanied by cost-benefit analyses that include analyses of the impacts of the technical advice on sustainability matters;

(c)
such advice is accompanied by an explanation of how it takes account of the elements listed in Article 29b(5);

(d)
participation in EFRAG’s work at technical level is based on expertise in sustainability reporting and is not conditional on a financial contribution.

(c) paragraph 5 is replaced by the following:

Die Richtlinie 2013/34/EU wird wie folgt geändert:

1. Dem Artikel 1 werden die folgenden Absätze angefügt:

(3)

Die in den Artikeln 19a, 29a, 29d, 30 und 33, Artikel 34 Absatz 1 Unterabsatz 2 Buchstabe aa, Artikel 34 Absätze 2 und 3 sowie Artikel 51 der vorliegenden Richtlinie vorgeschriebenen Koordinierungsmaßnahmen gelten unabhängig von der jeweiligen Rechtsform auch für die Rechts- und Verwaltungsvorschriften der Mitgliedstaaten für folgende Unternehmen, sofern es sich um große Unternehmen oder um kleine und mittlere Unternehmen – mit Ausnahme von Kleinstunternehmen –, handelt, die Unternehmen von öffentlichem Interesse im Sinne von Artikel 2 Nummer 1 Buchstabe a der vorliegenden Richtlinie sind:

a) Versicherungsunternehmen im Sinne von Artikel 2 Absatz 1 der Richtlinie 91/674/EWG des Rates

Richtlinie 91/674/EWG des Rates vom 19. Dezember 1991 über den Jahresabschluss und den konsolidierten Abschluss von Versicherungsunternehmen (ABl. L 374 vom 31.12.1991, S. 7).

;
- b) Kreditinstitute im Sinne von Artikel 4 Absatz 1 Nummer 1 der Verordnung (EU) Nr. 575/2013 des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates

Verordnung (EU) Nr. 575/2013 des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates vom 26. Juni 2013 über Aufsichtsanforderungen an Kreditinstitute und zur Änderung der Verordnung (EU) Nr. 648/2012 (ABl. L 176 vom 27.6.2013, S. 1).

Die Mitgliedstaaten können beschließen, die in Unterabsatz 1 genannten Koordinierungsmaßnahmen nicht auf die in Artikel 2 Absatz 5 Nummern 2 bis 23 der Richtlinie 2013/36/EU des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates

Richtlinie 2013/36/EU des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates vom 26. Juni 2013 über den Zugang zur Tätigkeit von Kreditinstituten und die Beaufsichtigung von Kreditinstituten, zur Änderung der Richtlinie 2002/87/EG und zur Aufhebung der Richtlinien 2006/48/EG und 2006/49/EG (ABl. L 176 vom 27.6.2013, S. 338).

genannten Unternehmen anzuwenden.

(4)Die in den Artikeln 19a, 29a und 29d vorgeschriebenen Koordinierungsmaßnahmen gelten nicht für Finanzprodukte nach Artikel 2 Nummer 12 Buchstaben b und f der Verordnung (EU) 2019/2088 des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates

Verordnung (EU) 2019/2088 des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates vom 27. November 2019 über nachhaltigkeitsbezogene Offenlegungspflichten im Finanzdienstleistungssektor (ABl. L 317 vom 9.12.2019, S. 1).

(5)Die in den Artikeln 40a bis 40d vorgeschriebenen Koordinierungsmaßnahmen gelten auch für die Rechts- und Verwaltungsvorschriften der Mitgliedstaaten für Tochterunternehmen und Zweigniederlassungen von Unternehmen, die nicht dem Recht eines Mitgliedstaats unterliegen, deren Rechtsform aber den in Anhang I genannten Rechtsformen vergleichbar ist.

2. Artikel 2 wird wie folgt geändert:
- a) Nummer 5 erhält folgende Fassung:
5. Nettoumsatzerlöse die Beträge, die sich aus dem Verkauf von Produkten und der Erbringung von Dienstleistungen nach Abzug von Erlösschmälerungen und der Mehrwertsteuer sowie sonstigen direkt mit dem Umsatz verbundenen Steuern ergeben; für Versicherungsunternehmen nach Artikel 1 Absatz 3 Unterabsatz 1 Buchstabe a der vorliegenden Richtlinie wird der Begriff Nettoumsatzerlöse jedoch gemäß Artikeln 35 und Artikel 66 Nummer 2 der Richtlinie 91/674/EWG des Rates

Richtlinie 91/674/EWG des Rates vom 19. Dezember 1991 über den Jahresabschluss und den konsolidierten Abschluss von Versicherungsunternehmen (ABl. L 374 vom 31.12.1991, S. 7).

definiert; für Kreditinstitute nach Artikel 1 Absatz 3 Unterabsatz 1 Buchstabe b der vorliegenden Richtlinie wird der Begriff Nettoumsatzerlöse gemäß Artikel 43 Absatz 2 Buchstabe c der Richtlinie 86/635/EWG des Rates

Richtlinie 86/635/EWG des Rates vom 8. Dezember 1986 über den Jahresabschluss und den konsolidierten Abschluss von Banken und anderen Finanzinstituten (ABl. L 372 vom 31.12.1986, S. 1).

definiert; und für Unternehmen, die in den Anwendungsbereich von Artikel 40a Absatz 1 dieser Richtlinie fallen, bezeichnet der Begriff Nettoumsatzerlöse die Einnahmen gemäß der Definition durch die bzw. im Sinne der Rechnungslegungsgrundsätze, auf deren Grundlage die Abschlüsse des Unternehmens erstellt werden;

b) Folgende Nummern werden angefügt:
- 17. Nachhaltigkeitsaspekte Umwelt-, Sozial- und Menschenrechtsfaktoren sowie Governance-Faktoren, einschließlich Nachhaltigkeitsfaktoren im Sinne von Artikel 2 Nummer 24 der Verordnung (EU) 2019/2088;
- 18. Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung die Berichterstattung über Informationen über Nachhaltigkeitsaspekte gemäß den Artikeln 19a, 29a und 29d;
- 19. wichtigste immaterielle Ressourcen Ressourcen ohne physische Substanz, von denen das Geschäftsmodell des Unternehmens grundlegend abhängt und die eine Wertschöpfungsquelle für das Unternehmen darstellen;
- 20. unabhängiger Erbringer von Bestätigungsleistungen eine Konformitätsbewertungsstelle, die gemäß der Verordnung (EG) Nr. 765/2008 des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates

Verordnung (EG) Nr. 765/2008 des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates vom 9. Juli 2008 über die Vorschriften für die Akkreditierung und zur Aufhebung der Verordnung (EWG) Nr. 339/93 des Rates (ABl. L 218 vom 13.8.2008, S. 30).

für die in Artikel 34 Absatz 1 Unterabsatz 2 Buchstabe aa der vorliegenden Richtlinie genannte Konformitätsbewertung akkreditiert ist.

3. In Artikel 19 Absatz 1 wird folgender Unterabsatz angefügt:

Große Unternehmen sowie kleine und mittlere Unternehmen – mit Ausnahme von Kleinstunternehmen –, bei denen es sich um Unternehmen von öffentlichem Interesse im Sinne von Artikel 2 Nummer 1 Buchstabe a handelt, erstatten Bericht über Informationen über die wichtigsten immateriellen Ressourcen und erläutern, inwiefern das Geschäftsmodell des Unternehmens grundlegend von diesen Ressourcen abhängt und inwiefern diese Ressourcen eine Wertschöpfungsquelle für das Unternehmen darstellen.

4. Artikel 19a erhält folgende Fassung:

Artikel 19aNachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung

(1)Große Unternehmen sowie kleine und mittlere Unternehmen – mit Ausnahme von Kleinstunternehmen –, bei denen es sich um Unternehmen von öffentlichem Interesse im Sinne von Artikel 2 Nummer 1 Buchstabe a handelt, nehmen in den Lagebericht Angaben auf, die für das Verständnis der Auswirkungen der Tätigkeiten des Unternehmens auf Nachhaltigkeitsaspekte sowie das Verständnis der Auswirkungen von Nachhaltigkeitsaspekten auf Geschäftsverlauf, Geschäftsergebnis und Lage des Unternehmens erforderlich sind.Die in Unterabsatz 1 genannten Angaben müssen im Lagebericht mittels eines dafür vorgesehenen Abschnitts klar erkennbar sein.

(2)

Die in Absatz 1 genannten Informationen umfassen Folgendes:

a) eine kurze Beschreibung von Geschäftsmodell und Strategie des Unternehmens, einschließlich Angaben
- i) zur Widerstandsfähigkeit von Geschäftsmodell und Strategie des Unternehmens gegenüber Risiken im Zusammenhang mit Nachhaltigkeitsaspekten;
- ii) zu den Chancen des Unternehmens im Zusammenhang mit Nachhaltigkeitsaspekten;
- iii) zu der Art und Weise, einschließlich Durchführungsmaßnahmen und zugehörigen Finanz- und Investitionsplänen, wie das Unternehmen beabsichtigt sicherzustellen, dass sein Geschäftsmodell und seine Strategie mit dem Übergang zu einer nachhaltigen Wirtschaft und der Begrenzung der Erderwärmung auf 1,5 °C im Einklang mit dem am 12. Dezember 2015 angenommenen Übereinkommen von Paris im Rahmen des Rahmenübereinkommens der Vereinten Nationen über Klimaänderungen (im Folgenden Übereinkommen von Paris) und dem in der Verordnung (EU) 2021/1119 des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates

Verordnung (EU) 2021/1119 des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates vom 30. Juni 2021 zur Schaffung des Rahmens für die Verwirklichung der Klimaneutralität und zur Änderung der Verordnungen (EG) Nr. 401/2009 und (EU) 2018/1999 (Europäisches Klimagesetz) (ABl. L 243 vom 9.7.2021, S. 1).

verankerten Ziel der Verwirklichung der Klimaneutralität bis 2050 vereinbar sind, und gegebenenfalls die Exposition des Unternehmens gegenüber Aktivitäten mit Bezug zu Kohle, Öl und Gas;
- iv) zu der Art und Weise, wie das Unternehmen den Belangen seiner Interessenträger und den Auswirkungen seiner Tätigkeiten auf Nachhaltigkeitsaspekte in seinem Geschäftsmodell und seiner Strategie Rechnung trägt;
- v) zu der Art und Weise, wie die Strategie des Unternehmens im Hinblick auf Nachhaltigkeitsaspekte umgesetzt wird;

b) eine Beschreibung der zeitgebundenen Nachhaltigkeitsziele, die sich das Unternehmen gesetzt hat, gegebenenfalls einschließlich der absoluten Ziele für die Verringerung der Treibhausgasemissionen mindestens für 2030 und 2050, eine Beschreibung der Fortschritte, die das Unternehmen im Hinblick auf die Erreichung dieser Ziele erzielt hat, und eine Erklärung, ob die auf Umweltfaktoren bezogenen Ziele des Unternehmens auf schlüssigen wissenschaftlichen Beweisen beruhen;
c) eine Beschreibung der Rolle der Verwaltungs-, Leitungs- und Aufsichtsorgane im Zusammenhang mit Nachhaltigkeitsaspekten sowie ihres Fachwissens und ihrer Fähigkeiten zur Wahrnehmung dieser Rolle oder ihres Zugangs zu solchem Fachwissen und solchen Fähigkeiten;
d) eine Beschreibung der Unternehmenspolitik hinsichtlich Nachhaltigkeit;
e) Angaben über das Vorhandensein von mit Nachhaltigkeitsaspekten verknüpften Anreizsystemen, die Mitgliedern der Verwaltungs-, Leitungs- und Aufsichtsorgane angeboten werden;
f) eine Beschreibung
- i) des vom Unternehmen mit Blick auf Nachhaltigkeitsaspekte und gegebenenfalls im Einklang mit den Anforderungen der Union für Unternehmen zur Durchführung eines Due-Diligence-Prozesses durchgeführten Due-Diligence-Prozesses;
- ii) der wichtigsten tatsächlichen oder potenziellen negativen Auswirkungen, die mit der eigenen Geschäftstätigkeit des Unternehmens und mit seiner Wertschöpfungskette, einschließlich seiner Produkte und Dienstleistungen, seiner Geschäftsbeziehungen und seiner Lieferkette, verknüpft sind, der Maßnahmen zur Ermittlung und Überwachung dieser Auswirkungen, und anderer negativer Auswirkungen, die das Unternehmen gemäß anderen Anforderungen der Union für Unternehmen zur Durchführung eines Due-Diligence-Prozesses ermitteln muss;
- iii) jeglicher Maßnahmen des Unternehmens zur Verhinderung, Minderung, Behebung oder Beendigung tatsächlicher oder potenzieller negativer Auswirkungen und des Erfolgs dieser Maßnahmen;
g) eine Beschreibung der wichtigsten Risiken, denen das Unternehmen im Zusammenhang mit Nachhaltigkeitsaspekten ausgesetzt ist, einschließlich einer Beschreibung der wichtigsten Abhängigkeiten in diesem Bereich, und der Handhabung dieser Risiken durch das Unternehmen;
h) Indikatoren, die für die unter den Buchstaben a bis g genannten Offenlegungen relevant sind.

Die Unternehmen erstattet über den Prozess zur Ermittlung der gemäß Absatz 1 in den Lagebericht aufgenommenen Informationen Bericht. Die in Unterabsatz 1 des vorliegenden Absatzes aufgeführten Informationen umfassen gegebenenfalls Informationen über kurz-, mittel- und langfristige Zeiträume.

(3)Gegebenenfalls umfassen die in den Absätzen 1 und 2 genannten Informationen Angaben zur eigenen Geschäftstätigkeit des Unternehmens und zu seiner Wertschöpfungskette, einschließlich Angaben zu seinen Produkten und Dienstleistungen, seinen Geschäftsbeziehungen und seiner Lieferkette.Für die ersten drei Jahre der Anwendung der von den Mitgliedstaaten gemäß Artikel 5 Absatz 2 der Richtlinie (EU) 2022/2464 des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates

Richtlinie (EU) 2022/2464 des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates vom 14. Dezember 2022 zur Änderung der Verordnung (EU) Nr. 537/2014 und der Richtlinien 2004/109/EG, 2006/43/EG und 2013/34/EU hinsichtlich der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung von Unternehmen (ABl. L 322 vom 16.12.2022, S. 15).

angenommenen Maßnahmen und für den Fall, dass nicht alle erforderlichen Informationen über seine Wertschöpfungskette verfügbar sind, erläutert das Unternehmen, welche Anstrengungen unternommen wurden, um die erforderlichen Informationen über seine Wertschöpfungskette zu erhalten, begründet das Unternehmen, warum nicht alle erforderlichen Informationen eingeholt werden konnten, und erläutert das Unternehmen seine Pläne, um künftig die erforderlichen Informationen einzuholen.Gegebenenfalls umfassen die in den Absätzen 1 und 2 genannten Angaben auch Verweise auf andere gemäß Artikel 19 in den Lagebericht aufgenommene Angaben und zusätzliche Erläuterungen dazu sowie auf die im Jahresabschluss ausgewiesenen Beträge.Die Mitgliedstaaten können gestatten, dass Informationen über künftige Entwicklungen oder Belange, über die Verhandlungen geführt werden, in Ausnahmefällen weggelassen werden, wenn eine solche Angabe nach der ordnungsgemäß begründeten Einschätzung der Mitglieder der Verwaltungs-, Leitungs- und Aufsichtsorgane, die im Rahmen der ihnen durch einzelstaatliche Rechtsvorschriften übertragenen Zuständigkeiten handeln und gemeinsam für diese Einschätzung zuständig sind, der Geschäftslage des Unternehmens ernsthaft schaden würde, sofern eine solche Nichtaufnahme ein den tatsächlichen Verhältnissen entsprechendes und ausgewogenes Verständnis des Geschäftsverlaufs, des Geschäftsergebnisses und der Lage des Unternehmens, sowie der Auswirkungen seiner Tätigkeit nicht verhindert.

(4)Die Unternehmen erstatten Bericht über die in den Absätzen 1 bis 3 des vorliegenden Artikels genannten Informationen gemäß den im Einklang mit Artikel 29b angenommenen Standards für die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung.

(5)Die Unternehmensleitung unterrichtet die Arbeitnehmervertreter auf geeigneter Ebene und erörtert mit ihnen die einschlägigen Informationen und die Mittel zur Einholung und Überprüfung von Nachhaltigkeitsinformationen. Die Stellungnahme der Arbeitnehmervertreter wird gegebenenfalls den zuständigen Verwaltungs-, Leitungs- oder Aufsichtsorganen mitgeteilt.

(6)

Abweichend von den Absätzen 2 bis 4 und unbeschadet der Absätze 9 und 10 können kleine und mittlere Unternehmen nach Absatz 1, kleine und nicht komplexe Institute im Sinne von Artikel 4 Absatz 1 Nummer 145 der Verordnung (EU) Nr. 575/2013, firmeneigene Versicherungsunternehmen im Sinne von Artikel 13 Nummer 2 der Richtlinie 2009/138/EG des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates

Richtlinie 2009/138/EG des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates vom 25. November 2009 betreffend die Aufnahme und Ausübung der Versicherungs- und der Rückversicherungstätigkeit (Solvabilität II) (ABl. L 335 vom 17.12.2009, S. 1).

und firmeneigene Rückversicherungsunternehmen im Sinne von Artikel 13 Nummer 5 der genannten Richtlinie ihre Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung auf folgende Informationen beschränken:

a) eine kurze Beschreibung von Geschäftsmodell und Strategie des Unternehmens;
b) eine Beschreibung der Unternehmenspolitik hinsichtlich Nachhaltigkeit;
c) die wichtigsten tatsächlichen oder potenziellen negativen Auswirkungen des Unternehmens in Bezug auf Nachhaltigkeitsaspekte sowie jegliche Maßnahmen zur Ermittlung, Überwachung, Verhinderung, Minderung oder Behebung solcher tatsächlichen oder potenziellen negativen Auswirkungen;
d) die wichtigsten Risiken, denen das Unternehmen im Zusammenhang mit Nachhaltigkeitsaspekten ausgesetzt ist, und die Handhabung dieser Risiken durch das Unternehmen;
e) Schlüsselindikatoren, die für die unter den Buchstaben a bis d genannten Offenlegungen erforderlich sind.

Kleine und mittlere Unternehmen, kleine und nicht komplexe Institute sowie firmeneigene Versicherungs- und Rückversicherungsunternehmen, die von der Ausnahmeregelung gemäß Unterabsatz 1 Gebrauch machen, erstatten gemäß den Standards für die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung durch kleine und mittlere Unternehmen nach Artikel 29c Bericht.

(7)Für Geschäftsjahre, die vor dem 1. Januar 2028 beginnen, können kleine und mittlere Unternehmen, bei denen es sich um Unternehmen von öffentlichem Interesse im Sinne von Artikel 2 Nummer 1 Buchstabe a handelt, abweichend von Absatz 1 des vorliegenden Artikels beschließen, die in Absatz 1 genannten Informationen nicht in ihren Lagebericht aufzunehmen. In solchen Fällen gibt das Unternehmen jedoch in seinem Lagebericht kurz an, warum die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung nicht vorgelegt wurde.

(8)Bei Unternehmen, die die Anforderungen der Absätze 1 bis 4 des vorliegenden Artikels erfüllen, und Unternehmen, die von der Ausnahmeregelung nach Absatz 6 des vorliegenden Artikels Gebrauch machen, wird davon ausgegangen, dass sie die Anforderung von Artikel 19 Absatz 1 Unterabsatz 3 erfüllen.

(9)Sofern die in Unterabsatz 2 des vorliegenden Absatzes festgelegten Bedingungen erfüllt sind, wird ein Unternehmen, das ein Tochterunternehmen ist, von den in den Absätzen 1 bis 4 des vorliegenden Artikels festgelegten Pflichten befreit (im Folgenden befreites Tochterunternehmen), wenn dieses Unternehmen und seine Tochterunternehmen in den konsolidierten Lagebericht eines Mutterunternehmens einbezogen werden und dieser konsolidierte Lagebericht gemäß Artikel 29 und Artikel 29a erstellt wird. Ein Unternehmen, das Tochterunternehmen eines in einem Drittland niedergelassenen Mutterunternehmens ist, wird ebenfalls von den in den Absätzen 1 bis 4 des vorliegenden Artikels festgelegten Pflichten befreit, wenn dieses Unternehmen und seine Tochterunternehmen in die konsolidierte Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung dieses in einem Drittland niedergelassenen Mutterunternehmens einbezogen werden und diese konsolidierte Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung gemäß den nach Artikel 29b erlassenen Standards für die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung oder in einer Weise durchgeführt wird, die diesen Standards für die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung gleichwertig ist, was in einem gemäß Artikel 23 Absatz 4 Unterabsatz 3 der Richtlinie 2004/109/EG des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates

Richtlinie 2004/109/EG des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates vom 15. Dezember 2004 zur Harmonisierung der Transparenzanforderungen in Bezug auf Informationen über Emittenten, deren Wertpapiere zum Handel auf einem geregelten Markt zugelassen sind, und zur Änderung der Richtlinie 2001/34/EG (ABl. L 390 vom 31.12.2004, S. 38).

erlassenen Durchführungsrechtsakt über die Gleichwertigkeit der Standards für die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung festgestellt wurde.

Die Befreiung nach Unterabsatz 1 ist an folgende Bedingungen geknüpft:

a) Der Lagebericht des befreiten Tochterunternehmens enthält alle folgenden Informationen:
- i) Namen und Sitz des Mutterunternehmens, das über Informationen auf Gruppenebene gemäß dem vorliegenden Artikel oder in einer Weise Bericht erstattet, die den nach Artikel 29b der vorliegenden Richtlinie erlassenen Standards für die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung gleichwertig ist, was in einem gemäß Artikel 23 Absatz 4 Unterabsatz 3 der Richtlinie 2004/109/EG erlassenen Durchführungsrechtsakt über die Gleichwertigkeit der Standards für die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung festgestellt wurde;
- ii) die Weblinks zum konsolidierten Lagebericht des Mutterunternehmens oder gegebenenfalls zu der konsolidierten Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung des Mutterunternehmens nach Unterabsatz 1 des vorliegenden Absatzes und zu dem Bestätigungsurteil nach Artikel 34 Absatz 1 Unterabsatz 2 Buchstabe aa der vorliegenden Richtlinie oder zum Bestätigungsurteil nach Buchstabe b dieses Unterabsatzes;
- iii) die Information, dass das Unternehmen von den in den Absätzen 1 bis 4 dieses Artikels genannten Pflichten befreit ist;
b) ist das Mutterunternehmen in einem Drittland niedergelassen, so werden seine konsolidierte Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung und das Bestätigungsurteil zu der konsolidierten Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung, das von einer oder mehreren Personen oder Gesellschaften abgegeben wurde, die nach dem für dieses Mutterunternehmen geltenden Recht zur Abgabe eines Urteils über die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung befugt sind, gemäß Artikel 30 der vorliegenden Richtlinie und im Einklang mit dem Recht des Mitgliedstaats, dem das befreite Tochterunternehmen unterliegt, veröffentlicht;
c) ist das Mutterunternehmen in einem Drittland niedergelassen, so werden die in Artikel 8 der Verordnung (EU) 2020/852 des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates

Verordnung (EU) 2020/852 des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates vom 18. Juni 2020 über die Einrichtung eines Rahmens zur Erleichterung nachhaltiger Investitionen und zur Änderung der Verordnung (EU) 2019/2088 (ABl. L 198 vom 22.6.2020, S. 13).

festgelegten Offenlegungen über die Tätigkeiten des in der Union niedergelassenen befreiten Tochterunternehmens und seiner Tochterunternehmen in den Lagebericht des befreiten Tochterunternehmens oder in der konsolidierten Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung des in einem Drittland niedergelassenen Mutterunternehmens aufgenommen.
Der Mitgliedstaat, dessen einzelstaatlichem Recht das befreite Tochterunternehmen unterliegt, kann verlangen, dass der konsolidierte Lagebericht des Mutterunternehmens oder gegebenenfalls der konsolidierte Nachhaltigkeitsbericht des Mutterunternehmens in einer von diesem Mitgliedstaat akzeptierten Sprache offengelegt wird und dass alle erforderlichen Übersetzungen in diese Sprache bereitgestellt werden. Jede Übersetzung, die nicht beglaubigt wurde, muss eine entsprechende Erklärung enthalten.Unternehmen, die gemäß Artikel 37 von der Erstellung eines Lageberichts befreit sind, brauchen die in Unterabsatz 2 Buchstabe a Ziffern i bis iii dieses Absatzes genannten Informationen nicht vorzulegen, sofern diese Unternehmen den konsolidierten Lagebericht gemäß Artikel 37 offenlegen.Für die Zwecke von Unterabsatz 1 dieses Absatzes und in Fällen, in denen Artikel 10 der Verordnung (EU) Nr. 575/2013 Anwendung findet, werden Kreditinstitute nach Artikel 1 Absatz 3 Unterabsatz 1 Buchstabe b dieser Richtlinie, die einer Zentralorganisation ständig zugeordnet sind, welche sie unter den in Artikel 10 der Verordnung (EU) Nr. 575/2013 festgelegten Bedingungen beaufsichtigt, wie Tochterunternehmen dieser Zentralorganisation behandelt.Für die Zwecke von Unterabsatz 1 werden Versicherungsunternehmen nach Artikel 1 Absatz 3 Unterabsatz 1 Buchstabe a der vorliegenden Richtlinie, die auf der Grundlage einer in Artikel 212 Absatz 1 Buchstabe c Ziffer ii der Richtlinie 2009/138/EG genannten finanziellen Beziehung einer Gruppe angehören und gemäß Artikel 213 Absatz 2 Buchstaben a bis c der genannten Richtlinie der Gruppenaufsicht unterliegen, wie Tochterunternehmen des Mutterunternehmens der Gruppe behandelt.

(10)Die Befreiung nach Absatz 9 gilt auch für Unternehmen von öffentlichem Interesse, die den Anforderungen dieses Artikels unterliegen, mit Ausnahme großer Unternehmen, bei denen es sich um Unternehmen von öffentlichem Interesse im Sinne von Artikel 2 Nummer 1 Buchstabe a dieser Richtlinie handelt.

(5) Artikel 20 Absatz 1 wird wie folgt geändert:
a) Buchstabe g erhält folgende Fassung:
g) eine Beschreibung des Diversitätskonzepts, das im Zusammenhang mit den Verwaltungs-, Leitungs- und Aufsichtsorganen des Unternehmens in Bezug auf das Geschlecht sowie andere Aspekte wie beispielsweise Alter, Behinderungen oder Bildungs- und Berufshintergrund verfolgt wird, der Ziele dieses Diversitätskonzepts sowie der Art und Weise der Umsetzung dieses Konzepts und der Ergebnisse im Berichtszeitraum. Wird ein derartiges Konzept nicht angewendet, wird in der Erklärung erläutert, warum dies der Fall ist.
b) Folgender Unterabsatz wird eingefügt:

Bei Unternehmen, die Artikel 19a unterliegen, wird davon ausgegangen, dass sie die Pflichten gemäß Unterabsatz 1 Buchstabe g erfüllen, wenn sie die nach diesem Buchstaben erforderlichen Angaben in ihre Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung aufnehmen und in der Erklärung zur Unternehmensführung ein Verweis darauf aufgenommen wird.

(6) Artikel 23 wird wie folgt geändert:
a) Absatz 4 Buchstabe b erhält folgende Fassung:
b) der konsolidierte Abschluss nach Buchstabe a und der konsolidierte Lagebericht des größeren Kreises von Unternehmen sind von dem Mutterunternehmen dieses Kreises von Unternehmen nach dem Recht des Mitgliedstaats, dem das Mutterunternehmen unterliegt, im Einklang mit dieser Richtlinie, ausgenommen den in Artikel 29a festgelegten Anforderungen, oder mit gemäß der Verordnung (EG) Nr. 1606/2002 übernommenen internationalen Rechnungslegungsstandards aufgestellt;
b) Absatz 8 Buchstabe b Ziffer i erhält folgende Fassung:

i)
im Einklang mit dieser Richtlinie, ausgenommen den Anforderungen des Artikels 29a,

c) Absatz 8 Buchstabe b Ziffer iii erhält folgende Fassung:

iii)
derart, dass sie einem nach dieser Richtlinie erstellten konsolidierten Abschluss und konsolidierten Lagebericht gleichwertig sind, ausgenommen den Anforderungen des Artikels 29a, oder.

7. Artikel 29a erhält folgende Fassung:

Artikel 29a
Konsolidierte Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung

(1)
Mutterunternehmen einer großen Gruppe nach Artikel 3 Absatz 7 nehmen in den konsolidierten Lagebericht Angaben auf, die für das Verständnis der Auswirkungen der Gruppe auf Nachhaltigkeitsaspekte sowie das Verständnis der Auswirkungen von Nachhaltigkeitsaspekten auf Geschäftsverlauf, Geschäftsergebnis und Lage der Gruppe erforderlich sind.
Die in Unterabsatz 1 genannten Angaben müssen im konsolidierten Lagebericht mittels eines dafür vorgesehenen Abschnitts erkennbar ausgewiesen sein.

(2)

Die in Absatz 1 genannten Informationen umfassen Folgendes:

a)
eine kurze Beschreibung von Geschäftsmodell und Strategie der Gruppe, einschließlich Angaben
- i)
  zur Widerstandsfähigkeit von Geschäftsmodell und Strategie der Gruppe gegenüber Risiken im Zusammenhang mit Nachhaltigkeitsaspekten;
- ii)
  zu den Chancen der Gruppe im Zusammenhang mit Nachhaltigkeitsaspekten;
- iii)
  zu der Art und Weise, einschließlich Durchführungsmaßnahmen und zugehörigen Finanz- und Investitionsplänen, wie die Gruppe beabsichtigt sicherzustellen, dass ihr Geschäftsmodell und ihre Strategie mit dem Übergang zu einer nachhaltigen Wirtschaft und der Begrenzung der Erderwärmung auf 1,5 °C im Einklang mit dem Übereinkommen von Paris und dem in der Verordnung (EU) 2021/1119 verankerten Ziel der Verwirklichung der Klimaneutralität bis 2050 vereinbar sind, und gegebenenfalls die Exposition des Unternehmens gegenüber Aktivitäten mit Bezug zu Kohle, Öl und Gas;
- iv)
  zu der Art und Weise, wie die Gruppe in ihrem Geschäftsmodell und ihrer Strategie den Belangen ihrer Interessenträger und den nachhaltigkeitsrelevanten Auswirkungen ihrer Tätigkeiten Rechnung trägt;
- v)
  zu der Art und Weise, wie die Strategie der Gruppe mit Blick auf Nachhaltigkeitsaspekte umgesetzt wird;

b) eine Beschreibung der zeitgebundenen Nachhaltigkeitsziele, die sich die Gruppe gesetzt hat, gegebenenfalls einschließlich der absoluten Ziele für die Verringerung der Treibhausgasemissionen mindestens für 2030 und 2050, eine Beschreibung der Fortschritte, die die Gruppe im Hinblick auf die Erreichung dieser Ziele erzielt hat, und eine Erklärung, ob die auf Umweltfaktoren bezogenen Ziele der Gruppe auf schlüssigen wissenschaftlichen Beweisen beruhen;
c) eine Beschreibung der Rolle der Verwaltungs-, Leitungs- und Aufsichtsorgane im Zusammenhang mit Nachhaltigkeitsaspekten sowie ihres Fachwissens und ihrer Fähigkeiten zur Wahrnehmung dieser Rolle oder ihres Zugangs zu solchem Fachwissen und solchen Fähigkeiten;
d) eine Beschreibung der Unternehmenspolitik der Gruppe hinsichtlich Nachhaltigkeit;
e) Angaben über das Vorhandensein von mit Nachhaltigkeitsaspekten verknüpften Anreizsystemen, die Mitgliedern der Verwaltungs-, Leitungs- und Aufsichtsorgane angeboten werden;
f) eine Beschreibung
i) des von der Gruppe mit Blick auf Nachhaltigkeitsaspekte und gegebenenfalls im Einklang mit den Anforderungen der Union für Unternehmen zur Durchführung eines Due-Diligence-Prozesses angewandten Due-Diligence-Prozesses;
ii) der wichtigsten tatsächlichen oder potenziellen negativen Auswirkungen, die mit der eigenen Geschäftstätigkeit der Gruppe und mit ihrer Wertschöpfungskette, einschließlich ihrer Produkte und Dienstleistungen, ihrer Geschäftsbeziehungen und ihrer Lieferkette, verknüpft sind, der Maßnahmen zur Ermittlung und Überwachung dieser Auswirkungen, und anderer negativer Auswirkungen, die das Unternehmen gemäß anderen Anforderungen der Union zur Durchführung eines Due-Diligence-Prozesses ermitteln muss;
iii) jeglicher Maßnahmen der Gruppe zur Verhinderung, Minderung, Behebung oder Beendigung tatsächlicher oder potenzieller negativer Auswirkungen und des Ergebnisses dieser Maßnahmen;
g) eine Beschreibung der wichtigsten Risiken, denen die Gruppe im Zusammenhang mit Nachhaltigkeitsaspekten ausgesetzt ist, einschließlich der wichtigsten Abhängigkeiten in diesem Bereich, und der Art und Weise, wie die Gruppe solche Risiken steuert;
h) Indikatoren, die für die unter den Buchstaben a bis g genannten Offenlegungen relevant sind.
Die Mutterunternehmen teilen das Verfahren zur Ermittlung der im Einklang mit Absatz 1 dieses Artikels in den konsolidierten Lagebericht eingeflossenen Informationen mit. Die in Unterabsatz 1 dieses Absatzes aufgeführten Informationen umfassen gegebenenfalls Informationen über kurz-, mittel- und langfristige Zeiträume.

(3)Gegebenenfalls umfassen die in den Absätzen 1 und 2 genannten Informationen Angaben zur eigenen Geschäftstätigkeit der Gruppe und zu ihrer Wertschöpfungskette, einschließlich Angaben zu ihren Produkten und Dienstleistungen, ihren Geschäftsbeziehungen und ihrer Lieferkette.Für die ersten drei Jahre der Anwendung der von den Mitgliedstaaten gemäß Artikel 5 Absatz 2 der Richtlinie (EU) 2022/2464 angenommenen Maßnahmen und für den Fall, dass nicht alle erforderlichen Informationen über seine Wertschöpfungskette verfügbar sind, erläutert das Mutterunternehmen, welche Anstrengungen unternommen wurden, um die erforderlichen Informationen über seine Wertschöpfungskette zu erhalten, begründet das Mutterunternehmen, warum nicht alle erforderlichen Informationen eingeholt werden konnten, und erläutert das Mutterunternehmen seine Pläne, um künftig alle erforderlichen Informationen einzuholen.Gegebenenfalls umfassen die in den Absätzen 1 und 2 genannten Informationen auch Verweise auf andere gemäß Artikel 29 in den konsolidierten Lagebericht aufgenommene Informationen und zusätzliche Erläuterungen dazu sowie auf die im konsolidierten Abschluss ausgewiesenen Beträge.Die Mitgliedstaaten können gestatten, dass Informationen über künftige Entwicklungen oder Belange, über die Verhandlungen geführt werden, in Ausnahmefällen weggelassen werden, wenn nach der ordnungsgemäß begründeten Einschätzung der Mitglieder der Verwaltungs-, Leitungs- und Aufsichtsorgane, die im Rahmen der ihnen durch einzelstaatliche Rechtsvorschriften übertragenen Zuständigkeiten handeln und die gemeinsam für diese Einschätzung zuständig sind, eine solche Offenlegung von Informationen der Geschäftslage der Gruppe ernsthaft schaden würde, sofern eine solche Nichtaufnahme ein den tatsächlichen Verhältnissen entsprechendes und ausgewogenes Verständnis des Geschäftsverlaufs, des Geschäftsergebnisses und der Lage der Gruppe sowie der Auswirkungen ihrer Tätigkeit nicht verhindert.

(4)Stellt das Bericht erstattende Unternehmen erhebliche Unterschiede zwischen den Risiken für die Gruppe oder Auswirkungen der Gruppe und den Risiken für ein oder mehrere Tochterunternehmen oder Auswirkungen eines oder mehrerer Tochterunternehmen fest, so muss es gegebenenfalls ein hinreichendes Verständnis der Risiken für das betreffende bzw. die betreffenden Tochterunternehmen und Auswirkungen des betreffenden Tochterunternehmens bzw. der betreffenden Tochterunternehmen vermitteln.Die Unternehmen geben an, welche in die Konsolidierung einbezogenen Tochterunternehmen von der jährlichen oder konsolidierten Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung gemäß Artikel 19a Absatz 9 bzw. Artikel 29a Absatz 8 befreit sind.

(5)Die Mutterunternehmen erstatten Bericht über die in den Absätzen 1 bis 3 dieses Artikels genannten Informationen gemäß den im Einklang mit Artikel 29b angenommenen Standards für die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung.

(6)Die Unternehmensleitung des Mutterunternehmens unterrichtet die Arbeitnehmervertreter auf geeigneter Ebene und erörtert mit ihnen die einschlägigen Informationen und die Mittel zur Einholung und Überprüfung von Nachhaltigkeitsinformationen. Die Stellungnahme der Arbeitnehmervertreter wird gegebenenfalls den zuständigen Verwaltungs-, Leitungs- oder Aufsichtsorganen mitgeteilt.

(7)Wenn ein Mutterunternehmen die Anforderungen nach den Absätzen 1 bis 5 des vorliegenden Artikels erfüllt, wird davon ausgegangen, dass es die Anforderungen nach Artikel 19 Absatz 1 Unterabsatz 3 und Artikel 19a erfüllt.

(8)Sofern die in Unterabsatz 2 des vorliegenden Absatzes festgelegten Bedingungen erfüllt sind, wird ein Mutterunternehmen, das auch ein Tochterunternehmen ist, von den in den Absätzen 1 bis 5 des vorliegenden Artikels festgelegten Pflichten befreit (im Folgenden befreites Mutterunternehmen), wenn dieses Mutterunternehmen und seine Tochterunternehmen in den konsolidierten Lagebericht eines anderen Unternehmens einbezogen werden und dieser konsolidierte Lagebericht gemäß Artikel 29 und dem vorliegenden Artikel erstellt wird. Ein Mutterunternehmen, das Tochterunternehmen eines in einem Drittland niedergelassenen Mutterunternehmens ist, wird ebenfalls von den in den Absätzen 1 bis 5 des vorliegenden Artikels festgelegten Pflichten befreit, wenn dieses Mutterunternehmen und seine Tochterunternehmen in die konsolidierte Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung dieses in einem Drittland niedergelassenen Mutterunternehmens einbezogen werden und diese konsolidierte Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung gemäß den nach Artikel 29b erlassenen Standards für die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung oder in einer Weise durchgeführt wird, die diesen Standards für die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung gleichwertig ist, was in einem gemäß Artikel 23 Absatz 4 Unterabsatz 3 der Richtlinie 2004/109/EG erlassenen Durchführungsrechtsakt über die Gleichwertigkeit der Standards für die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung festgestellt wurde.

Die Befreiung nach Unterabsatz 1 ist an folgende Bedingungen geknüpft:

a) Der Lagebericht des befreiten Mutterunternehmens enthält alle folgenden Informationen:
- i) Namen und Sitz des Mutterunternehmens, das über Informationen auf Gruppenebene gemäß dem vorliegenden Artikel oder in einer Weise Bericht erstattet, die den nach Artikel 29b der vorliegenden Richtlinie erlassenen Standards für die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung gleichwertig ist, was in einem gemäß Artikel 23 Absatz 4 Unterabsatz 3 der Richtlinie 2004/109/EG erlassenen Durchführungsrechtsakt über die Gleichwertigkeit der Standards für die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung festgestellt wurde;
- ii) die Weblinks zum konsolidierten Lagebericht des Mutterunternehmens oder gegebenenfalls zu der konsolidierten Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung des Mutterunternehmens nach Unterabsatz 1 des vorliegenden Absatzes und zu dem Bestätigungsurteil nach Artikel 34 Absatz 1 Unterabsatz 2 Buchstabe aa der vorliegenden Richtlinie oder zum Bestätigungsurteil nach Buchstabe b dieses Unterabsatzes;
- iii) einen Hinweis auf die Befreiung des Unternehmens von den in den Absätzen 1 bis 5 dieses Artikels genannten Pflichten.
b) Ist das Mutterunternehmen in einem Drittland niedergelassen, so werden seine konsolidierten Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung und das Bestätigungsurteil, das von einer oder mehreren Personen oder Gesellschaften abgegeben wurde, die nach dem für das Mutterunternehmen geltenden einzelstaatlichen Recht zur Abgabe eines Urteils über die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung befugt sind, gemäß Artikel 30 und im Einklang mit dem Recht des Mitgliedstaats, dem das befreite Mutterunternehmen unterliegt, veröffentlicht.
c) Ist das Mutterunternehmen in einem Drittland niedergelassen, werden die in Artikel 8 der Verordnung (EU) 2020/852 festgelegten Angaben über die Tätigkeiten des in der Union niedergelassenen Tochterunternehmens, das gemäß Artikel 19a Absatz 9 der vorliegenden Richtlinie von der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung ausgenommen ist, in den Lagebericht des befreiten Mutterunternehmens oder in die von dem in einem Drittland niedergelassenen Mutterunternehmen durchgeführte konsolidierte Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung, aufgenommen.
Der Mitgliedstaat, dessen einzelstaatlichem Recht das befreite Mutterunternehmen unterliegt, kann verlangen, dass der konsolidierte Lagebericht des Mutterunternehmens oder gegebenenfalls der konsolidierte Nachhaltigkeitsbericht des Mutterunternehmens in einer von diesem Mitgliedstaat akzeptierten Sprache offengelegt wird und dass alle erforderlichen Übersetzungen in diese Sprache bereitgestellt werden. Jede Übersetzung, die nicht beglaubigt wurde, muss eine entsprechende Erklärung enthalten.Mutterunternehmen, die gemäß Artikel 37 von der Erstellung eines Lageberichts befreit sind, brauchen die in Unterabsatz 2 Buchstabe a Ziffern i bis iii dieses Absatzes genannten Informationen nicht vorzulegen, sofern diese Unternehmen den konsolidierten Lagebericht gemäß Artikel 37 offenlegen.Für die Zwecke von Unterabsatz 1 und in Fällen, in denen Artikel 10 der Verordnung (EU) Nr. 575/2013 Anwendung findet, werden Kreditinstitute nach Artikel 1 Absatz 3 Unterabsatz 1 Buchstabe b dieser Richtlinie, die einer Zentralorganisation ständig zugeordnet sind, welche sie unter den in Artikel 10 der Verordnung (EU) Nr. 575/2013 festgelegten Bedingungen beaufsichtigt, wie Tochterunternehmen dieser Zentralorganisation behandelt.Für die Zwecke von Unterabsatz 1 werden Versicherungsunternehmen nach Artikel 1 Absatz 3 Unterabsatz 1 Buchstabe a der vorliegenden Richtlinie, die auf der Grundlage einer in Artikel 212 Absatz 1 Buchstabe c Ziffer ii der Richtlinie 2009/138/EG genannten finanziellen Beziehungen einer Gruppe angehören und gemäß Artikel 213 Absatz 2 Buchstaben a bis c der genannten Richtlinie der Gruppenaufsicht unterliegen, wie Tochterunternehmen des Mutterunternehmens der Gruppe behandelt.

(9)Die Befreiung nach Absatz 8 gilt auch für Unternehmen von öffentlichem Interesse, die den Anforderungen dieses Artikels unterliegen, mit Ausnahme großer Unternehmen, bei denen es sich um Unternehmen von öffentlichem Interesse im Sinne von Artikel 2 Nummer 1 Buchstabe a dieser Richtlinie handelt.

8. Folgendes Kapitel wird eingefügt:

<ti> <quot.start code="201E" id="QS0024" ref.end="QE0024"></quot.start>KAPITEL 6a </ti> <sti> <ht type="BOLD">STANDARDS FÜR DIE NACHHALTIGKEITSBERICHTERSTATTUNG</ht> </sti>

Artikel 29b
Standards für die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung

(1)
Die Kommission erlässt delegierte Rechtsakte nach Artikel 49 zur Ergänzung dieser Richtlinie, um Standards für die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung festzulegen. In diesen Standards für die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung wird festgelegt, über welche Informationen Unternehmen im Einklang mit den Artikeln 19a und 29a Bericht erstatten müssen, und gegebenenfalls, in welcher Struktur diese Informationen vorzulegen sind.
In den in Unterabsatz 1 des vorliegenden Absatzes genannten delegierten Rechtsakten legt die Kommission bis zum 30. Juni 2023 fest, über welche Informationen Unternehmen im Einklang mit Artikel 19a Absätze 1 und 2 und gegebenenfalls Artikel 29a Absätze 1 und 2 Bericht erstatten müssen, was zumindest die Informationen umfasst, die Finanzmarktteilnehmer, die den Offenlegungspflichten der Verordnung (EU) 2019/2088 unterliegen, benötigen, um diesen Verpflichtungen nachzukommen.

In den in Unterabsatz 1 genannten delegierten Rechtsakten legt die Kommission bis zum 30. Juni 2024 Folgendes fest:

i)
ergänzende Informationen, über die Unternehmen in Bezug auf Nachhaltigkeitsaspekte und die unter Artikel 19a Absatz 2 aufgeführten Bereiche der Berichterstattung erforderlichenfalls Bericht zu erstatten haben;

ii)
Informationen, über die Unternehmen Bericht zu statten haben, die für den Sektor, in dem sie tätig sind, spezifisch sind.

Die Berichterstattungsanforderungen, die in den in Unterabsatz 1 genannten delegierten Rechtsakten festgelegt sind, treten frühestens vier Monate nach ihrem Erlass durch die Kommission in Kraft.
Beim Erlass delegierter Rechtsakte zur Festlegung der nach Unterabsatz 3 Ziffer ii erforderlichen Informationen achtet die Kommission besonders auf das Ausmaß der Risiken und Auswirkungen im Zusammenhang mit Nachhaltigkeitsaspekten für jeden Sektor, wobei sie der Tatsache Rechnung trägt, dass die Risiken und Auswirkungen für einige Sektoren höher sind als für andere.
Die Kommission überprüft mindestens alle drei Jahre nach deren Geltungsbeginn die gemäß diesem Artikel erlassenen delegierten Rechtsakte unter Berücksichtigung der fachlichen Stellungnahme der Europäischen Beratungsgruppe für Rechnungslegung (European Financial Reporting Advisory Group – EFRAG) und ändert diese delegierten Rechtsakte, falls dies nötig ist, um relevanten Entwicklungen, einschließlich Entwicklungen im Zusammenhang mit internationalen Standards, Rechnung zu tragen.
Die Kommission konsultiert mindestens einmal jährlich das Europäische Parlament und konsultiert die in Artikel 24 der Verordnung (EU) 2020/852 genannte Sachverständigengruppe der Mitgliedstaaten für nachhaltiges Finanzwesen und den in Artikel 6 der Verordnung (EG) Nr. 1606/2002 genannten Regelungsausschuss für Rechnungslegung gemeinsam zum Arbeitsprogramm der EFRAG im Hinblick auf die Entwicklung von Standards für die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung.

(2)
Durch die Standards für die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung wird die Qualität der Informationen sichergestellt, über die Bericht erstattet wird, indem darin vorgeschrieben wird, dass die Informationen verständlich, relevant, überprüfbar und vergleichbar sein und in wahrheitsgetreuer Weise dargestellt werden müssen. Die Standards für die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung müssen einen unverhältnismäßigen Verwaltungsaufwand für Unternehmen vermeiden, unter anderem dadurch, dass die Arbeit globaler Standardsetzungsinitiativen für die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung gemäß Absatz 5 Buchstabe a im größtmöglichen Umfang berücksichtigt wird.

In den Standards für die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung werden unter Berücksichtigung des jeweiligen Gegenstands des Standards für die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung

a)
die Informationen präzisiert, die Unternehmen zu folgenden Umweltfaktoren offenlegen müssen:
- i)
  Klimaschutz, auch in Bezug auf Scope-1-, Scope-2- und gegebenenfalls Scope-3-Treibhausgasemissionen;
- ii)
  Anpassung an den Klimawandel;
- iii)
  Wasser- und Meeresressourcen;
- iv)
  Ressourcennutzung und die Kreislaufwirtschaft;
- v)
  Verschmutzung;
- vi)
  Biodiversität und Ökosysteme;

b) die Informationen präzisiert, die Unternehmen zu folgenden Sozial- und Menschenrechtsfaktoren offenlegen müssen:
i) Gleichbehandlung und Chancengleichheit für alle, einschließlich Geschlechtergerechtigkeit und gleichem Lohn bei gleichwertiger Arbeit, Ausbildung und Kompetenzentwicklung, Beschäftigung und Inklusion von Menschen mit Behinderungen, Maßnahmen gegen Gewalt und Belästigung am Arbeitsplatz sowie Vielfalt;
ii) Arbeitsbedingungen, einschließlich sicherer Beschäftigung, Arbeitszeit, angemessene Löhne, sozialer Dialog, Vereinigungsfreiheit, Existenz von Betriebsräten, Tarifverhandlungen, einschließlich des Anteils der Arbeitnehmer, für die Tarifverträge gelten, Informations-, Anhörungs- und Mitbestimmungsrechte der Arbeitnehmer, Vereinbarkeit von Beruf und Privatleben sowie Gesundheit und Sicherheit;
iii) Achtung der Menschenrechte, Grundfreiheiten, demokratischen Grundsätze und Standards, die in der Internationalen Charta der Menschenrechte und anderen grundlegenden Menschenrechtsübereinkommen der Vereinten Nationen, einschließlich des Übereinkommens der Vereinten Nationen über die Rechte von Menschen mit Behinderungen und der Erklärung der Vereinten Nationen über die Rechte der indigenen Völker, sowie in der Erklärung der Internationalen Arbeitsorganisation über grundlegende Prinzipien und Rechte bei der Arbeit und den grundlegenden Übereinkommen der IAO, der Europäischen Konvention zum Schutz der Menschenrechte und Grundfreiheiten, der europäischen Sozialcharta und der Charta der Grundrechte der Europäischen Union festgelegt sind;
c) die Informationen präzisiert, die Unternehmen zu folgenden Governance-Faktoren offenlegen müssen:
i) die Rolle der Verwaltungs-, Leitungs- und Aufsichtsorgane des Unternehmens im Zusammenhang mit Nachhaltigkeitsaspekten und ihre Zusammensetzung sowie ihr Fachwissen und ihre Fähigkeiten zur Wahrnehmung dieser Rolle oder ihr Zugang zu solchem Fachwissen und solchen Fähigkeiten;
ii) die Hauptmerkmale der internen Kontroll- und Risikomanagementsysteme des Unternehmens in Bezug auf den Prozess der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung und der Beschlussfassung;
iii) Unternehmensethik und Unternehmenskultur, einschließlich der Bekämpfung von Korruption und Bestechung, des Schutzes von Hinweisgebern und des Tierwohls;
iv) Tätigkeiten und Verpflichtungen des Unternehmens im Zusammenhang mit der Ausübung seines politischen Einflusses, einschließlich seiner Lobbytätigkeiten;
v) die Pflege und die Qualität der Beziehungen zu Kunden, Lieferanten und Gemeinschaften, die von den Tätigkeiten des Unternehmens betroffen sind, einschließlich Zahlungspraktiken, insbesondere in Bezug auf verspätete Zahlungen an kleine und mittlere Unternehmen.

(3)In den Standards für die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung werden die zukunfts- und vergangenheitsbezogenen, qualitativen und quantitativen Informationen, über die die Unternehmen gegebenenfalls Bericht zu erstatten haben, spezifiziert.

(4)In den Standards für die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung wird berücksichtigt, dass es für Unternehmen nicht immer problemlos möglich ist, Informationen bei Akteuren entlang ihrer gesamten Wertschöpfungskette einzuholen, insbesondere bei Akteuren, die nicht den Anforderungen an die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung gemäß Artikel 19a oder 29a unterliegen, und bei Lieferanten aus Schwellenländern und aufstrebenden Märkten. In den Standards für die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung werden Angaben zu Wertschöpfungsketten vorgegeben, die den Kapazitäten und Merkmalen von Unternehmen in Wertschöpfungsketten sowie dem Umfang und der Komplexität ihrer Tätigkeiten, insbesondere von Unternehmen, die nicht den Anforderungen an die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung nach Artikel 19a oder 29a unterliegen, angemessen sind und entsprechen. In den Standards für die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung werden keine Angaben festgelegt, die Unternehmen verpflichten würden, Informationen von kleinen und mittleren Unternehmen in ihrer Wertschöpfungskette einzuholen, die über die Informationen hinausgehen, die gemäß den Standards für die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung für kleine und mittlere Unternehmen gemäß Artikel 29c anzugeben sind.Unterabsatz 1 gilt unbeschadet der Anforderungen der Union an Unternehmen, einen Due-Diligence-Prozess durchzuführen.

(5)

Beim Erlass delegierter Rechtsakte gemäß Absatz 1 berücksichtigt die Kommission im größtmöglichen Umfang

a) die Arbeit globaler Standardsetzungsinitiativen für die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung und bestehende Standards und Rahmen für die Naturkapitalbilanzierung und die Bilanzierung von Treibhausgasen, verantwortungsvolles unternehmerisches Handeln, soziale Verantwortung der Unternehmen und nachhaltige Entwicklung;
b) die Informationen, die Finanzmarktteilnehmer benötigen, um ihren Offenlegungspflichten gemäß der Verordnung (EU) 2019/2088 und gemäß den nach der genannten Verordnung erlassenen delegierten Rechtsakten nachzukommen;
c) die Kriterien, Indikatoren und Methoden, die in den gemäß der Verordnung (EU) 2020/852 erlassenen delegierten Rechtsakten festgelegt sind, einschließlich der gemäß Artikel 10 Absatz 3, Artikel 11 Absatz 3, Artikel 12 Absatz 2, Artikel 13 Absatz 2, Artikel 14 Absatz 2 und Artikel 15 Absatz 2 der genannten Verordnung festgelegten technischen Bewertungskriterien und der Berichterstattungsanforderungen, die in dem gemäß Artikel 8 der genannten Verordnung erlassenen delegierten Rechtsakt festgelegt sind;
d) die Offenlegungspflichten für Referenzwert-Administratoren in der Referenzwert-Erklärung und in der Referenzwert-Methodik sowie die Mindestanforderungen für die Konzipierung von EU-Referenzwerten für den klimabedingten Wandel und Paris-abgestimmten EU-Referenzwerten gemäß den Delegierten Verordnungen (EU) 2020/1816
Delegierte Verordnung (EU) 2020/1816 der Kommission vom 17. Juli 2020 zur Ergänzung der Verordnung (EU) 2016/1011 des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates hinsichtlich der Erläuterung in der Referenzwert-Erklärung, wie Umwelt-, Sozial- und Governance-Faktoren in den einzelnen Referenzwerten, die zur Verfügung gestellt und veröffentlicht werden, berücksichtigt werden (ABl. L 406 vom 3.12.2020, S. 1).
, (EU) 2020/1817
Delegierte Verordnung (EU) 2020/1817 der Kommission vom 17. Juli 2020 zur Ergänzung der Verordnung (EU) 2016/1011 des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates hinsichtlich des Mindestinhalts der Erläuterung, wie Umwelt-, Sozial- und Governance-Faktoren in der Referenzwert-Methodik berücksichtigt werden (ABl. L 406 vom 3.12.2020, S. 12).
und (EU) 2020/1818
Delegierte Verordnung (EU) 2020/1818 der Kommission vom 17. Juli 2020 zur Ergänzung der Verordnung (EU) 2016/1011 des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates im Hinblick auf Mindeststandards für EU-Referenzwerte für den klimabedingten Wandel und für Paris-abgestimmte EU-Referenzwerte (ABl. L 406 vom 3.12.2020, S. 17).
der Kommission;
e) die Offenlegungen, die in den gemäß Artikel 434a der Verordnung (EU) Nr. 575/2013 erlassenen Durchführungsrechtsakten festgelegt sind;
f) die Empfehlung 2013/179/EU der Kommission
Empfehlung 2013/179/EU der Kommission vom 9. April 2013 für die Anwendung gemeinsamer Methoden zur Messung und Offenlegung der Umweltleistung von Produkten und Organisationen (ABl. L 124 vom 4.5.2013, S. 1).
;
g) die Richtlinie 2003/87/EG des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates
Richtlinie 2003/87/EG des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates vom 13. Oktober 2003 über ein System für den Handel mit Treibhausgasemissionszertifikaten in der Gemeinschaft und zur Änderung der Richtlinie 96/61/EG des Rates (ABl. L 275 vom 25.10.2003, S. 32).
;
h) die Verordnung (EU) 2021/1119;
i) die Verordnung (EG) Nr. 1221/2009 des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates
Verordnung (EG) Nr. 1221/2009 des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates vom 25. November 2009 über die freiwillige Teilnahme von Organisationen an einem Gemeinschaftssystem für Umweltmanagement und Umweltbetriebsprüfung und zur Aufhebung der Verordnung (EG) Nr. 761/2001 sowie der Beschlüsse der Kommission 2001/681/EG und 2006/193/EG (ABl. L 342 vom 22.12.2009, S. 1).
;
j) die Richtlinie (EU) 2019/1937 des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates
Richtlinie (EU) 2019/1937 des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates vom 23. Oktober 2019 zum Schutz von Personen, die Verstöße gegen das Unionsrecht melden (ABl. L 305 vom 26.11.2019, S. 17).
.

Artikel 29cStandards für die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung für kleine und mittlere Unternehmen

(1)Die Kommission erlässt bis zum 30. Juni 2024 delegierte Rechtsakte nach Artikel 49 zur Ergänzung dieser Richtlinie, um Standards für die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung festzulegen, die den Kapazitäten und Merkmalen kleiner und mittlerer Unternehmen und dem Umfang und der Komplexität ihrer Tätigkeiten angemessen sind und entsprechen. In diesen Standards für die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung ist für kleine und mittlere Unternehmen nach Artikel 2 Nummer 1 Buchstabe a spezifiziert, über welche Informationen gemäß Artikel 19a Absatz 6 Bericht zu erstatten ist.Die Berichterstattungsanforderungen, die in den in Unterabsatz 1 genannten delegierten Rechtsakten festgelegt sind, treten frühestens vier Monate nach ihrem Erlass durch die Kommission in Kraft.

(2)Bei den Standards für die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung für kleine und mittlere Unternehmen werden die in Artikel 29b Absätze 2 bis 5 festgelegten Kriterien berücksichtigt. Darüber hinaus wird soweit möglich die Struktur spezifiziert, in der diese Informationen vorzulegen sind.

(3)Die Kommission überprüft mindestens alle drei Jahre nach deren Geltungsbeginn die gemäß diesem Artikel erlassenen delegierten Rechtsakte unter Berücksichtigung der fachlichen Stellungnahme der EFRAG und ändert diese delegierten Rechtsakte, falls dies nötig ist, um relevanten Entwicklungen, einschließlich Entwicklungen im Zusammenhang mit internationalen Standards, Rechnung zu tragen.

9. Folgendes Kapitel wird eingefügt:

<ti> <quot.start code="201E" id="QS0025" ref.end="QE0025"></quot.start>KAPITEL 6b </ti> <sti> <ht type="BOLD">EINHEITLICHES ELEKTRONISCHES BERICHTSFORMAT</ht> </sti>

Artikel 29d
Einheitliches elektronisches Berichtsformat

(1)
Unternehmen, die den Anforderungen von Artikel 19a dieser Richtlinie unterliegen, stellen ihren Lagebericht im in Artikel 3 der Delegierten Verordnung (EU) 2019/815 der Kommission

Delegierte Verordnung (EU) 2019/815 der Kommission vom 17. Dezember 2018 zur Ergänzung der Richtlinie 2004/109/EG des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates im Hinblick auf technische Regulierungsstandards für die Spezifikation eines einheitlichen elektronischen Berichtsformats (ABl. L 143 vom 29.5.2019, S. 1).

dargelegten einheitlichen elektronischen Berichtsformat auf und zeichnen ihre Nachhaltigkeitsberichtserstattung, einschließlich der Angaben nach Artikel 8 der Verordnung (EU) 2020/852, gemäß dem in jener Delegierten Verordnung dargelegten elektronischen Berichtsformat aus.

(2)
Mutterunternehmen, die den Anforderungen von Artikel 29a unterliegen, stellen ihren konsolidierten Lagebericht im in Artikel 3 der Delegierten Verordnung (EU) 2019/815 dargelegten elektronischen Berichtsformat aus und zeichnen die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung, einschließlich der Angaben nach Artikel 8 der Verordnung (EU) 2020/852, gemäß dem in jener Delegierten Verordnung dargelegten elektronischen Berichtsformat aus.

10. Artikel 30 Absatz 1 erhält folgende Fassung:

(1)
Die Mitgliedstaaten sorgen dafür, dass Unternehmen innerhalb einer angemessenen Frist, die zwölf Monate nach dem Bilanzstichtag nicht überschreiten darf, den ordnungsgemäß gebilligten Jahresabschluss und den Lagebericht gegebenenfalls in dem in Artikel 29d dieser Richtlinie genannten elektronischen Berichtsformat zusammen mit den Urteilen und der Erklärung des Abschlussprüfers oder der Prüfungsgesellschaft gemäß Artikel 34 dieser Richtlinie nach den Rechtsvorschriften der einzelnen Mitgliedstaaten im Einklang mit Titel 1 Kapitel III der Richtlinie (EU) 2017/1132 des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates

Richtlinie (EU) 2017/1132 des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates vom 14. Juni 2017 über bestimmte Aspekte des Gesellschaftsrechts (ABl. L 169 vom 30.6.2017, S. 46).

offenlegen.
Die Mitgliedstaaten können von Unternehmen, die den Artikeln 19a und 29a unterliegen, verlangen, dass sie den Lagebericht der Öffentlichkeit auf ihrer Website kostenlos zur Verfügung stellen. Wenn ein Unternehmen keine Website betreibt, können die Mitgliedstaaten von ihm verlangen, dass es auf Anfrage eine schriftliche Kopie seines Lageberichts zur Verfügung stellt.
Wird das Urteil im Sinne von Artikel 34 Absatz 1 Unterabsatz 2 Buchstabe aa von einem unabhängigen Erbringer von Bestätigungsleistungen abgegeben, ist dieses Urteil zusammen mit den in Unterabsatz 1 genannten Dokumenten offenzulegen.
Die Mitgliedstaaten können jedoch Unternehmen von der Pflicht zur Offenlegung eines Lageberichts befreien, wenn es möglich ist, eine vollständige oder teilweise Ausfertigung dieses Berichts einfach auf Antrag zu einem Entgelt zu erhalten, das die Verwaltungskosten nicht übersteigt.
Die Befreiung nach Unterabsatz 4 findet keine Anwendung auf Unternehmen, die den Anforderungen an die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung nach den Artikeln 19a und 29a unterliegen.

11. Artikel 33 Absatz 1 erhält folgende Fassung:

(1)

Die Mitgliedstaaten sorgen dafür, dass die Mitglieder der Verwaltungs-, Leitungs- und Aufsichtsorgane eines Unternehmens im Rahmen der ihnen durch einzelstaatliche Rechtsvorschriften übertragenen Zuständigkeiten die gemeinsame Aufgabe haben, sicherzustellen, dass die folgenden Dokumente im Einklang mit den Anforderungen dieser Richtlinie und gegebenenfalls mit den gemäß der Verordnung (EG) Nr. 1606/2002 angenommenen internationalen Rechnungslegungsstandards, mit der Delegierten Verordnung (EU) 2019/815, mit den Standards für die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung nach Artikel 29b oder Artikel 29c dieser Richtlinie und mit den Anforderungen des Artikels 29d dieser Richtlinie aufgestellt und offengelegt werden:

a)
der Jahresabschluss, der Lagebericht und die Erklärung zur Unternehmensführung, wenn sie gesondert abgegeben wird; und

b)
der konsolidierte Abschluss, der konsolidierte Lagebericht und die konsolidierte Erklärung zur Unternehmensführung, wenn sie gesondert abgegeben wird.

12. Die Überschrift von Kapitel 8 erhält folgende Fassung:

Abschlussprüfung und Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung.

13. Artikel 34 wird wie folgt geändert:
a) Absatz 1 Unterabsatz 2 wird wie folgt geändert:
- i) Buchstabe a Ziffer ii erhält folgende Fassung:

ii)
ob der Lagebericht nach den geltenden rechtlichen Anforderungen, ausgenommen der Anforderungen an die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung nach Artikel 19a dieser Richtlinie, aufgestellt wurde;

ii) Folgender Buchstabe wird eingefügt:

aa)
gegebenenfalls ein Urteil auf der Grundlage eines Auftrags zur Erlangung begrenzter Prüfungssicherheit darüber abzugeben, ob die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung mit den Anforderungen dieser Richtlinie übereinstimmt, einschließlich der Frage, ob die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung mit den nach Artikel 29b oder Artikel 29c angenommenen Standards für die Berichterstattung übereinstimmt, und über das vom Unternehmen durchgeführte Verfahren zur Ermittlung von Informationen, über die nach diesen Standards für die Berichterstattung Bericht zu erstatten ist, ob die Anforderung zur Auszeichnung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung im Einklang mit Artikel 29d eingehalten wird und ob die Anforderungen an die Berichterstattung nach Artikel 8 der Verordnung (EU) 2020/852 eingehalten werden;

b) Absatz 3 erhält folgende Fassung:

(3)
Die Mitgliedstaaten können gestatten, dass ein anderer Abschlussprüfer oder eine andere Prüfungsgesellschaft als der- oder diejenige(n), die die Abschlussprüfung durchführen, das Urteil nach Absatz 1 Unterabsatz 2 Buchstabe aa abgibt.

c) Folgende Absätze werden angefügt:

(4)

Die Mitgliedstaaten können einem in ihrem Hoheitsgebiet niedergelassenen unabhängigen Erbringer von Bestätigungsleistungen gestatten, das Urteil nach Absatz 1 Unterabsatz 2 Buchstabe aa abzugeben, sofern dieser unabhängige Erbringer von Bestätigungsleistungen Anforderungen unterliegt, die den in der Richtlinie 2006/43/EG des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates

Richtlinie 2006/43/EG des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates vom 17. Mai 2006 über Abschlussprüfungen von Jahresabschlüssen und konsolidierten Abschlüssen, zur Änderung der Richtlinien 78/660/EWG und 83/349/EWG des Rates und zur Aufhebung der Richtlinie 84/253/EWG des Rates (ABl. L 157 vom 9.6.2006, S. 87).

festgelegten Anforderungen hinsichtlich der Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung im Sinne von Artikel 2 Nummer 22 der genannten Richtlinie gleichwertig sind, insbesondere die Anforderungen an Folgendes:

a)
Ausbildung und Eignungsprüfung, um sicherzustellen, dass unabhängige Erbringer von Bestätigungsleistungen das erforderliche Fachwissen auf dem Gebiet der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung und deren Bestätigung erwerben;

b)
kontinuierliche Fortbildung;

c)
Qualitätssicherungssysteme;

d)
Berufsgrundsätze, Unabhängigkeit, Unparteilichkeit, Verschwiegenheit und Berufsgeheimnis;

e)
Bestellung und Abberufung;

f)
Untersuchungen und Sanktionen;

g)
die Organisation der Arbeit des unabhängigen Erbringers von Bestätigungsleistungen, insbesondere im Hinblick auf notwendige Mittel und Personal sowie die Führung von Mandantendateien und Akten, und

h)
die Meldung von Unregelmäßigkeiten.

Die Mitgliedstaaten stellen sicher, dass das Urteil in Fällen, in denen es nach Absatz 1 Unterabsatz 2 Buchstabe aa von einem unabhängigen Erbringer von Bestätigungsleistungen abgegeben wird, gemäß den Artikeln 26a, 27a und 28a der Richtlinie 2006/43/EG erstellt wird und dass der Prüfungsausschuss oder ein gesonderter Ausschuss gegebenenfalls die Unabhängigkeit des unabhängigen Erbringers von Bestätigungsleistungen gemäß Artikel 39 Absatz 6 Buchstabe e der Richtlinie 2006/43/EG überprüft und überwacht.
Die Mitgliedstaaten stellen sicher, dass unabhängige Erbringer von Bestätigungsleistungen, die vor dem 1. Januar 2024 gemäß der Verordnung (EG) Nr. 765/2008 für die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung akkreditiert wurden, nicht den Ausbildungs- und Prüfungsanforderungen nach Unterabsatz 1 Buchstabe a des vorliegenden Absatzes unterliegen.
Die Mitgliedstaaten stellen sicher, dass unabhängige Erbringer von Bestätigungsleistungen, die am 1. Januar 2024 gemäß den einschlägigen einzelstaatlichen Anforderungen das Akkreditierungsverfahren durchlaufen, im Hinblick auf die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung nicht den Ausbildungs- und Prüfungsanforderungen nach Unterabsatz 1 Buchstabe a unterliegen, sofern sie dieses Verfahren bis zum 1. Januar 2026 abschließen.
Die Mitgliedstaaten stellen sicher, dass die in den Unterabsätzen 3 und 4 genannten unabhängigen Erbringer von Bestätigungsleistungen im Rahmen der Weiterbildungsanforderung nach Unterabsatz 1 Buchstabe b die erforderlichen Kenntnisse auf dem Gebiet der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung und deren Bestätigung erwerben.
Beschließt ein Mitgliedstaat gemäß Unterabsatz 1, einem unabhängigen Erbringer von Bestätigungsleistungen die Abgabe des Urteils nach Absatz 1 Unterabsatz 2 Buchstabe aa zu gestatten, so gestattet er dies auch einem anderen Abschlussprüfer als demjenigen, der die Abschlussprüfung durchführt, wie in Absatz 3 vorgesehen.

(5)
Ab dem 6. Januar 2027 gestattet ein Mitgliedstaat, der von der Möglichkeit nach Absatz 4 Gebrauch gemacht hat (im Folgenden Aufnahmemitgliedstaat), es unabhängigen Erbringern von Bestätigungsleistungen, die in einem anderen Mitgliedstaat (im Folgenden Herkunftsmitgliedstaat) niedergelassen sind, die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung vorzunehmen.
Der Herkunftsmitgliedstaat ist für die Beaufsichtigung der in seinem Hoheitsgebiet niedergelassenen unabhängigen Erbringer von Bestätigungsleistungen zuständig, es sei denn, der Aufnahmemitgliedstaat entscheidet, die von unabhängigen Erbringern von Bestätigungsleistungen in seinem Hoheitsgebiet durchgeführten Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung zu beaufsichtigen.

Beschließt der Aufnahmemitgliedstaat, die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung, die in seinem Hoheitsgebiet von unabhängigen Erbringern von Bestätigungsleistungen durchgeführt wird, die in einem anderen Mitgliedstaat registriert sind, zu beaufsichtigen, so gilt für den Aufnahmemitgliedstaat Folgendes:

a)
Er darf für derartige unabhängige Erbringer von Bestätigungsleistungen keine strengeren Anforderungen oder keine umfassendere Haftung vorsehen als sie nach einzelstaatlichem Recht für die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung von den unabhängigen Erbringern von Bestätigungsleistungen oder Abschlussprüfern verlangt werden, die in diesem Aufnahmemitgliedstaat niedergelassen sind; und

b)
er muss die anderen Mitgliedstaaten von seinem Beschluss in Kenntnis setzen, die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung, die von unabhängigen Erbringern von Bestätigungsleistungen durchgeführt wird, die in anderen Mitgliedstaaten niedergelassen sind, zu beaufsichtigen.

(6)
Die Mitgliedstaaten stellen sicher, dass in Fällen, in denen ein Unternehmen nach dem Unionsrecht verpflichtet ist, Teile seiner Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung durch eine akkreditierte unabhängige dritte Partei überprüfen zu lassen, der Bericht der akkreditierten unabhängigen dritten Partei entweder als Anlage zum Lagebericht oder auf andere öffentlich zugängliche Weise bereitgestellt wird.

14. Folgendes Kapitel wird eingefügt:

<ti> <quot.start code="201E" id="QS0035" ref.end="QE0035"></quot.start>KAPITEL 9a </ti> <sti> <ht type="BOLD">BERICHTERSTATTUNG BETREFFEND DRITTLANDUNTERNEHMEN</ht> </sti>

Artikel 40a
Nachhaltigkeitsberichte betreffend Drittlandunternehmen

(1)
Ein Mitgliedstaat schreibt vor, dass ein in seinem Hoheitsgebiet niedergelassenes Tochterunternehmen, dessen oberstes Mutterunternehmen dem Recht eines Drittlandes unterliegt, einen Nachhaltigkeitsbericht offengelegt und zugänglich macht, der die in Artikel 29a Absatz 2 Buchstabe a Ziffern iii bis v, Buchstaben b bis f und gegebenenfalls Buchstabe h aufgeführten Informationen auf Gruppenebene dieses obersten Drittland-Mutterunternehmens enthält.
Unterabsatz 1 gilt nur für große Tochterunternehmen sowie für kleine und mittlere Tochterunternehmen – mit Ausnahme von Kleinstunternehmen –, die Unternehmen von öffentlichem Interesse im Sinne von Artikel 2 Nummer 1 Buchstabe a sind.
Ein Mitgliedstaat schreibt vor, dass eine in seinem Hoheitsgebiet ansässige Zweigniederlassung, die eine Zweigniederlassung eines dem Recht eines Drittlands unterliegenden Unternehmens ist, das entweder nicht Teil einer Gruppe ist oder auf oberster Ebene von einem Unternehmen gehalten wird, das nach dem Recht eines Drittlands geschaffen wurde, einen Nachhaltigkeitsbericht offenlegt und zugänglich macht, der die in Artikel 29a Absatz 2 Buchstabe a Ziffern iii bis v, Buchstaben b bis f und gegebenenfalls Buchstabe h aufgeführten Informationen auf Gruppenebene oder, falls dies nicht zutrifft, auf Einzelebene des Drittlandunternehmens enthält.
Die in Unterabsatz 3 genannte Vorschrift gilt für eine Zweigniederlassung nur, wenn das Drittlandunternehmen kein Tochterunternehmen im Sinne von Unterabsatz 1 hat und die Zweigniederlassung im vorangegangenen Geschäftsjahr Nettoumsatzerlöse von mehr als 40 Mio. EUR erzielt hat.
Die Unterabsätze 1 und 3 gelten nur für die in diesen Unterabsätzen genannten Tochterunternehmen oder Zweigniederlassungen, wenn das Drittlandunternehmen auf Gruppenebene oder, falls dies nicht zutrifft, auf Einzelebene in den beiden letzten aufeinander folgenden Geschäftsjahren in der Union Nettoumsatzerlöse von jeweils mehr als 150 Mio. EUR erzielt hat.
Die Mitgliedstaaten können von den in den Unterabsätzen 1 und 3 genannten Tochterunternehmen oder Zweigniederlassungen verlangen, dass sie ihnen Angaben über die von den Drittlandunternehmen in ihrem Gebiet und in der Union erzielten Nettoumsatzerlöse übermitteln.

(2)
Die Mitgliedstaaten schreiben vor, dass der von dem Tochterunternehmen oder der Zweigniederlassung gemäß Absatz 1 übermittelte Nachhaltigkeitsbericht im Einklang mit den gemäß Artikel 40b angenommenen Standards erstellt wird.
Abweichend von Unterabsatz 1 des vorliegenden Absatzes kann der in Absatz 1 des vorliegenden Artikels genannte Nachhaltigkeitsbericht gemäß den nach Artikel 29b erlassenen Standards für die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung oder in einer Weise erstellt werden, die diesen Standards für die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung gleichwertig ist, was in einem gemäß Artikel 23 Absatz 4 Unterabsatz 3 der Richtlinie 2004/109/EG erlassenen Durchführungsrechtsakt über die Gleichwertigkeit der Standards für die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung festgestellt wurde.
Wenn die in Unterabsatz 1 genannten Informationen, die für die Erstellung eines Nachhaltigkeitsberichts erforderlich sind, nicht vorliegen, fordert das in Absatz 1 genannte Tochterunternehmen oder die in Absatz 1 des vorliegenden Absatzes genannte Zweigniederlassung das Drittlandunternehmen auf, ihnen alle erforderlichen Informationen zu übermitteln, damit sie in der Lage sind, ihren Verpflichtungen nachzukommen.
Falls nicht alle erforderlichen Informationen zur Verfügung gestellt werden, erstellt das in Absatz 1 genannte Tochterunternehmen oder die in Absatz 1 genannte Zweigniederlassung den in Absatz 1 genannten Nachhaltigkeitsbericht und legt diesen offen, der alle in seinem bzw. ihrem Besitz befindlichen, erlangten oder erworbenen Informationen enthält, und gibt eine Erklärung ab, aus der hervorgeht, dass das Drittlandunternehmen die erforderlichen Informationen nicht bereitgestellt hat.

(3)
Die Mitgliedstaaten schreiben vor, dass der in Absatz 1 genannte Nachhaltigkeitsbericht zusammen mit einem Bestätigungsurteil offengelegt wird, das von einer oder mehreren Personen oder Gesellschaften abgegeben wurde, die nach dem einzelstaatlichen Recht, das für das Drittlandunternehmen oder für einen Mitgliedstaat gilt, zur Abgabe eines Urteils über die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung befugt ist bzw. sind.
Falls das Drittlandunternehmen das Bestätigungsurteil gemäß Unterabsatz 1 nicht zur Verfügung stellt, gibt das Tochterunternehmen oder die Zweigniederlassung eine Erklärung ab, aus der hervorgeht, dass das Drittlandunternehmen das erforderliche Bestätigungsurteil nicht bereitgestellt hat.

(4)
Die Mitgliedstaaten können die Kommission jährlich über die Tochterunternehmen oder Zweigniederlassungen von Drittlandunternehmen, die die Offenlegungspflicht nach Artikel 40d erfüllt haben, sowie über die Fälle unterrichten, in denen ein Bericht offengelegt wurde, das Tochterunternehmen oder die Zweigniederlassung jedoch gemäß Absatz 2 Unterabsatz 4 des vorliegenden Artikels gehandelt hat. Die Kommission macht auf ihrer Website eine Liste der Drittlandunternehmen, die einen Nachhaltigkeitsbericht offenlegen, öffentlich zugänglich.

Artikel 40b
Standards für die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung für Drittlandunternehmen
Die Kommission erlässt bis spätestens 30. Juni 2024 einen delegierten Rechtsakt gemäß Artikel 49 zur Ergänzung dieser Richtlinie, um Standards für die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung für Drittlandsunternehmen festzulegen, durch die präzisiert wird, welche Angaben die in Artikel 40a genannten Nachhaltigkeitsberichte enthalten müssen.

Artikel 40c
Verantwortlichkeit für die Erstellung, Offenlegung und Zugänglichmachung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichte betreffend Drittlandunternehmen
Die Mitgliedstaaten sehen vor, dass die Zweigniederlassungen von Drittlandunternehmen die Verantwortung dafür tragen, nach bestem Wissen und Vermögen sicherzustellen, dass ihr Nachhaltigkeitsbericht gemäß Artikel 40a erstellt wird und dass dieser Bericht gemäß Artikel 40d offengelegt und zugänglich gemacht wird.
Die Mitgliedstaaten sehen vor, dass die Mitglieder der Verwaltungs-, Leitungs- und Aufsichtsorgane der Tochterunternehmen nach Artikel 40a die gemeinsame Verantwortung dafür tragen, nach bestem Wissen und Vermögen sicherzustellen, dass ihr Nachhaltigkeitsbericht gemäß Artikel 40a erstellt wird und dass dieser Bericht gemäß Artikel 40d offengelegt und zugänglich gemacht wird.

Artikel 40d
Offenlegung

(1)
Die in Artikel 40a Absatz 1 der vorliegenden Richtlinie genannten Tochterunternehmen und Zweigniederlassungen legen ihren Nachhaltigkeitsbericht zusammen mit dem Bestätigungsurteil und gegebenenfalls der in Artikel 40a Absatz 2 Unterabsatz 4 dieser Richtlinie genannten Erklärung innerhalb von zwölf Monaten nach dem Bilanzstichtag des Geschäftsjahres, für das der Bericht erstellt wird, gemäß den mit den Artikeln 14 bis 28 der Richtlinie (EU) 2017/1132 und gegebenenfalls mit Artikel 36 der genannten Richtlinie in Einklang stehenden Rechtsvorschriften eines jeden Mitgliedstaats offen.

(2)
Wenn der Nachhaltigkeitsbericht zusammen mit dem Bestätigungsurteil und gegebenenfalls der Erklärung, die gemäß Absatz 1 des vorliegenden Artikels offengelegt wird, der Öffentlichkeit nicht kostenlos auf der Website des in Artikel 16 der Richtlinie (EU) 2017/1132 genannten Registers zugänglich gemacht werden, stellen die Mitgliedstaaten sicher, dass der Nachhaltigkeitsbericht zusammen mit dem Bestätigungsurteil und gegebenenfalls mit der Erklärung, die von den Unternehmen gemäß Absatz 1 des vorliegenden Artikels offengelegt wird, der Öffentlichkeit in mindestens einer der Amtssprachen der Union spätestens zwölf Monate nach dem Bilanzstichtag des Geschäftsjahres, für das der Bericht erstellt wird, auf der Website des Tochterunternehmens oder der Zweigniederlassung gemäß Artikel 40a Absatz 1 dieser Richtlinie kostenlos zugänglich gemacht wird.

15. Die Überschrift von Kapitel 11 erhält folgende Fassung:

<ti> <quot.start code="201E" id="QS0036" ref.end="QE0036"></quot.start>KAPITEL 11 </ti> <sti> <ht type="BOLD">ÜBERGANGS- UND SCHLUSSBESTIMMUNGEN</ht> <quot.end code="201C" id="QE0036" ref.start="QS0036"></quot.end> </sti>

16. Folgender Artikel wird eingefügt:

Artikel 48i
Übergangsbestimmungen

(1)
Bis zum 6. Januar 2030 gestatten die Mitgliedstaaten es einem Unions-Tochterunternehmen, das Artikel 19a oder 29a unterliegt und dessen Mutterunternehmen nicht den Rechtsvorschriften eines Mitgliedstaats unterliegt, eine konsolidierte Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung gemäß den Anforderungen des Artikels 29a zu erstellen, der alle Unions-Tochterunternehmen dieses Mutterunternehmens einschließt, die Artikel 19a oder 29a unterliegen.
Bis zum 6. Januar 2030 gestatten die Mitgliedstaaten, dass die in Unterabsatz 1 des vorliegenden Absatzes genannte konsolidierte Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung die in Artikel 8 der Verordnung (EU) 2020/852 festgelegten Offenlegungen enthält, die sich auf die Tätigkeiten aller Unions-Tochterunternehmen des in Unterabsatz 1 des vorliegenden Absatzes genannten Mutterunternehmens beziehen, die Artikel 19a oder 29a dieser Richtlinie unterliegen.

(2)
Bei dem in Absatz 1 genannten Unions-Tochterunternehmen muss es sich um eines der Unions-Tochterunternehmen der Gruppe handeln, die – gegebenenfalls auf konsolidierter Basis – in mindestens einem der fünf vorangegangenen Geschäftsjahre in der Union die größten Umsatzerlöse erzielt hat.

(3)
Die in Absatz 1 des vorliegenden Artikels genannte konsolidierte Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung wird im Einklang mit Artikel 30 offengelegt.

(4)
Für die Zwecke der in Artikel 19a Absatz 9 und Artikel 29a Absatz 8 vorgesehenen Befreiung gilt die Berichterstattung gemäß Absatz 1 des vorliegenden Artikels als Berichterstattung eines Mutterunternehmens auf Gruppenebene in Bezug auf die in die Konsolidierung einbezogenen Unternehmen. Die Berichterstattung gemäß Absatz 1 Unterabsatz 2 des vorliegenden Artikels gilt als Erfüllung der Bedingungen in Artikel 19a Absatz 9 Unterabsatz 2 Buchstabe c bzw. in Artikel 29a Absatz 8 Unterabsatz 2 Buchstabe c.

17. Artikel 49 wird wie folgt geändert:
a) Die Absätze 2 und 3 erhalten folgende Fassung:

(2)
Die Befugnis zum Erlass delegierter Rechtsakte gemäß Artikel 1 Absatz 2, Artikel 3 Absatz 13, Artikel 29b, Artikel 29c, Artikel 40b und Artikel 46 Absatz 2 wird der Kommission für einen Zeitraum von fünf Jahren ab dem 5. Januar 2023 übertragen. Die Kommission erstellt spätestens neun Monate vor Ablauf des Zeitraums von fünf Jahren einen Bericht über die Befugnisübertragung. Die Befugnisübertragung verlängert sich stillschweigend um Zeiträume gleicher Länge, es sei denn, das Europäische Parlament oder der Rat widersprechen einer solchen Verlängerung spätestens drei Monate vor Ablauf des jeweiligen Zeitraums.

(3)
Die Befugnisübertragung gemäß Artikel 1 Absatz 2, Artikel 3 Absatz 13, Artikel 29b, Artikel 29c, Artikel 40b und Artikel 46 Absatz 2 kann vom Europäischen Parlament oder vom Rat jederzeit widerrufen werden. Der Beschluss über den Widerruf beendet die Übertragung der in diesem Beschluss angegebenen Befugnis. Er wird am Tag nach seiner Veröffentlichung im Amtsblatt der Europäischen Union oder zu einem im Beschluss über den Widerruf angegebenen späteren Zeitpunkt wirksam. Die Gültigkeit von delegierten Rechtsakten, die bereits in Kraft sind, wird von dem Beschluss über den Widerruf nicht berührt.

b) Folgender Absatz wird eingefügt:

(3b)

Beim Erlass delegierter Rechtsakte nach den Artikeln 29b und 29c berücksichtigt die Kommission die fachliche Stellungnahme der EFRAG, sofern

a)
eine solche Stellungnahme in einem einwandfreien Verfahren mit angemessener öffentlicher Aufsicht und Transparenz erstellt und dabei auf das Fachwissen einschlägiger Interessenträger zurückgegriffen wurde und sie mit ausreichenden öffentlichen Mitteln, so dass ihre Unabhängigkeit gewährleistet ist, und auf der Grundlage eines Arbeitsprogramms, zu dem die Kommission konsultiert wurde, erstellt wurde;

b)
einer solchen Stellungnahme Kosten-Nutzen-Analysen beigefügt sind, einschließlich Analysen der Auswirkungen der fachlichen Stellungnahme auf Nachhaltigkeitsaspekte;

c)
einer solchen Stellungnahme eine Erläuterung beigefügt ist, wie die in Artikel 29b Absatz 5 aufgeführten Elemente berücksichtigt werden;

d)
die Mitwirkung an der Arbeit der EFRAG auf technischer Ebene auf Fachwissen im Bereich der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung beruht und nicht von einem finanziellen Beitrag abhängig ist.

Die Buchstaben a und d gelten unbeschadet der Beteiligung von öffentlichen Stellen und einzelstaatlichen Standardsetzungseinrichtungen an den technischen Arbeiten der EFRAG.
Die der fachlichen Stellungnahme der EFRAG beigefügten Dokumente sind zusammen mit dieser fachlichen Stellungnahme vorzulegen.
Die Kommission konsultiert die in Artikel 24 der Verordnung (EU) 2020/852 genannte Sachverständigengruppe der Mitgliedstaaten für nachhaltiges Finanzwesen und den in Artikel 6 der Verordnung (EG) Nr. 1606/2002 genannten Regelungsausschuss für Rechnungslegung gemeinsam zu den Entwürfen delegierter Rechtsakte vor ihrer Annahme gemäß den Artikeln 29b und 29c dieser Richtlinie.
Die Kommission holt die Stellungnahme der Europäischen Wertpapier- und Marktaufsichtsbehörde (ESMA), der Europäischen Bankenaufsichtsbehörde (EBA) und der Europäischen Aufsichtsbehörde für das Versicherungswesen und die betriebliche Altersversorgung (EIOPA) zur fachlichen Stellungnahme der EFRAG ein, insbesondere im Hinblick auf deren Kohärenz mit der Verordnung (EU) 2019/2088 und den delegierten Rechtsakten, die gemäß jener Verordnung angenommen wurden. ESMA, EBA und EIOPA übermitteln ihre Stellungnahmen binnen zwei Monaten nach Eingang des Ersuchens der Kommission.
Darüber hinaus konsultiert die Kommission die Europäische Umweltagentur, die Agentur der Europäischen Union für Grundrechte, die Europäische Zentralbank, den Ausschuss der Europäischen Aufsichtsstellen für Abschlussprüfer und die nach Artikel 20 der Verordnung (EU) 2020/852 eingerichtete Plattform für ein nachhaltiges Finanzwesen zu der von der EFRAG bereitgestellten fachlichen Stellungnahme vor Annahme der in den Artikeln 29b und 29c dieser Richtlinie genannten delegierten Rechtsakte. Beschließt eine dieser Stellen, eine Stellungnahme zu übermitteln, so legt sie diese binnen zwei Monaten nach ihrer Konsultation durch die Kommission vor.

c) Absatz 5 erhält folgende Fassung:

(5)
Ein delegierter Rechtsakt, der gemäß Artikel 1 Absatz 2, Artikel 3 Absatz 13, Artikel 29b, Artikel 29c oder Artikel 40b, oder Artikel 46 Absatz 2 erlassen wurde, tritt nur in Kraft, wenn weder das Europäische Parlament noch der Rat innerhalb einer Frist von zwei Monaten nach Übermittlung dieses Rechtsakts an das Europäische Parlament und den Rat Einwände erhoben haben oder wenn vor Ablauf dieser Frist das Europäische Parlament und der Rat beide der Kommission mitgeteilt haben, dass sie keine Einwände erheben werden. Auf Initiative des Europäischen Parlaments oder des Rates wird diese Frist um zwei Monate verlängert.

Article 2 — Amendments to Directive 2004/109/EC Article 2 — Amendments to Directive 2004/109/EC Article 2 — Änderung der Richtlinie 2004/109/EG

Directive 2004/109/EC is amended as follows:

(1) in Article 2(1) the following point is added:
(r) sustainability reporting means sustainability reporting as defined in point (18) of Article 2 of Directive 2013/34/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council

Directive 2013/34/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on the annual financial statements, consolidated financial statements and related reports of certain types of undertakings, amending Directive 2006/43/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Council Directives 78/660/EEC and 83/349/EEC (OJ L 182, 29.6.2013, p. 19).;

(2) Article 4 is amended as follows:
- (a) in paragraph 2, point (c) is replaced by the following:
(c) statements made by the persons responsible within the issuer, whose names and functions shall be clearly indicated, to the effect that, to the best of their knowledge, the financial statements prepared in accordance with the applicable set of accounting standards give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of the issuer and the undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a whole and that the management report includes a fair review of the development and performance of the business and the position of the issuer and the undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a whole, together with a description of the principal risks and uncertainties that they face and, where appropriate, that it is prepared in accordance with sustainability reporting standards referred to in Article 29b of Directive 2013/34/EU and with the specifications adopted pursuant to Article 8(4) of Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council

(b) paragraphs 4 and 5 are replaced by the following:

4. The financial statements shall be audited in accordance with the first subparagraph of Article 34(1) and Article 34(2) of Directive 2013/34/EU.The statutory auditor shall deliver the opinion and statement on the management report referred to in points (a) and (b) of the second subparagraph of Article 34(1) and in Article 34(2) of Directive 2013/34/EU.The audit report, referred to in Article 28 of Directive 2006/43/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council

, signed by the person or persons responsible for carrying out the work set out in Article 34(1) and (2) of Directive 2013/34/EU shall be disclosed in full to the public together with the annual financial report.Where applicable, an assurance opinion on sustainability reporting shall be provided in accordance with point (aa) of the second subparagraph of Article 34(1) and Article 34(2) to (5) of Directive 2013/34/EU.The assurance report on sustainability reporting referred to in Article 28a of Directive 2006/43/EC shall be disclosed in full to the public together with the annual financial report.

The management report shall be drawn up in accordance with Articles 19, 19a and 20, and Article 29d(1) of Directive 2013/34/EU, and shall include the specifications adopted pursuant to Article 8(4) of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, when drawn up by undertakings referred to in those provisions.

Where the issuer is required to prepare consolidated accounts, the consolidated management report shall be drawn up in accordance with Articles 29 and 29a and Article 29d(2) of Directive 2013/34/EU and shall include the specifications adopted pursuant to Article 8(4) of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, when drawn up by undertakings referred to in those provisions.

(3) Article 23(4) is amended as follows:
- (a) the third and fourth subparagraphs are replaced by the following:

The Commission shall, in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 27(2) of this Directive, take the necessary decisions on the equivalence of accounting standards under the conditions set out in Article 30(3) of this Directive and on the equivalence of sustainability reporting standards as referred to in Article 29b of Directive 2013/34/EU which are used by third-country issuers. If the Commission decides that the accounting standards or the sustainability reporting standards of a third country are not equivalent, it may allow the issuers concerned to continue using such standards during an appropriate transitional period.

In the context of the third subparagraph of this paragraph, the Commission shall also adopt, by means of delegated acts adopted in accordance with Article 27(2a), (2b) and (2c), and subject to the conditions laid down in Articles 27a and 27b, measures that aim to establish general equivalence criteria regarding accounting standards and sustainability reporting standards relevant to issuers of more than one country.;

(b) the following subparagraph is added:

The criteria that the Commission shall use when assessing the equivalence of sustainability reporting standards used by third-country issuers referred to in the third subparagraph shall at least ensure the following:

- **(a)** that the sustainability reporting standards require undertakings to disclose information on environmental, social and governance factors; 
- **(b)** that the sustainability reporting standards require undertakings to disclose information necessary to understand their impacts on sustainability matters, and information necessary to understand how sustainability matters affect their development, performance and position.;

(4) the following Article is inserted:

Article 28dESMA guidelinesAfter consulting the European Environment Agency and the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, ESMA shall issue guidelines in accordance with Article 16 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010 on the supervision of sustainability reporting by national competent authorities..

Directive 2004/109/EC is amended as follows:

(1) in Article 2(1) the following point is added:
(r) sustainability reporting means sustainability reporting as defined in point (18) of Article 2 of Directive 2013/34/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council

(2) Article 4 is amended as follows:
- (a) in paragraph 2, point (c) is replaced by the following:
(c) statements made by the persons responsible within the issuer, whose names and functions shall be clearly indicated, to the effect that, to the best of their knowledge, the financial statements prepared in accordance with the applicable set of accounting standards give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of the issuer and the undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a whole and that the management report includes a fair review of the development and performance of the business and the position of the issuer and the undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a whole, together with a description of the principal risks and uncertainties that they face and, where appropriate, that it is prepared in accordance with sustainability reporting standards referred to in Article 29b of Directive 2013/34/EU and with the specifications adopted pursuant to Article 8(4) of Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council

(b) paragraphs 4 and 5 are replaced by the following:

(3) Article 23(4) is amended as follows:
- (a) the third and fourth subparagraphs are replaced by the following:

(b) the following subparagraph is added:

- **(a)** that the sustainability reporting standards require undertakings to disclose information on environmental, social and governance factors; 
- **(b)** that the sustainability reporting standards require undertakings to disclose information necessary to understand their impacts on sustainability matters, and information necessary to understand how sustainability matters affect their development, performance and position.;

(4) the following Article is inserted:

Die Richtlinie 2004/109/EG wird wie folgt geändert:

1. In Artikel 2 Absatz 1 wird folgender Buchstabe angefügt:
r) Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung ist die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung gemäß Artikel 2 Nummer 18 der Richtlinie 2013/34/EU des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates

Richtlinie 2013/34/EU des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates vom 26. Juni 2013 über den Jahresabschluss, den konsolidierten Abschluss und damit verbundene Berichte von Unternehmen bestimmter Rechtsformen und zur Änderung der Richtlinie 2006/43/EG des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates und zur Aufhebung der Richtlinien 78/660/EWG und 83/349/EWG des Rates (ABl. L 182 vom 29.6.2013, S. 19).

2. Artikel 4 wird wie folgt geändert:
- a) Absatz 2 Buchstabe c erhält folgende Fassung:
c) Erklärungen, in denen die beim Emittenten verantwortlichen Personen unter Angabe ihres Namens und ihrer Stellung versichern, dass der im Einklang mit den maßgebenden Rechnungslegungsstandards aufgestellte Abschluss ihres Wissens ein den tatsächlichen Verhältnissen entsprechendes Bild der Vermögenswerte und Verbindlichkeiten sowie der Finanz- und der Ertragslage des Emittenten und der Gesamtheit der in die Konsolidierung einbezogenen Unternehmen vermittelt und dass der Lagebericht den Geschäftsverlauf, das Geschäftsergebnis und die Lage der Gesamtheit der in die Konsolidierung einbezogenen Unternehmen so darstellt, dass ein den tatsächlichen Verhältnissen entsprechendes Bild entsteht, dass er die wesentlichen Risiken und Ungewissheiten, denen sie ausgesetzt sind, beschreibt, und, sofern angebracht, dass er in Einklang mit den Standards für die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung nach Artikel 29b der Richtlinie 2013/34/EU und mit den gemäß Artikel 8 Absatz 4 der Verordnung (EU) 2020/852 des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates

angenommenen Spezifikationen aufgestellt wurde.

b) Die Absätze 4 und 5 erhalten folgende Fassung:

(4)Die Abschlüsse werden gemäß Artikel 34 Absatz 1 Unterabsatz 1 und Artikel 34 Absatz 2 der Richtlinie 2013/34/EU geprüft.Der Abschlussprüfer gibt das Urteil und die Erklärung zum Lagebericht nach Artikel 34 Absatz 1 Unterabsatz 2 Buchstaben a und b und Artikel 34 Absatz 2 der Richtlinie 2013/34/EU ab.Der von der oder den für die Durchführung der in Artikel 34 Absätze 1 und 2 der Richtlinie 2013/34/EU festgelegten Arbeiten zuständigen Person oder Personen erteilte Bestätigungsvermerk nach Artikel 28 der Richtlinie 2006/43/EG des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates

wird in vollem Umfang zusammen mit dem Jahresfinanzbericht offengelegt.Gegebenenfalls wird gemäß Artikel 34 Absatz 1 Unterabsatz 2 Buchstabe aa und Artikel 34 Absätze 2 bis 5 der Richtlinie 2013/34/EU ein Bestätigungsurteil über die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung abgegeben.Der Prüfungsvermerk über die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung nach Artikel 28a der Richtlinie 2006/43/EG wird zusammen mit dem Jahresfinanzbericht vollständig offengelegt.

(5)

Der Lagebericht wird gemäß den Artikeln 19, 19a und 20 und Artikel 29d Absatz 1 der Richtlinie 2013/34/EU aufgestellt und umfasst die gemäß Artikel 8 Absatz 4 der Verordnung (EU) 2020/852 angenommenen Spezifikationen, wenn er von den in diesen Bestimmungen genannten Unternehmen aufgestellt wird.

Ist der Emittent verpflichtet, einen konsolidierten Abschluss aufzustellen, wird der konsolidierte Lagebericht gemäß den Artikeln 29 und 29a und Artikel 29d Absatz 2 der Richtlinie 2013/34/EU aufgestellt und umfasst die gemäß Artikel 8 Absatz 4 der Verordnung (EU) 2020/852 angenommenen Spezifikationen, wenn er von den in diesen Bestimmungen genannten Unternehmen aufgestellt wird.

3. Artikel 23 Absatz 4 wird wie folgt geändert:
- a) Die Unterabsätze 3 und 4 erhalten folgende Fassung:

Die Kommission fasst nach dem in Artikel 27 Absatz 2 dieser Richtlinie genannten Verfahren die notwendigen Beschlüsse über die Gleichwertigkeit der Rechnungslegungsstandards unter den in Artikel 30 Absatz 3 dieser Richtlinie festgelegten Bedingungen und über die Gleichwertigkeit der Standards für die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung nach Artikel 29b der Richtlinie 2013/34/EU, die von Emittenten mit Sitz in Drittländern angewandt werden. Kommt die Kommission zu dem Schluss, dass die Rechnungslegungsstandards oder die Standards für die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung eines Drittlandes nicht gleichwertig sind, kann sie den betroffenen Emittenten die weitere Anwendung dieser Standards während einer angemessenen Übergangsperiode gestatten.

In Zusammenhang mit Unterabsatz 3 des vorliegenden Absatzes erlässt die Kommission im Wege delegierter Rechtsakte, die im Einklang mit Artikel 27 Absätze 2a, 2b und 2c angenommen werden, und unter den in den Artikeln 27a und 27b festgelegten Bedingungen zudem Maßnahmen zur Festlegung allgemeiner Kriterien für die Gleichwertigkeit von Rechnungslegungsstandards und Standards für die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung, die für Emittenten aus mehr als einem Land relevant sind.

b) Folgender Unterabsatz wird angefügt:

Durch die Kriterien, die die Kommission zur Bewertung der Gleichwertigkeit der Standards für die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung heranzieht, die von Emittenten mit Sitz in Drittländern gemäß Unterabsatz 3 verwendet werden, ist zumindest gewährleistet,

- **a)** dass die Standards für die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung die Unternehmen verpflichten, Informationen über Umwelt-, Sozial- und Governance-Faktoren offenzulegen; 
- **b)** dass die Standards für die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung die Unternehmen verpflichten, Informationen offenzulegen, die für das Verständnis ihrer nachhaltigkeitsrelevanten Auswirkungen sowie das Verständnis der Auswirkungen von Nachhaltigkeitsaspekten auf ihren Geschäftsverlauf, ihr Geschäftsergebnis und ihre Lage erforderlich sind.

4. Folgender Artikel wird eingefügt:

Artikel 28dLeitlinien der ESMANach Konsultation der Europäischen Umweltagentur und der Agentur der Europäischen Union für Grundrechte gibt die ESMA im Einklang mit Artikel 16 der Verordnung (EU) Nr. 1095/2010 Leitlinien über die Beaufsichtigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung durch die zuständigen nationalen Behörden heraus.

Article 3 — Amendments to Directive 2006/43/EC Article 3 — Amendments to Directive 2006/43/EC Article 3 — Änderung der Richtlinie 2006/43/EG

Directive 2006/43/EC is amended as follows:

(1) Article 1 is replaced by the following:

Article 1Subject matterThis Directive establishes rules concerning the statutory audit of annual and consolidated accounts and the assurance of annual and consolidated sustainability reporting.;

(2) Article 2 is amended as follows:
- (a) points 2 to 6 are replaced by the following:
2. statutory auditor means a natural person who is approved in accordance with this Directive by the competent authorities of a Member State to carry out statutory audits and, where applicable, the assurance of sustainability reporting;
- 3. audit firm means a legal person or any other entity, regardless of its legal form, that is approved in accordance with this Directive by the competent authorities of a Member State to carry out statutory audits and, where applicable, the assurance of sustainability reporting;
- 4. third-country audit entity means an entity, regardless of its legal form, which carries out audits of the annual or consolidated financial statements, or, where applicable, the assurance of sustainability reporting of a company incorporated in a third country, other than an entity which is registered as an audit firm in any Member State as a consequence of approval in accordance with Article 3;
- 5. third-country auditor means a natural person who carries out audits of the annual or consolidated financial statements or, where applicable, the assurance of sustainability reporting of a company incorporated in a third country, other than a person who is registered as a statutory auditor in any Member State as a consequence of approval in accordance with Articles 3 and 44;
- 6. group auditor means the statutory auditor(s) or audit firm(s) carrying out the statutory audit of the consolidated accounts or, where applicable, the assurance of consolidated sustainability reporting;;
- (b) the following point is inserted:
16a. key sustainability partner(s) means:
- (a) the statutory auditor(s) designated by an audit firm for a particular assurance engagement concerning sustainability reporting as being primarily responsible for carrying out the assurance of sustainability reporting on behalf of the audit firm; or
- (b) in the case of the assurance of consolidated sustainability reporting at least the statutory auditor(s) designated by an audit firm as being primarily responsible for carrying out the assurance of sustainability reporting at the level of the group and the statutory auditor(s) designated as being primarily responsible at the level of material subsidiaries; or
- (c) the statutory auditor(s) who sign(s) the assurance report on sustainability reporting referred to in Article 28a;;
(c) the following points are added:
21. sustainability reporting means sustainability reporting as defined in point (18) of Article 2 of Directive 2013/34/EU;
- 22. assurance of sustainability reporting means the performance of procedures resulting in the opinion expressed by the statutory auditor or audit firm in accordance with point (aa) of the second subparagraph of Article 34(1) and Article 34(2) of Directive 2013/34/EU;
- 23. independent assurance services provider means a conformity assessment body accredited in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council

for the specific conformity assessment activity referred to in point (aa) of the second subparagraph of Article 34(1) of Directive 2013/34/EU.

(3) Article 6 is replaced by the following:

Article 6Educational qualifications

1. Without prejudice to Article 11, a natural person may be approved to carry out a statutory audit only after having attained university entrance or equivalent level, then completed a course of theoretical instruction, undergone practical training and passed an examination of professional competence of university final or equivalent examination level, organised or recognised by the Member State concerned.

2. A natural person may, in addition to the approval to carry out statutory audits provided for in paragraph 1 of this Article, be approved to carry out the assurance of sustainability reporting when the additional specific requirements of Article 7(2), Article 8(3), the second subparagraph of Article 10(1) and the fourth subparagraph of Article 14(2) of this Directive are met.

3. The competent authorities referred to in Article 32 shall cooperate with each other with a view to achieving a convergence of the requirements set out in this Article. When engaging in such cooperation, those competent authorities shall take into account developments in auditing and in the audit profession and, in particular, convergence that has already been achieved by the profession. They shall cooperate with the Committee of European Auditing Oversight Bodies (CEAOB) and the competent authorities referred to in Article 20 of Regulation (EU) No 537/2014 in so far as such convergence relates to the statutory audit and assurance of sustainability reporting of public-interest entities.;

(4) Article 7 is replaced by the following:

Article 7Examination of professional competence

1. The examination of professional competence referred to in Article 6 shall guarantee the necessary level of theoretical knowledge of subjects relevant to statutory audit and the ability to apply such knowledge in practice. At least part of that examination shall be written.

2. In order for the statutory auditor to also be approved to carry out the assurance of sustainability reporting, the examination of professional competence referred to in Article 6 shall guarantee the necessary level of theoretical knowledge of subjects relevant to the assurance of sustainability reporting and the ability to apply such knowledge in practice. At least part of that examination shall be written.;

(5) in Article 8, the following paragraph is added:

In order for the statutory auditor to also be approved to carry out the assurance of sustainability reporting, the test of theoretical knowledge referred to in paragraph 1 shall also cover at least the following subjects:

(a) legal requirements and standards relating to the preparation of annual and consolidated sustainability reporting;
(b) sustainability analysis;
(c) due diligence processes with regard to sustainability matters;
(d) legal requirements and assurance standards for the sustainability reporting referred to in Article 26a.;
(6) in Article 10(1), the following subparagraph is added:

In order for the statutory auditor or the trainee to also be approved to carry out the assurance of sustainability reporting, at least eight months of the practical training referred to in the first subparagraph shall be on the assurance of annual and consolidated sustainability reporting or on other sustainability-related services.;

(7) Article 12 is replaced by the following:

Article 12Combination of practical training and theoretical instruction

1. Member States may provide that periods of theoretical instruction in the subjects referred to in Article 8(1) and (2) shall count towards the periods of professional activity referred to in Article 11, provided that such instruction is attested by an examination recognised by the Member State. Such instruction shall not last less than one year, nor may it reduce the period of professional activity by more than four years.

2. The period of professional activity and practical training shall not be shorter than the course of theoretical instruction together with the practical training required under the first subparagraph of Article 10(1).;

(8) in Article 14(2), the following subparagraph is added:

In order for the statutory auditor to also be approved to carry out the assurance of sustainability reporting, the aptitude test referred to in the first subparagraph shall cover the statutory auditor’s adequate knowledge of the laws and regulations of the host Member State in so far as it is relevant to the assurance of sustainability reporting.;

(9) the following Article is inserted:

Article 14aStatutory auditors approved or recognised before 1 January 2024 and persons undergoing the approval process for statutory auditors on 1 January 2024Member States shall ensure that statutory auditors that are approved or recognised to carry out statutory audits before 1 January 2024 are not subject to the requirements of Article 7(2), Article 8(3), the second subparagraph of Article 10(1) and the fourth subparagraph of Article 14(2).Member States shall ensure that persons that on 1 January 2024 are undergoing the approval process provided for in Articles 6 to 14 are not subject to the requirements of Article 7(2), Article 8(3), the second subparagraph of Article 10(1) and the fourth subparagraph of Article 14(2), provided they complete that process by 1 January 2026.Member States shall ensure that statutory auditors approved before 1 January 2026 who wish to carry out the assurance of sustainability reporting acquire the necessary knowledge of sustainability reporting and the assurance of sustainability reporting, including of the subjects listed in Article 8(3), via the continuing education referred to in Article 13.;

(10) Article 16 is amended as follows:
(a) paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:

As regards statutory auditors, the public register shall contain at least the following information:

(a) name, address and registration number;
(b) if applicable, the name, address, website address and registration number of the audit firm(s) by which the statutory auditor is employed, or with whom he or she is associated as a partner or otherwise;
(c) whether the statutory auditor is also approved for carrying out the assurance of sustainability reporting;
(d) all other registration(s) as statutory auditor with the competent authorities of other Member States and as auditor with third countries, including the name(s) of the registration authority(ies), and, if applicable, the registration number(s), and an indication of whether the registration concerns the statutory audit, the assurance of sustainability reporting, or both.;
- (b) in paragraph 2, the following subparagraph is added:

The register shall indicate whether third-country auditors as referred to in the first subparagraph are registered for carrying out the statutory audit, the assurance of sustainability reporting, or both.;

(11) Article 17 is amended as follows:
(a) in paragraph 1, point (e) is replaced by the following:
(e) name and registration number of all statutory auditors employed by, or associated as partners or otherwise with, the audit firm, and an indication of whether they are also approved for carrying out the assurance of sustainability reporting;;
(b) in paragraph 1, point (i) is replaced by the following:
(i) all other registration(s) as audit firm with the competent authorities of other Member States and as audit entity with third countries, including the name(s) of the registration authority(ies), and, if applicable, the registration number(s), and an indication of whether the registration concerns the statutory audit, the assurance of sustainability reporting, or both.;
(c) in paragraph 2, the following subparagraph is added:

The register shall indicate whether third-country audit entities as referred to in the first subparagraph are registered for carrying out the statutory audit, the assurance of sustainability reporting, or both.;

(12) Article 24b is amended as follows:
(a) paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:

1. Member States shall ensure that, when the statutory audit is carried out by an audit firm, that audit firm designates at least one key audit partner. The audit firm shall provide the key audit partner(s) with sufficient resources and with personnel that have the necessary competence and capabilities to carry out his, her or its duties appropriately.Member States shall ensure that, when the assurance of sustainability reporting is carried out by an audit firm, that audit firm designates at least one key sustainability partner, who may be (one of) the key audit partner(s). The audit firm shall provide the key sustainability partner(s) with sufficient resources and with personnel that have the necessary competence and capabilities to carry out his, her or its duties appropriately.Securing audit and assurance quality, independence and competence shall be the main criteria when the audit firm selects the key audit partner(s) and, where applicable, the key sustainability partner(s) to be designated.The key audit partner(s) shall be actively involved in the carrying-out of the statutory audit. The key sustainability partner shall be actively involved in the carrying-out of the assurance of sustainability reporting.;

(b) the following paragraph is inserted:

2a. When carrying out the assurance of sustainability reporting, the statutory auditor shall devote sufficient time to the engagement and shall assign sufficient resources to enable him or her to carry out his or her duties appropriately.;

(c) in paragraph 4, points (b) and (c) are replaced by the following:
(b) in the case of an audit firm, the name(s) of the key audit partner(s) and, where applicable, the name(s) of the key sustainability partner(s);
- (c) the fees charged for the statutory audit, the fees charged for the assurance of sustainability reporting and the fees charged for other services in any financial year.;
(d) the following paragraph is inserted:

5a. A statutory auditor or an audit firm shall create an assurance file for each assurance engagement concerning sustainability reporting.The statutory auditor or the audit firm shall document at least the data recorded pursuant to Article 22b as regards the assurance of sustainability reporting.The statutory auditor or the audit firm shall retain any other data and documents that are of importance in support of the assurance report on sustainability reporting referred to in Article 28a and for monitoring compliance with this Directive and other applicable legal requirements as regards the assurance of sustainability reporting.The assurance file shall be closed no later than 60 days after the date of signature of the assurance report on sustainability reporting referred to in Article 28a.Where the same statutory auditor carries out the statutory audit of annual financial statements and the assurance of sustainability reporting, the assurance file may be included in the audit file.;

(e) paragraph 6 is replaced by the following:

The statutory auditor or the audit firm shall keep records of any complaints made in writing about the performance of the statutory audits carried out and about the performance of assurance engagements concerning sustainability reporting carried out.;

(13) Article 25 is replaced by the following:

Article 25Audit and assurance fees

Member States shall ensure that adequate rules are in place which provide that fees for statutory audits and the assurance of sustainability reporting:

(a) are not influenced or determined by the provision of additional services to the entity that is the subject of the statutory audit or the assurance of sustainability reporting; and
(b) cannot be based on any form of contingency.;
(14) the following Articles are inserted:

Article 25bProfessional ethics, independence, objectivity, confidentiality and professional secrecy as regards the assurance of sustainability reportingThe requirements in Articles 21 to 24a as regards the statutory audit of financial statements shall apply mutatis mutandis to the assurance of sustainability reporting.

Article 25cProhibited non-audit services in cases where the statutory auditor carries out the assurance of sustainability reporting of a public-interest entity

A statutory auditor or an audit firm carrying out the assurance of sustainability reporting of a public-interest entity, or any member of the network to which the statutory auditor or the audit firm belongs, shall not directly or indirectly provide to the public-interest entity that is the subject of the assurance of sustainability reporting, to its parent undertaking or to its controlled undertakings within the Union the prohibited non-audit services referred to in points (b) and (c) and points (e) to (k) of the second subparagraph of Article 5(1) of Regulation (EU) No 537/2014 in:

(a) the period between the beginning of the period subject to the assurance of sustainability reporting and the issuing of the assurance report on sustainability reporting; and
(b) the financial year immediately preceding the period referred to in point (a) of this paragraph in relation to the services referred to in point (e) of the second subparagraph of Article 5(1) of Regulation (EU) No 537/2014.

2. A statutory auditor or an audit firm carrying out the assurance of sustainability reporting of public-interest entities and, where the statutory auditor or the audit firm belongs to a network, any member of such network, may provide to the public-interest entity that is the subject of the assurance of sustainability reporting, to its parent undertaking or to its controlled undertakings non-audit services other than the prohibited non-audit services referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, or if applicable, the prohibited non-audit services referred to in the second subparagraph of Article 5(1) of Regulation (EU) No 537/2014 or services considered by Member States to represent a threat to independence as referred to in Article 5(2) of that Regulation, subject to the approval of the audit committee after it has properly assessed threats to independence and the safeguards applied in accordance with Article 22b of this Directive.

3. When a member of a network to which the statutory auditor or the audit firm carrying out the assurance of sustainability reporting of a public-interest entity belongs provides the prohibited non-audit services referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article to an undertaking incorporated in a third country which is controlled by the public-interest entity that is the subject of assurance of sustainability reporting, the statutory auditor or the audit firm concerned shall assess whether his, her or its independence would be compromised by such provision of services by the member of the network.If his, her or its independence is affected, the statutory auditor or the audit firm shall apply safeguards in order to mitigate the threats caused by the provision of prohibited non-audit services referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article in a third country. The statutory auditor or the audit firm may continue to carry out the assurance of sustainability reporting of the public-interest entity only if he, she or it can justify, in accordance with Article 22b, that the provision of such services does not affect his, her or its professional judgement and the assurance report on sustainability reporting.

Article 25dIrregularitiesArticle 7 of Regulation (EU) No 537/2014 shall apply mutatis mutandis to a statutory auditor or an audit firm carrying out the assurance of sustainability reporting of a public-interest entity.;

(15) the following Article is inserted:

Article 26aAssurance standards for sustainability reporting

1. Member States shall require statutory auditors and audit firms to carry out the assurance of sustainability reporting in compliance with the assurance standards adopted by the Commission in accordance with paragraph 3.

2. Member States may apply national assurance standards, procedures or requirements as long as the Commission has not adopted an assurance standard covering the same subject matter.Member States shall communicate the national assurance standards, procedures or requirements to the Commission at least three months before their entry into force.

3. The Commission shall, no later than 1 October 2026, adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 48a in order to supplement this Directive in order to provide for limited assurance standards setting out the procedures that the auditor(s) and the audit firm(s) shall perform in order to draw his, her or its conclusions on the assurance of sustainability reporting, including engagement planning, risk consideration and response to risks and type of conclusions to be included in the assurance report on sustainability reporting, or, where relevant, in the audit report.The Commission shall, no later than 1 October 2028, adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 48a in order to supplement this Directive in order to provide for reasonable assurance standards, following an assessment to determine if reasonable assurance is feasible for auditors and for undertakings. Taking into account the results of that assessment and if therefore appropriate, those delegated acts shall specify the date from which the opinion referred to in point (aa) of the second subparagraph of Article 34(1) is to be based on a reasonable assurance engagement that is based on those reasonable assurance standards.

The Commission may adopt the assurance standards referred to in the first and second subparagraphs only if they:

(a) have been developed with proper due process, public oversight and transparency;
(b) contribute a high level of credibility and quality to the annual or consolidated sustainability reporting; and
(c) are conducive to the Union public good.;
(16) the following Article is inserted:

Article 27aAssurance of consolidated sustainability reporting

Member States shall ensure that in the case of assurance engagements concerning the consolidated sustainability reporting of a group of undertakings:

(a) in relation to the consolidated sustainability reporting, the group auditor bears the full responsibility for the assurance report on sustainability reporting referred to in Article 28a;
(b) the group auditor evaluates the assurance work performed by any independent assurance services provider(s), third-country auditor(s), statutory auditor(s), third-country audit entity(ies) or audit firm(s) for the purpose of the assurance of consolidated sustainability reporting and documents the nature, timing and extent of the work performed by those auditors, including, where applicable, the group auditor’s review of relevant parts of those auditors’ assurance documentation; and
(c) the group auditor reviews the assurance work performed by independent assurance services provider(s), third-country auditor(s), statutory auditor(s), third-country audit entity(ies) or audit firm(s) for the purpose of the assurance of consolidated sustainability reporting and documents it.

The documentation retained by the group auditor shall be such as to enable the relevant competent authority to review the work of the group auditor.For the purposes of point (c) of the first subparagraph of this paragraph, the group auditor shall request the agreement of the independent assurance services provider(s), third-country auditor(s), statutory auditor(s), third-country audit entity(ies) or audit firm(s) concerned to the transfer of relevant documentation during the conduct of the assurance of consolidated sustainability reporting, as a condition of the reliance by the group auditor on the work of those independent assurance services provider(s), third-country auditor(s), statutory auditor(s), third-country audit entity(ies) or audit firm(s).

2. Where the group auditor is unable to comply with point (c) of the first subparagraph of paragraph 1, he, she or it shall take appropriate measures and inform the relevant competent authority.Such measures shall, where appropriate, include carrying out additional assurance work, either directly or by outsourcing such tasks, in the relevant subsidiary.

3. Where the group auditor is subject to a quality assurance review or an investigation concerning the assurance of consolidated sustainability reporting of a group of undertakings, the group auditor shall, when requested, make available to the competent authority the relevant documentation he, she or it retains concerning the assurance work performed by the respective independent assurance services provider(s), third-country auditor(s), statutory auditor(s), third-country audit entity(ies) or audit firm(s) for the purpose of the assurance of consolidated sustainability reporting, including any working papers relevant to the assurance of consolidated sustainability reporting.The competent authority may request additional documentation on the assurance work performed by any statutory auditor(s) or audit firm(s) for the purpose of the assurance of consolidated sustainability reporting from the relevant competent authorities pursuant to Article 36.Where the assurance of sustainability reporting of a parent undertaking or a subsidiary undertaking of a group of undertakings is carried out by any auditor(s) or audit entity(ies) from a third country, the competent authority may request additional documentation on the assurance work performed by any third-country auditor(s) or third-country audit entity(ies) from the relevant competent authorities from third countries through working arrangements.By way of derogation from the third subparagraph, where any independent assurance services provider(s), third-country auditor(s) or audit entity(ies) that have no working arrangements carried out the assurance of sustainability reporting of a parent undertaking or a subsidiary undertaking of a group of undertakings, the group auditor shall, when requested, also be responsible for ensuring proper delivery of the additional documentation on the assurance work performed by such independent assurance services provider(s), third-country auditor(s) or audit entity(ies), including the working papers relevant to the assurance of consolidated sustainability reporting. In order to ensure such delivery, the group auditor shall retain a copy of such documentation, or alternatively agree with the independent assurance services provider(s), third-country auditor(s) or audit entity(ies) that he, she or it is to be given unrestricted access to such documentation upon request, or take any other appropriate action. Where assurance working papers cannot, for legal or other reasons, be passed from a third country to the group auditor, the documentation retained by the group auditor shall include evidence that he, she or it has undertaken the appropriate procedures in order to gain access to the assurance documentation, and in the case of impediments other than legal ones arising from the legislation of the third country concerned, evidence supporting the existence of such impediments.;

(17) in Article 28(2), point (e) is replaced by the following:
(e) include an opinion and a statement, both of which shall be based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit, pursuant to points (a) and (b) of the second subparagraph of Article 34(1) of Directive 2013/34/EU;;
(18) the following Article is inserted:

Article 28aAssurance report on sustainability reporting

1. The statutory auditor(s) or the audit firm(s) shall present the results of the assurance of sustainability reporting in an assurance report on sustainability reporting. That report shall be prepared in accordance with the requirements of assurance standards adopted by the Commission by means of the delegated acts adopted pursuant to Article 26a(3), or, pending adoption by the Commission of those assurance standards, in accordance with national assurance standards, as referred to in Article 26a(2).

The assurance report on sustainability reporting shall be in writing and shall:

(a) identify the entity whose annual or consolidated sustainability reporting is the subject of the assurance engagement; specify the annual or consolidated sustainability reporting and the date and period it covers; and identify the sustainability reporting framework that has been applied in its preparation;
(b) include a description of the scope of the assurance of sustainability reporting which shall, as a minimum, identify the assurance standards in accordance with which the assurance of sustainability reporting was conducted;
(c) include the opinion referred to in point (aa) of the second subparagraph of Article 34(1) of Directive 2013/34/EU.

3. Where the assurance of sustainability reporting was carried out by more than one statutory auditor or audit firm, the statutory auditor(s) or the audit firm(s) shall agree on the results of the assurance of sustainability reporting and submit a joint report and opinion. In the case of disagreement, each statutory auditor or audit firm shall submit his, her or its opinion in a separate paragraph of the assurance report on sustainability reporting and shall state the reason for the disagreement.

4. The assurance report on sustainability reporting shall be signed and dated by the statutory auditor carrying out the assurance of sustainability reporting. Where an audit firm carries out the assurance of sustainability reporting, the assurance report on sustainability reporting shall bear the signature of at least the statutory auditor(s) carrying out the assurance of sustainability reporting on behalf of the audit firm. Where more than one statutory auditor or audit firm have been simultaneously engaged, the assurance report on sustainability reporting shall be signed by all statutory auditors or at least by the statutory auditors carrying out the assurance of sustainability reporting on behalf of every audit firm. In exceptional circumstances, Member States may provide that such signature(s) need not be disclosed to the public if such disclosure could lead to an imminent and significant threat to the personal security of any person.In any event, the name(s) of the person(s) involved shall be known to the relevant competent authorities.

5. Member States may require that, where the same statutory auditor carries out the statutory audit of annual financial statements and the assurance of sustainability reporting, the assurance report on sustainability reporting may be included as a separate section of the audit report.

6. The report of the statutory auditor or the audit firm on the consolidated sustainability reporting shall comply with the requirements set out in paragraphs 1 to 5.;

(19) Article 29 is amended as follows:
(a) in paragraph 1, point (d) is replaced by the following:
(d) the persons who carry out quality assurance reviews shall have appropriate professional education and relevant experience in statutory audit and financial reporting and, where applicable, in sustainability reporting and in the assurance of sustainability reporting or in other sustainability-related services, combined with specific training on quality assurance reviews;;
(b) in paragraph 1, point (f) is replaced by the following:
(f) the scope of the quality assurance review, supported by adequate testing of selected audit files and, where applicable, assurance files, shall include an assessment of compliance with applicable auditing standards and independence requirements and, where applicable, with assurance standards, and an assessment of the quantity and quality of resources spent, of the audit fees and fees charged for the assurance of sustainability reporting, and of the internal quality control system of the audit firm;;
(c) in paragraph 1, point (h) is replaced by the following:
(h) quality assurance reviews shall take place on the basis of an analysis of the risk and, in the case of statutory auditors and audit firms carrying out statutory audits as defined in point (a) of point 1 of Article 2 and, where applicable, carrying out assurance of sustainability reporting, at least every six years;;
(d) in paragraph 2, point (a) is replaced by the following:
(a) reviewers shall have appropriate professional education and relevant experience in statutory audit and financial reporting and, where applicable, in sustainability reporting and in the assurance of sustainability reporting or in other sustainability-related services, combined with specific training on quality assurance reviews;;
(e) the following paragraph is inserted:

2a. Member States may exempt, until 31 December 2025, persons who carry out quality assurance reviews relating to the assurance of sustainability reporting from the requirement to have relevant experience in sustainability reporting and in the assurance of sustainability reporting or in other sustainability-related services.;

(20) in Article 30, paragraphs 1 and 2 are replaced by the following:

1. Member States shall ensure that there are effective systems of investigations and sanctions to detect, correct and prevent inadequate execution of the statutory audit and the assurance of sustainability reporting.

2. Without prejudice to their civil liability regimes, Member States shall provide for effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions in respect of statutory auditors and audit firms, where statutory audits or assurance of sustainability reporting are not carried out in conformity with the provisions adopted in the implementation of this Directive, and, where applicable, with Regulation (EU) No 537/2014.Member States may decide not to lay down rules for administrative sanctions for infringements which are already subject to national criminal law. In that event, they shall communicate to the Commission the relevant criminal law provisions.;

(21) in Article 30a(1), the following point is inserted:
(ca) a temporary prohibition, of up to three years’ duration, banning the statutory auditor, the audit firm or the key sustainability partner from carrying out the assurance of sustainability reporting and/or signing assurance reports on sustainability reporting;;
(22) in Article 30a(1), the following point is inserted:
(da) a declaration that the assurance report on sustainability reporting does not meet the requirements of Article 28a of this Directive;;
(23) Article 32 is amended as follows:
(a) in paragraph 3, the first subparagraph is replaced by the following:

3. The competent authority shall be governed by non-practitioners who are knowledgeable in the areas relevant to statutory audit and, where applicable, to the assurance of sustainability reporting. They shall be selected in accordance with an independent and transparent nomination procedure.;

(b) in paragraph 4, point (b) is replaced by the following:
(b) the adoption of standards on professional ethics, internal quality control of audit firms, auditing and the assurance of sustainability reporting, except where those standards are adopted or approved by other Member State authorities;;
(24) the following Article is inserted:

Article 36aRegulatory arrangements between Member States as regards the assurance of sustainability reportingThe requirements of Articles 34 and 36 as regards the statutory audit of financial statements shall apply mutatis mutandis to the assurance of sustainability reporting.;

(25) Article 37 is amended as follows:
(a) in paragraph 1, the following subparagraph is added:

The first subparagraph shall apply to the appointment of the statutory auditor or audit firm for the purpose of the assurance of sustainability reporting.;

(b) in paragraph 2, the following subparagraph is added:

The first subparagraph shall apply to the appointment of the statutory auditor or audit firm for the purpose of the assurance of sustainability reporting.;

(c) paragraph 3 is replaced by the following:

3. Any contractual clause restricting the choice by the general meeting of shareholders or members of the audited entity pursuant to paragraph 1 to certain categories or lists of statutory auditors or audit firms as regards the appointment of a particular statutory auditor or audit firm to carry out the statutory audit and, where applicable, the assurance of sustainability reporting of that entity shall be prohibited. Any such existing clauses shall be null and void.Member States shall ensure that shareholders or members of large undertakings subject to Articles 19a and 29a of Directive 2013/34/EU, except undertakings referred to in point (a) of point (1) of Article 2 of that Directive, and which represent more than 5 % of the voting rights or 5 % of the capital of the undertaking, acting individually or collectively, have the right to table a draft resolution to be adopted in the general meeting of shareholders or members, requiring that an accredited third party that does not belong to the same audit firm or network as the statutory auditor or audit firm carrying out the statutory audit prepare a report on certain elements of the sustainability reporting and that such report be made available to the general meeting of shareholders or members.;

(26) Article 38 is amended as follows:
(a) paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:

1. Member States shall ensure that statutory auditors or audit firms may be dismissed only where there are proper grounds. Divergence of opinions on accounting treatments, audit procedures or, where applicable, on sustainability reporting or assurance procedures shall not be proper grounds for dismissal.;

(b) in paragraph 2, the following subparagraph is added:

The obligation to inform provided for in the first subparagraph shall also apply to the assurance of sustainability reporting.;

(c) in paragraph 3, the following subparagraph is added:

The first subparagraph shall also apply to the assurance of sustainability reporting.;

(27) Article 39 is amended as follows:
(a) the following paragraph is inserted:

4a. Member States may allow the functions assigned to the audit committee relating to sustainability reporting and relating to the assurance of sustainability reporting to be performed by the administrative or supervisory body as a whole or by a dedicated body established by the administrative or supervisory body.;

(b) in paragraph 6, points (a) to (e) are replaced by the following:
(a) inform the administrative or supervisory body of the audited entity of the outcome of the statutory audit and, where applicable, of the outcome of the assurance of sustainability reporting and explain how the statutory audit and the assurance of sustainability reporting contributed to the integrity of financial reporting and sustainability reporting respectively, and what the role of the audit committee was in that process;
- (b) monitor the financial and, where applicable, sustainability reporting process, including the electronic reporting process as referred to in Article 29d of Directive 2013/34/EU and the process carried out by the undertaking to identify the information reported in accordance with the sustainability reporting standards adopted pursuant to Article 29b of that Directive, and submit recommendations or proposals to ensure their integrity;
- (c) monitor the effectiveness of the undertaking’s internal quality control and risk management systems and, where applicable, its internal audit, regarding the financial reporting and, where applicable, sustainability reporting of the undertaking, including its electronic reporting process as referred to in Article 29d of Directive 2013/34/EU, without breaching its independence;
- (d) monitor the statutory audit of the annual and consolidated financial statements and, where applicable, the assurance of the annual and consolidated sustainability reporting, in particular its performance, taking into account any findings and conclusions by the competent authority pursuant to Article 26(6) of Regulation (EU) No 537/2014;
- (e) review and monitor the independence of the statutory auditors or the audit firms in accordance with Articles 22, 22a, 22b, 24a, 24b, 25b, 25c and 25d of this Directive and with Article 6 of Regulation (EU) No 537/2014, and in particular the appropriateness of the provision of non-audit services to the audited entity in accordance with Article 5 of that Regulation;;
(28) Article 45 is amended as follows:
(a) paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:

The competent authorities of a Member State shall, in accordance with Articles 15, 16 and 17 of this Directive, register every third-country auditor and audit entity, where that third-country auditor or audit entity provides an audit report concerning the annual or consolidated financial statements, or, where applicable, an assurance report concerning the annual or consolidated sustainability reporting of an undertaking incorporated outside the Union whose transferable securities are admitted to trading on a regulated market of that Member State, defined in point (21) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council

Directive 2014/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 on markets in financial instruments and amending Directive 2002/92/EC and Directive 2011/61/EU (OJ L 173, 12.6.2014, p. 349).;

, except where the undertaking in question is an issuer exclusively of outstanding debt securities for which one of the following applies:

(a) such securities have been admitted to trading on a regulated market in a Member State, defined in point (21) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU prior to 31 December 2010 and the denomination per unit of which is, at the date of issue, at least EUR 50000 or, in the case of debt securities denominated in another currency, equivalent, at the date of issue, to at least EUR 50000;
(b) such securities are admitted to trading on a regulated market in a Member State, defined in point (21) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU from 31 December 2010 and the denomination per unit of which is, at the date of issue, at least EUR 100000 or, in case of debt securities denominated in another currency, equivalent, at the date of issue, to at least EUR 100000.
- (b) paragraphs 4 to 6 are replaced by the following:

4. Without prejudice to Article 46, audit reports concerning annual accounts or consolidated accounts or, where applicable, the assurance reports concerning annual or consolidated sustainability reporting referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article issued by third-country auditors or audit entities that are not registered in the Member State shall have no legal effect in that Member State.

A Member State may register a third-country audit entity for the purpose of the audit of financial statements only if:

(a) the majority of the members of the administrative or management body of the third-country audit entity meet requirements which are equivalent to those laid down in Articles 4 to 10, with the exception of Article 7(2), Article 8(3) and the second subparagraph of Article 10(1);
(b) the third-country auditor carrying out the audit on behalf of the third-country audit entity meets requirements which are equivalent to those laid down in Articles 4 to 10, with the exception of Article 7(2), Article 8(3) and the second subparagraph of Article 10(1);
(c) the audits of the annual or consolidated financial statements referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article are carried out in accordance with international auditing standards as referred to in Article 26, as well as the requirements laid down in Articles 22, 22b and 25, or with equivalent standards and requirements;
(d) the third-country audit entity publishes on its website an annual transparency report which includes the information referred to in Article 13 of Regulation (EU) No 537/2014 or it complies with equivalent disclosure requirements.

A Member State may register a third-country audit entity for the purpose of the assurance of sustainability reporting only if:

(a) the majority of the members of the administrative or management body of the third-country audit entity meet requirements which are equivalent to those laid down in Articles 4 to 10;
(b) the third-country auditor carrying out the assurance on behalf of the third-country audit entity meets requirements which are equivalent to those laid down in Articles 4 to 10;
(c) the assurance of the annual or consolidated sustainability reporting referred to in paragraph 1 is carried out in accordance with the assurance standards referred to in Article 26a, as well as the requirements laid down in Articles 22, 22b, 25 and 25b, or with equivalent standards and requirements;
(d) the third-country audit entity publishes on its website an annual transparency report which includes the information referred to in Article 13 of Regulation (EU) No 537/2014 or it complies with equivalent disclosure requirements.

5a. A Member State may register a third-country auditor for the purpose of the audit of financial statements only if he or she meets the requirements set out in points (b), (c) and (d) of the first subparagraph of paragraph 5 of this Article.A Member State may register a third-country auditor for the purpose of the assurance for sustainability reporting only if he or she meets the requirements set out in points (b), (c) and (d) of the second subparagraph of paragraph 5 of this Article.

6. In order to ensure uniform conditions for the application of point (c) of the first subparagraph of paragraph 5 and point (c) of the second subparagraph of paragraph 5 of this Article, the Commission shall be empowered to decide upon the equivalence referred to therein by means of implementing acts. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 48(2).Member States may assess the equivalence referred to point (c) of the first subparagraph of paragraph 5 and point (c) of the second subparagraph of paragraph 5 of this Article, as long as the Commission has not taken any such decision.The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 48a supplementing this Directive for the purpose of establishing the general equivalence criteria to be used in assessing whether the audits of the financial statements and, where applicable, the assurance of sustainability reporting referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article are carried out in accordance with international auditing standards as defined in Article 26 and with assurance standards for sustainability reporting referred to in Article 26a, respectively, and with the requirements laid down in Articles 22, 24 and 25. Such criteria, which are applicable to all third countries, shall be used by Member States when assessing equivalence at national level.;

(29) Article 48a is amended as follows:
(a) in paragraph 2, the following subparagraph is added:

The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in Article 26a(2) shall be conferred on the Commission for an indeterminate period of time.;

(b) paragraph 3 is replaced by the following:

3. The delegation of power referred to in Article 26(3), Article 26a(3), Article 45(6), Article 46(2) and Article 47(3) may be revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision to revoke shall put an end to the delegation of the power specified in that decision. It shall take effect the day following the publication of the decision in the Official Journal of the European Union or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated acts already in force.;

(c) paragraph 5 is replaced by the following:

5. A delegated act adopted pursuant to Article 26(3), Article 26a(3), Article 45(6), Article 46(2) or Article 47(3) shall enter into force only if no objection has been expressed either by the European Parliament or the Council within a period of four months of notification of that act to the European Parliament and the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission that they will not object. That period shall be extended by two months at the initiative of the European Parliament or of the Council..

Directive 2006/43/EC is amended as follows:

(1) Article 1 is replaced by the following:

Article 1Subject matterThis Directive establishes rules concerning the statutory audit of annual and consolidated accounts and the assurance of annual and consolidated sustainability reporting.;

(2) Article 2 is amended as follows:
- (a) points 2 to 6 are replaced by the following:
2. statutory auditor means a natural person who is approved in accordance with this Directive by the competent authorities of a Member State to carry out statutory audits and, where applicable, the assurance of sustainability reporting;
- 3. audit firm means a legal person or any other entity, regardless of its legal form, that is approved in accordance with this Directive by the competent authorities of a Member State to carry out statutory audits and, where applicable, the assurance of sustainability reporting;
- 4. third-country audit entity means an entity, regardless of its legal form, which carries out audits of the annual or consolidated financial statements, or, where applicable, the assurance of sustainability reporting of a company incorporated in a third country, other than an entity which is registered as an audit firm in any Member State as a consequence of approval in accordance with Article 3;
- 5. third-country auditor means a natural person who carries out audits of the annual or consolidated financial statements or, where applicable, the assurance of sustainability reporting of a company incorporated in a third country, other than a person who is registered as a statutory auditor in any Member State as a consequence of approval in accordance with Articles 3 and 44;
- 6. group auditor means the statutory auditor(s) or audit firm(s) carrying out the statutory audit of the consolidated accounts or, where applicable, the assurance of consolidated sustainability reporting;;
- (b) the following point is inserted:
16a. key sustainability partner(s) means:
- (a) the statutory auditor(s) designated by an audit firm for a particular assurance engagement concerning sustainability reporting as being primarily responsible for carrying out the assurance of sustainability reporting on behalf of the audit firm; or
- (b) in the case of the assurance of consolidated sustainability reporting at least the statutory auditor(s) designated by an audit firm as being primarily responsible for carrying out the assurance of sustainability reporting at the level of the group and the statutory auditor(s) designated as being primarily responsible at the level of material subsidiaries; or
- (c) the statutory auditor(s) who sign(s) the assurance report on sustainability reporting referred to in Article 28a;;
(c) the following points are added:
21. sustainability reporting means sustainability reporting as defined in point (18) of Article 2 of Directive 2013/34/EU;
- 22. assurance of sustainability reporting means the performance of procedures resulting in the opinion expressed by the statutory auditor or audit firm in accordance with point (aa) of the second subparagraph of Article 34(1) and Article 34(2) of Directive 2013/34/EU;
- 23. independent assurance services provider means a conformity assessment body accredited in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council

for the specific conformity assessment activity referred to in point (aa) of the second subparagraph of Article 34(1) of Directive 2013/34/EU.

(3) Article 6 is replaced by the following:

Article 6Educational qualifications

(4) Article 7 is replaced by the following:

Article 7Examination of professional competence

(5) in Article 8, the following paragraph is added:

(a) legal requirements and standards relating to the preparation of annual and consolidated sustainability reporting;
(b) sustainability analysis;
(c) due diligence processes with regard to sustainability matters;
(d) legal requirements and assurance standards for the sustainability reporting referred to in Article 26a.;
(6) in Article 10(1), the following subparagraph is added:

(7) Article 12 is replaced by the following:

Article 12Combination of practical training and theoretical instruction

(8) in Article 14(2), the following subparagraph is added:

(9) the following Article is inserted:

(10) Article 16 is amended as follows:
(a) paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:

As regards statutory auditors, the public register shall contain at least the following information:

(a) name, address and registration number;
(b) if applicable, the name, address, website address and registration number of the audit firm(s) by which the statutory auditor is employed, or with whom he or she is associated as a partner or otherwise;
(c) whether the statutory auditor is also approved for carrying out the assurance of sustainability reporting;
(d) all other registration(s) as statutory auditor with the competent authorities of other Member States and as auditor with third countries, including the name(s) of the registration authority(ies), and, if applicable, the registration number(s), and an indication of whether the registration concerns the statutory audit, the assurance of sustainability reporting, or both.;
- (b) in paragraph 2, the following subparagraph is added:

(11) Article 17 is amended as follows:
(a) in paragraph 1, point (e) is replaced by the following:
(e) name and registration number of all statutory auditors employed by, or associated as partners or otherwise with, the audit firm, and an indication of whether they are also approved for carrying out the assurance of sustainability reporting;;
(b) in paragraph 1, point (i) is replaced by the following:
(i) all other registration(s) as audit firm with the competent authorities of other Member States and as audit entity with third countries, including the name(s) of the registration authority(ies), and, if applicable, the registration number(s), and an indication of whether the registration concerns the statutory audit, the assurance of sustainability reporting, or both.;
(c) in paragraph 2, the following subparagraph is added:

(12) Article 24b is amended as follows:
(a) paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:

(b) the following paragraph is inserted:

(c) in paragraph 4, points (b) and (c) are replaced by the following:
(b) in the case of an audit firm, the name(s) of the key audit partner(s) and, where applicable, the name(s) of the key sustainability partner(s);
- (c) the fees charged for the statutory audit, the fees charged for the assurance of sustainability reporting and the fees charged for other services in any financial year.;
(d) the following paragraph is inserted:

(e) paragraph 6 is replaced by the following:

(13) Article 25 is replaced by the following:

Article 25Audit and assurance fees

Member States shall ensure that adequate rules are in place which provide that fees for statutory audits and the assurance of sustainability reporting:

(a) are not influenced or determined by the provision of additional services to the entity that is the subject of the statutory audit or the assurance of sustainability reporting; and
(b) cannot be based on any form of contingency.;
(14) the following Articles are inserted:

Article 25cProhibited non-audit services in cases where the statutory auditor carries out the assurance of sustainability reporting of a public-interest entity

(a) the period between the beginning of the period subject to the assurance of sustainability reporting and the issuing of the assurance report on sustainability reporting; and
(b) the financial year immediately preceding the period referred to in point (a) of this paragraph in relation to the services referred to in point (e) of the second subparagraph of Article 5(1) of Regulation (EU) No 537/2014.

(15) the following Article is inserted:

Article 26aAssurance standards for sustainability reporting

The Commission may adopt the assurance standards referred to in the first and second subparagraphs only if they:

(a) have been developed with proper due process, public oversight and transparency;
(b) contribute a high level of credibility and quality to the annual or consolidated sustainability reporting; and
(c) are conducive to the Union public good.;
(16) the following Article is inserted:

Article 27aAssurance of consolidated sustainability reporting

Member States shall ensure that in the case of assurance engagements concerning the consolidated sustainability reporting of a group of undertakings:

(a) in relation to the consolidated sustainability reporting, the group auditor bears the full responsibility for the assurance report on sustainability reporting referred to in Article 28a;
(b) the group auditor evaluates the assurance work performed by any independent assurance services provider(s), third-country auditor(s), statutory auditor(s), third-country audit entity(ies) or audit firm(s) for the purpose of the assurance of consolidated sustainability reporting and documents the nature, timing and extent of the work performed by those auditors, including, where applicable, the group auditor’s review of relevant parts of those auditors’ assurance documentation; and
(c) the group auditor reviews the assurance work performed by independent assurance services provider(s), third-country auditor(s), statutory auditor(s), third-country audit entity(ies) or audit firm(s) for the purpose of the assurance of consolidated sustainability reporting and documents it.

(17) in Article 28(2), point (e) is replaced by the following:
(e) include an opinion and a statement, both of which shall be based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit, pursuant to points (a) and (b) of the second subparagraph of Article 34(1) of Directive 2013/34/EU;;
(18) the following Article is inserted:

Article 28aAssurance report on sustainability reporting

The assurance report on sustainability reporting shall be in writing and shall:

(a) identify the entity whose annual or consolidated sustainability reporting is the subject of the assurance engagement; specify the annual or consolidated sustainability reporting and the date and period it covers; and identify the sustainability reporting framework that has been applied in its preparation;
(b) include a description of the scope of the assurance of sustainability reporting which shall, as a minimum, identify the assurance standards in accordance with which the assurance of sustainability reporting was conducted;
(c) include the opinion referred to in point (aa) of the second subparagraph of Article 34(1) of Directive 2013/34/EU.

6. The report of the statutory auditor or the audit firm on the consolidated sustainability reporting shall comply with the requirements set out in paragraphs 1 to 5.;

(19) Article 29 is amended as follows:
(a) in paragraph 1, point (d) is replaced by the following:
(d) the persons who carry out quality assurance reviews shall have appropriate professional education and relevant experience in statutory audit and financial reporting and, where applicable, in sustainability reporting and in the assurance of sustainability reporting or in other sustainability-related services, combined with specific training on quality assurance reviews;;
(b) in paragraph 1, point (f) is replaced by the following:
(f) the scope of the quality assurance review, supported by adequate testing of selected audit files and, where applicable, assurance files, shall include an assessment of compliance with applicable auditing standards and independence requirements and, where applicable, with assurance standards, and an assessment of the quantity and quality of resources spent, of the audit fees and fees charged for the assurance of sustainability reporting, and of the internal quality control system of the audit firm;;
(c) in paragraph 1, point (h) is replaced by the following:
(h) quality assurance reviews shall take place on the basis of an analysis of the risk and, in the case of statutory auditors and audit firms carrying out statutory audits as defined in point (a) of point 1 of Article 2 and, where applicable, carrying out assurance of sustainability reporting, at least every six years;;
(d) in paragraph 2, point (a) is replaced by the following:
(a) reviewers shall have appropriate professional education and relevant experience in statutory audit and financial reporting and, where applicable, in sustainability reporting and in the assurance of sustainability reporting or in other sustainability-related services, combined with specific training on quality assurance reviews;;
(e) the following paragraph is inserted:

(20) in Article 30, paragraphs 1 and 2 are replaced by the following:

(21) in Article 30a(1), the following point is inserted:
(ca) a temporary prohibition, of up to three years’ duration, banning the statutory auditor, the audit firm or the key sustainability partner from carrying out the assurance of sustainability reporting and/or signing assurance reports on sustainability reporting;;
(22) in Article 30a(1), the following point is inserted:
(da) a declaration that the assurance report on sustainability reporting does not meet the requirements of Article 28a of this Directive;;
(23) Article 32 is amended as follows:
(a) in paragraph 3, the first subparagraph is replaced by the following:

(b) in paragraph 4, point (b) is replaced by the following:
(b) the adoption of standards on professional ethics, internal quality control of audit firms, auditing and the assurance of sustainability reporting, except where those standards are adopted or approved by other Member State authorities;;
(24) the following Article is inserted:

(25) Article 37 is amended as follows:
(a) in paragraph 1, the following subparagraph is added:

The first subparagraph shall apply to the appointment of the statutory auditor or audit firm for the purpose of the assurance of sustainability reporting.;

(b) in paragraph 2, the following subparagraph is added:

The first subparagraph shall apply to the appointment of the statutory auditor or audit firm for the purpose of the assurance of sustainability reporting.;

(c) paragraph 3 is replaced by the following:

(26) Article 38 is amended as follows:
(a) paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:

(b) in paragraph 2, the following subparagraph is added:

The obligation to inform provided for in the first subparagraph shall also apply to the assurance of sustainability reporting.;

(c) in paragraph 3, the following subparagraph is added:

The first subparagraph shall also apply to the assurance of sustainability reporting.;

(27) Article 39 is amended as follows:
(a) the following paragraph is inserted:

(b) in paragraph 6, points (a) to (e) are replaced by the following:
(a) inform the administrative or supervisory body of the audited entity of the outcome of the statutory audit and, where applicable, of the outcome of the assurance of sustainability reporting and explain how the statutory audit and the assurance of sustainability reporting contributed to the integrity of financial reporting and sustainability reporting respectively, and what the role of the audit committee was in that process;
- (b) monitor the financial and, where applicable, sustainability reporting process, including the electronic reporting process as referred to in Article 29d of Directive 2013/34/EU and the process carried out by the undertaking to identify the information reported in accordance with the sustainability reporting standards adopted pursuant to Article 29b of that Directive, and submit recommendations or proposals to ensure their integrity;
- (c) monitor the effectiveness of the undertaking’s internal quality control and risk management systems and, where applicable, its internal audit, regarding the financial reporting and, where applicable, sustainability reporting of the undertaking, including its electronic reporting process as referred to in Article 29d of Directive 2013/34/EU, without breaching its independence;
- (d) monitor the statutory audit of the annual and consolidated financial statements and, where applicable, the assurance of the annual and consolidated sustainability reporting, in particular its performance, taking into account any findings and conclusions by the competent authority pursuant to Article 26(6) of Regulation (EU) No 537/2014;
- (e) review and monitor the independence of the statutory auditors or the audit firms in accordance with Articles 22, 22a, 22b, 24a, 24b, 25b, 25c and 25d of this Directive and with Article 6 of Regulation (EU) No 537/2014, and in particular the appropriateness of the provision of non-audit services to the audited entity in accordance with Article 5 of that Regulation;;
(28) Article 45 is amended as follows:
(a) paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:

, except where the undertaking in question is an issuer exclusively of outstanding debt securities for which one of the following applies:

(a) such securities have been admitted to trading on a regulated market in a Member State, defined in point (21) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU prior to 31 December 2010 and the denomination per unit of which is, at the date of issue, at least EUR 50000 or, in the case of debt securities denominated in another currency, equivalent, at the date of issue, to at least EUR 50000;
(b) such securities are admitted to trading on a regulated market in a Member State, defined in point (21) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU from 31 December 2010 and the denomination per unit of which is, at the date of issue, at least EUR 100000 or, in case of debt securities denominated in another currency, equivalent, at the date of issue, to at least EUR 100000.
- (b) paragraphs 4 to 6 are replaced by the following:

A Member State may register a third-country audit entity for the purpose of the audit of financial statements only if:

(a) the majority of the members of the administrative or management body of the third-country audit entity meet requirements which are equivalent to those laid down in Articles 4 to 10, with the exception of Article 7(2), Article 8(3) and the second subparagraph of Article 10(1);
(b) the third-country auditor carrying out the audit on behalf of the third-country audit entity meets requirements which are equivalent to those laid down in Articles 4 to 10, with the exception of Article 7(2), Article 8(3) and the second subparagraph of Article 10(1);
(c) the audits of the annual or consolidated financial statements referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article are carried out in accordance with international auditing standards as referred to in Article 26, as well as the requirements laid down in Articles 22, 22b and 25, or with equivalent standards and requirements;
(d) the third-country audit entity publishes on its website an annual transparency report which includes the information referred to in Article 13 of Regulation (EU) No 537/2014 or it complies with equivalent disclosure requirements.

A Member State may register a third-country audit entity for the purpose of the assurance of sustainability reporting only if:

(a) the majority of the members of the administrative or management body of the third-country audit entity meet requirements which are equivalent to those laid down in Articles 4 to 10;
(b) the third-country auditor carrying out the assurance on behalf of the third-country audit entity meets requirements which are equivalent to those laid down in Articles 4 to 10;
(c) the assurance of the annual or consolidated sustainability reporting referred to in paragraph 1 is carried out in accordance with the assurance standards referred to in Article 26a, as well as the requirements laid down in Articles 22, 22b, 25 and 25b, or with equivalent standards and requirements;
(d) the third-country audit entity publishes on its website an annual transparency report which includes the information referred to in Article 13 of Regulation (EU) No 537/2014 or it complies with equivalent disclosure requirements.

(29) Article 48a is amended as follows:
(a) in paragraph 2, the following subparagraph is added:

The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in Article 26a(2) shall be conferred on the Commission for an indeterminate period of time.;

(b) paragraph 3 is replaced by the following:

(c) paragraph 5 is replaced by the following:

Die Richtlinie 2006/43/EG wird wie folgt geändert:

1. Artikel 1 erhält folgende Fassung:

Artikel 1GegenstandDiese Richtlinie regelt die Abschlussprüfung des Jahresabschlusses und des konsolidierten Abschlusses und die Bestätigung der jährlichen und konsolidierten Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung.

2. Artikel 2 wird wie folgt geändert:
- a) Die Nummern 2 bis 6 erhalten folgende Fassung:
(2) Abschlussprüfer ist eine natürliche Person, die von den zuständigen Stellen eines Mitgliedstaats nach dieser Richtlinie für die Durchführung von Abschlussprüfungen und gegebenenfalls von für die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung zugelassen wurde;
- (3) Prüfungsgesellschaft ist eine juristische Person oder eine sonstige Einrichtung gleich welcher Rechtsform, die von den zuständigen Stellen eines Mitgliedstaats nach dieser Richtlinie für die Durchführung von Abschlussprüfungen und gegebenenfalls von für die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung zugelassen wurde;
- (4) Prüfungsunternehmen aus einem Drittland ist ein Unternehmen gleich welcher Rechtsform, das die Prüfungen des Jahresabschlusses oder des konsolidierten Abschlusses oder gegebenenfalls die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung von in einem Drittland eingetragenen Gesellschaften durchführt und das nicht in einem Mitgliedstaat infolge einer Zulassung gemäß Artikel 3 als Prüfungsgesellschaft registriert ist;
- (5) Prüfer aus einem Drittland ist eine natürliche Person, die die Prüfungen des Jahresabschlusses oder des konsolidierten Abschlusses oder gegebenenfalls die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung von in einem Drittland eingetragenen Gesellschaften durchführt und die nicht in einem Mitgliedstaat infolge einer Zulassung gemäß den Artikeln 3 und 44 als Abschlussprüfer registriert ist;
- (6) Konzernabschlussprüfer sind der oder die Abschlussprüfer bzw. die Prüfungsgesellschaft oder -gesellschaften, die die Abschlussprüfung konsolidierter Abschlüsse durchführen oder gegebenenfalls die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung durchführen;
- b) Folgende Nummer wird eingefügt:
16a. Verantwortliche(r) Nachhaltigkeitspartner ist/sind
- a) der oder die Abschlussprüfer, der/die von einer Prüfungsgesellschaft für einen bestimmten Bestätigungsauftrag hinsichtlich der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung als vorrangig verantwortlich für die Durchführung der Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung im Auftrag der Prüfungsgesellschaft bestimmt ist/sind; oder
- b) im Fall der Bestätigung einer konsolidierten Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung mindestens der/die Abschlussprüfer, der/die von einer Prüfungsgesellschaft als vorrangig verantwortlich für die Durchführung der Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung auf Konzernebene bestimmt ist/sind, und der/die Abschlussprüfer, der/die als vorrangig verantwortlich auf der Ebene bedeutender Tochterunternehmen bestimmt ist/sind; oder
- c) der/die Abschlussprüfer, der/die den Prüfungsvermerk über die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung nach Artikel 28a unterzeichnet/unterzeichnen;
c) Folgende Nummern werden angefügt:
21. Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung ist die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung gemäß Artikel 2 Nummer 18 der Richtlinie 2013/34/EU.
- 22. Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung ist die Durchführung von Verfahren, die zu dem Urteil des Abschlussprüfers oder der Prüfungsgesellschaft nach Artikel 34 Absatz 1 Unterabsatz 2 Buchstabe aa und Artikel 34 Absatz 2 der Richtlinie 2013/34/EU führen.
- 23. Unabhängiger Erbringer von Bestätigungsleistungen ist eine Konformitätsbewertungsstelle, die gemäß der Verordnung (EG) Nr. 765/2008 des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates

Verordnung (EG) Nr. 765/2008 des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rats vom 9. Juli 2008 über die Vorschriften für die Akkreditierung und zur Aufhebung der Verordnung (EWG) Nr. 339/93 (ABl. L 218 vom 13.8.2008, S. 30).

für die in Artikel 34 Absatz 1 Unterabsatz 2 Buchstabe aa der Richtlinie 2013/34/EU genannte Konformitätsbewertung akkreditiert ist.

3. Artikel 6 erhält folgende Fassung:

Artikel 6Ausbildung

(1)Unbeschadet des Artikels 11 kann eine natürliche Person nur zur Durchführung von Abschlussprüfungen zugelassen werden, wenn sie nach Erlangung der Hochschulreife oder einer entsprechenden Ausbildungsstufe eine theoretische und eine praktische Ausbildung absolviert und sich mit Erfolg einer staatlichen oder staatlich anerkannten beruflichen Eignungsprüfung auf dem Niveau eines Hochschulabschlusses oder eines entsprechenden Niveaus in dem betreffenden Mitgliedstaat unterzogen hat.

(2)Zusätzlich zu der Zulassung zur Durchführung von Abschlussprüfungen gemäß Absatz 1 dieses Artikels kann eine natürliche Person zur Durchführung der Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung zugelassen werden, wenn die zusätzlichen spezifischen Anforderungen von Artikel 7 Absatz 2, Artikel 8 Absatz 3, Artikel 10 Absatz 1 Unterabsatz 2 und Artikel 14 Absatz 2 Unterabsatz 4 dieser Richtlinie erfüllt sind.

(3)Die in Artikel 32 genannten zuständigen Behörden arbeiten im Hinblick auf eine Angleichung der in diesem Artikel genannten Anforderungen zusammen. Bei der Aufnahme dieser Zusammenarbeit tragen diese zuständigen Behörden den Entwicklungen im Prüfungswesen und im Berufsstand der Prüfer und insbesondere der Angleichung Rechnung, die bereits in dem Berufsstand erreicht wurde. Sie arbeiten mit dem Ausschuss der Europäischen Aufsichtsstellen für Abschlussprüfer (im Folgenden Ausschuss der Aufsichtsstellen) und den in Artikel 20 der Verordnung (EU) Nr. 537/2014 genannten zuständigen Behörden zusammen, sofern es bei dieser Angleichung um die Abschlussprüfung und die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung bei Unternehmen von öffentlichem Interesse geht.

4. Artikel 7 erhält folgende Fassung:

Artikel 7Prüfung der beruflichen Eignung

(1)Die in Artikel 6 genannte Eignungsprüfung garantiert die erforderlichen theoretischen Kenntnisse auf den für die Abschlussprüfung maßgebenden Sachgebieten sowie die Fähigkeit, diese Kenntnisse praktisch anzuwenden. Diese Eignungsprüfung muss zumindest teilweise schriftlich erfolgen.

(2)Falls der Abschlussprüfer auch zur Durchführung der Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung zugelassen werden soll, garantiert die in Artikel 6 genannte Eignungsprüfung die erforderlichen theoretischen Kenntnisse auf den für die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung maßgebenden Sachgebieten sowie die Fähigkeit, diese Kenntnisse praktisch anzuwenden. Diese Eignungsprüfung muss zumindest teilweise schriftlich erfolgen.

5. In Artikel 8 wird folgender Absatz angefügt:

(3)

Falls der Abschlussprüfer auch zur Durchführung der Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung zugelassen werden soll, umfasst die in Absatz 1 genannte Prüfung der theoretischen Kenntnisse außerdem zumindest die folgenden Sachgebiete:

a) gesetzliche Vorschriften und Standards für die Aufstellung der jährlichen und konsolidierten Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung;
b) Nachhaltigkeitsanalyse;
c) Due-Diligence-Prozesse mit Blick auf Nachhaltigkeitsaspekte;
d) rechtliche Anforderungen an und Standards für die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung nach Artikel 26a.
6. In Artikel 10 Absatz 1 wird folgender Unterabsatz angefügt:

Falls der Abschlussprüfer oder der Auszubildende auch zur Durchführung der Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung zugelassen werden soll, bestehen mindestens acht Monate der praktischen Ausbildung nach Absatz 1 in der Bestätigung jährlicher oder konsolidierter Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung oder anderen nachhaltigkeitsbezogenen Leistungen.

7. Artikel 12 erhält folgende Fassung:

Artikel 12Kombination von praktischer und theoretischer Ausbildung

(1)Die Mitgliedstaaten können vorsehen, dass Zeiten, in denen eine theoretische Ausbildung in den in Artikel 8 Absätze 1 und 2 genannten Sachgebieten absolviert wurde, auf die in Artikel 11 genannten Berufsjahre angerechnet werden, wenn diese Ausbildung mit einer durch den Mitgliedstaat anerkannten Prüfung abgeschlossen wurde. Diese Ausbildung muss mindestens ein Jahr dauern und darf höchstens mit vier Jahren auf die berufliche Tätigkeit angerechnet werden.

(2)Berufstätigkeit und praktische Ausbildung dürfen nicht kürzer sein als die theoretische Ausbildung zusammen mit der in Artikel 10 Absatz 1 Unterabsatz 1 vorgeschriebenen praktischen Ausbildung.

8. In Artikel 14 Absatz 2 wird folgender Unterabsatz angefügt:

Falls der Abschlussprüfer auch zur Durchführung der Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung zugelassen werden soll, erstreckt sich die Eignungsprüfung nach Unterabsatz 1 darauf, ob der Abschlussprüfer über angemessene Kenntnisse der Rechtsvorschriften des Aufnahmemitgliedstaats verfügt, soweit diese Kenntnisse für die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung relevant sind.

9. Folgender Artikel wird eingefügt:

Artikel 14aVor dem 1. Januar 2024 zugelassene oder anerkannte Abschlussprüfer und Personen, die am 1. Januar 2024 das Zulassungsverfahren für Abschlussprüfer durchlaufenDie Mitgliedstaaten stellen sicher, dass Abschlussprüfer, die vor dem 1. Januar 2024 für die Durchführung von Abschlussprüfungen zugelassen oder anerkannt wurden, nicht den Anforderungen von Artikel 7 Absatz 2, Artikel 8 Absatz 3, Artikel 10 Absatz 1 Unterabsatz 2 und Artikel 14 Absatz 2 Unterabsatz 4 unterliegen.Die Mitgliedstaaten stellen sicher, dass Personen, die am 1. Januar 2024 das in den Artikeln 6 bis 14 vorgesehene Zulassungsverfahren durchlaufen, nicht den Anforderungen von Artikel 7 Absatz 2, Artikel 8 Absatz 3, Artikel 10 Absatz 1 Unterabsatz 2 und Artikel 14 Absatz 2 Unterabsatz 4 unterliegen, sofern sie dieses Verfahren bis zum 1. Januar 2026 abschließen.Die Mitgliedstaaten stellen sicher, dass vor dem 1. Januar 2026 zugelassene Abschlussprüfer, die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung durchführen wollen, die erforderlichen Kenntnisse über Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung und deren Bestätigung, einschließlich der in Artikel 8 Absatz 3 aufgeführten Sachgebiete, im Wege der kontinuierlichen Fortbildung nach Artikel 13 erwerben.

10. Artikel 16 wird wie folgt geändert:
a) Absatz 1 erhält folgende Fassung:

(1)

Für Abschlussprüfer werden im öffentlichen Register zumindest die folgenden Angaben geführt:

a) Name, Anschrift und Registrierungsnummer;
b) gegebenenfalls Name, Anschrift, Internet-Adresse und Registrierungsnummer der Prüfungsgesellschaft(en), bei der/denen der Abschlussprüfer angestellt ist oder der/denen er als Partner angehört oder in ähnlicher Form verbunden ist;
c) Angabe, ob der Abschlussprüfer auch für die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung zugelassen ist;
d) andere Registrierung(en) als Abschlussprüfer bei den zuständigen Stellen anderer Mitgliedstaaten und als Prüfer in Drittländern, einschließlich Name(n) der Zulassungsbehörde(n) und gegebenenfalls Registrierungsnummer(n), und Angabe, ob die Registrierung die Abschlussprüfung, die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung oder beides betrifft.
- b) In Absatz 2 wird folgender Unterabsatz angefügt:

Im Register wird angegeben, ob die Prüfer aus Drittländern nach Unterabsatz 1 für die Durchführung der Abschlussprüfung, die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung oder beides registriert sind.

11. Artikel 17 wird wie folgt geändert:
a) Absatz 1 Buchstabe e erhält folgende Fassung:
e) Name und Registrierungsnummer aller Abschlussprüfer, die bei der Prüfungsgesellschaft angestellt sind oder ihr als Partner angehören oder in ähnlicher Form mit ihr verbunden sind, und Angabe, ob sie auch zur Durchführung der Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung zugelassen sind;
b) Absatz 1 Buchstabe i erhält folgende Fassung:
i) andere Registrierung(en) als Prüfungsgesellschaft bei den zuständigen Stellen anderer Mitgliedstaaten und als Prüfungsunternehmen in Drittländern, einschließlich Name(n) der Zulassungsbehörde(n), und gegebenenfalls Registrierungsnummer(n), und Angabe, ob die Registrierung die Abschlussprüfung, die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung oder beides betrifft;
c) In Absatz 2 wird folgender Unterabsatz angefügt:

Im Register wird angegeben, ob die Prüfungsunternehmen aus Drittländern nach Unterabsatz 1 für die Durchführung der Abschlussprüfung, die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung oder beides registriert sind.

12. Artikel 24b wird wie folgt geändert:
a) Absatz 1 erhält folgende Fassung:

(1)Die Mitgliedstaaten sorgen dafür, dass eine Prüfungsgesellschaft, die die Abschlussprüfung durchführt, zumindest einen verantwortlichen Prüfungspartner benennt. Die Prüfungsgesellschaft stellt dem verantwortlichen Prüfungspartner oder den verantwortlichen Prüfungspartnern die zur angemessenen Wahrnehmung seiner bzw. ihrer Aufgaben notwendigen Mittel und Personal mit der notwendigen Kompetenz und den notwendigen Fähigkeiten zur Verfügung.Die Mitgliedstaaten sorgen dafür, dass eine Prüfungsgesellschaft, die die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung durchführt, zumindest einen verantwortlichen Nachhaltigkeitspartner benennt, bei dem es sich um den bzw. einen der verantwortlichen Prüfungspartner handeln kann. Die Prüfungsgesellschaft stellt dem verantwortlichen Nachhaltigkeitspartner oder den verantwortlichen Nachhaltigkeitspartnern die zur angemessenen Wahrnehmung seiner bzw. ihrer Aufgaben notwendigen Mittel und Personal mit der notwendigen Kompetenz und den notwendigen Fähigkeiten zur Verfügung.Die Hauptkriterien, nach denen die Prüfungsgesellschaft den oder die zu benennenden verantwortlichen Prüfungspartner und gegebenenfalls den oder die verantwortlichen Nachhaltigkeitspartner bestimmt, sind die Sicherstellung der Qualität der Prüfung und Bestätigung, Unabhängigkeit und Kompetenz.Der verantwortliche oder die verantwortlichen Prüfungspartner ist/sind aktiv an der Durchführung der Abschlussprüfung beteiligt. Der verantwortliche Nachhaltigkeitspartner ist aktiv an der Durchführung der Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung beteiligt.

b) Folgender Absatz wird eingefügt:

(2a)Der Abschlussprüfer wendet bei der Durchführung der Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung ausreichend Zeit auf und sieht ausreichende Ressourcen vor, um seine Aufgaben angemessen wahrzunehmen.

c) Absatz 4 Buchstaben b und c erhalten folgende Fassung:

b)
bei einer Prüfungsgesellschaft den/die Name(n) des verantwortlichen Prüfungspartners bzw. der verantwortlichen Prüfungspartner und gegebenenfalls den/die Name(n) des verantwortlichen Nachhaltigkeitspartners bzw. der verantwortlichen Nachhaltigkeitspartner,

c)
für jedes Geschäftsjahr die für die Abschlussprüfung, für die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung und für andere Leistungen in Rechnung gestellten Honorare.

d) Folgender Absatz wird eingefügt:

(5a)
Abschlussprüfer und Prüfungsgesellschaften legen für jeden Bestätigungsauftrag hinsichtlich der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung eine Bestätigungsakte an.
Der Abschlussprüfer oder die Prüfungsgesellschaft dokumentiert zumindest die gemäß Artikel 22b aufgezeichneten Daten im Hinblick auf die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung.
Der Abschlussprüfer oder die Prüfungsgesellschaft bewahrt alle sonstigen Daten und Unterlagen auf, die zur Begründung des Prüfungsvermerks über die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung nach Artikel 28a und zur Beobachtung der Einhaltung dieser Richtlinie und anderer geltender rechtlicher Anforderungen im Hinblick auf die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung von Bedeutung sind.
Die Bestätigungsakte wird spätestens 60 Tage nach Unterzeichnung des Prüfungsvermerks über die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung nach Artikel 28a geschlossen.
Führt derselbe Abschlussprüfer die Abschlussprüfung des Jahresabschlusses und die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung durch, so kann die Bestätigungsakte in die Prüfungsakte aufgenommen werden.

e) Absatz 6 erhält folgende Fassung:

Der Abschlussprüfer oder die Prüfungsgesellschaft bewahrt alle etwaigen schriftlichen Beschwerden über die Durchführung der ausgeführten Abschlussprüfungen und über die Durchführung jedes ausgeführten Bestätigungsauftrags hinsichtlich der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung auf.

13. Artikel 25 erhält folgende Fassung:

Artikel 25
Prüfungs- und Bestätigungshonorare

Die Mitgliedstaaten sorgen für eine angemessene Regelung, die gewährleistet, dass die Honorare für Abschlussprüfungen und die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung

a)
nicht von der Erbringung zusätzlicher Leistungen für das Unternehmen, das Gegenstand der Abschlussprüfung oder der Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung ist, beeinflusst oder bestimmt werden; und

b)
an keinerlei Bedingungen geknüpft werden dürfen.

14. Folgende Artikel werden eingefügt:

Artikel 25b
Berufsgrundsätze, Unabhängigkeit, Unparteilichkeit, Verschwiegenheit und Berufsgeheimnis bei der Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung
Die Anforderungen der Artikel 21 bis 24a, die sich auf die Abschlussprüfung beziehen, sind entsprechend auf die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung anzuwenden.

Artikel 25c
Nichtprüfungsleistungen, die verboten sind, wenn der Abschlussprüfer bei einem Unternehmen von öffentlichem Interesse die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung durchführt

(1)

Der Abschlussprüfer oder die Prüfungsgesellschaft, der bzw. die bei einem Unternehmen von öffentlichem Interesse die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung durchführt, und jedes Mitglied eines Netzwerks, dem der Abschlussprüfer bzw. die Prüfungsgesellschaft angehört, dürfen weder direkt noch indirekt für das Unternehmen von öffentlichem Interesse, das Gegenstand der Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung ist, dessen Mutterunternehmen oder die von ihm beherrschten Unternehmen in der Union die in Artikel 5 Absatz 1 Unterabsatz 2 Buchstaben b und c sowie Buchstaben e bis k der Verordnung (EU) Nr. 537/2014 genannten verbotenen Nichtprüfungsleistungen erbringen, und zwar

a)
innerhalb des Zeitraums zwischen dem Beginn des Zeitraums, der Gegenstand der Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung ist, und der Abgabe des Prüfungsvermerks über die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung und

b)
in Bezug auf die in Artikel 5 Absatz 1 Unterabsatz 2 Buchstabe e der Verordnung (EU) Nr. 537/2014 genannten Leistungen innerhalb des Geschäftsjahrs, das dem in Buchstabe a des vorliegenden Absatzes genannten Zeitraum unmittelbar vorausgeht.

(2)
Ein Abschlussprüfer oder eine Prüfungsgesellschaft, der bzw. die bei Unternehmen von öffentlichem Interesse die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung durchführt, und – wenn der Abschlussprüfer bzw. die Prüfungsgesellschaft einem Netzwerk angehört – jedes Mitglied eines solchen Netzwerks dürfen für das Unternehmen von öffentlichem Interesse, dessen Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung bestätigt wird, für dessen Mutterunternehmen oder für die von ihm beherrschten Unternehmen andere Leistungen erbringen als die verbotenen Nichtprüfungsleistungen nach Absatz 1 dieses Artikels oder gegebenenfalls als die verbotenen Nichtprüfungsleistungen nach Artikel 5 Absatz 1 Unterabsatz 2 der Verordnung (EU) Nr. 537/2014 oder als die Leistungen, die nach Ansicht von Mitgliedstaaten eine Gefährdung ihrer Unabhängigkeit nach Artikel 5 Absatz 2 dieser Verordnung darstellen könnten, sofern der Prüfungsausschuss nach einer ordnungsgemäßen Beurteilung der Gefährdungen für die Unabhängigkeit und der ergriffenen Schutzmaßnahmen gemäß Artikel 22b dieser Richtlinie seine Zustimmung erteilt hat.

(3)
Wenn ein Mitglied eines Netzwerks, dem der Abschlussprüfer bzw. die Prüfungsgesellschaft, der bzw. die bei einem Unternehmen von öffentlichem Interesse die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung durchführt, angehört, für ein Unternehmen mit Sitz in einem Drittland, das von dem der Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung unterzogenen Unternehmen von öffentlichem Interesse beherrscht wird, die verbotenen Nichtprüfungsleistungen nach Absatz 1 dieses Artikels erbringt, beurteilt der Abschlussprüfer bzw. die Prüfungsgesellschaft, ob diese Erbringung von Leistungen durch ein Mitglied des Netzwerks seine bzw. ihre Unabhängigkeit beeinträchtigt.
Wird seine bzw. ihre Unabhängigkeit beeinträchtigt, so wendet der Abschlussprüfer bzw. die Prüfungsgesellschaft Schutzmaßnahmen zur Verminderung der durch die Erbringung verbotener Nichtprüfungsleistungen nach Absatz 1 dieses Artikels in einem Drittland hervorgerufenen Gefahren an. Der Abschlussprüfer bzw. die Prüfungsgesellschaft darf die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung des Unternehmens von öffentlichem Interesse nur dann fortsetzen, wenn er bzw. sie gemäß Artikel 22b begründen kann, dass die Erbringung dieser Leistungen weder seine bzw. ihre fachliche Einschätzung noch den Prüfungsvermerk über die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung beeinträchtigt.

Artikel 25d
Unregelmäßigkeiten
Artikel 7 der Verordnung (EU) Nr. 537/2014 gilt entsprechend für Abschlussprüfer bzw. Prüfungsgesellschaften, die bei Unternehmen von öffentlichem Interesse Bestätigungen der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung durchführen.

15. Folgender Artikel wird eingefügt:

Artikel 26a
Standards für die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung

(1)
Die Mitgliedstaaten verpflichten die Abschlussprüfer und Prüfungsgesellschaften, die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung unter Beachtung der von der Kommission nach Absatz 3 angenommenen Standards für die Bestätigung durchzuführen.

(2)
Die Mitgliedstaaten können nationale Standards, Verfahren oder Anforderungen für die Bestätigung so lange anwenden, wie die Kommission keinen Standard für die Bestätigung, der für denselben Bereich gilt, angenommen hat.
Die Mitgliedstaaten teilen der Kommission die nationalen Standards, Verfahren oder Anforderungen für die Bestätigung spätestens drei Monate vor deren Inkrafttreten mit.

(3)
Der Kommission nimmt spätestens am 1. Oktober 2026 delegierte Rechtsakte gemäß Artikel 48a zur Ergänzung dieser Richtlinie an, um Standards für begrenzte Prüfungssicherheit für die vom Abschlussprüfer und der Prüfungsgesellschaft oder den Prüfungsgesellschaften für seine bzw. ihre Schussfolgerungen über die Prüfung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung durchzuführenden Verfahren, einschließlich Auftragsplanung, Risikoerwägungen und Reaktion auf Risiken, und die Art der in dem Prüfungsvermerk über die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung oder gegebenenfalls im Bestätigungsvermerk zu berücksichtigenden Schlussfolgerungen festzulegen.
Die Kommission nimmt spätestens am 1. Oktober 2028 delegierte Rechtsakte gemäß Artikel 48a zur Ergänzung dieser Richtlinie an, um nach einer Bewertung, mit der festgestellt werden soll, ob hinreichende Prüfungssicherheit für die Prüfer und für die Unternehmen machbar ist, diese Richtlinie so zu ändern, dass sie Standards für die Erlangung hinreichender Prüfungssicherheit enthält. Unter Berücksichtigung der Ergebnisse dieser Bewertung und wenn es daher angemessen ist, wird in diesen delegierten Rechtsakten das Datum angegeben, ab dem das in Artikel 34 Absatz 1 Unterabsatz 2 Buchstabe aa genannte Urteil auf einen Auftrag zur Erlangung hinreichender Prüfungssicherheit gestützt werden muss, der auf diesen Standards für die Erlangung hinreichender Prüfungssicherheit beruht.

Die Kommission darf die in den Unterabsätzen 1 und 2 genannten Standards für die Bestätigung nur annehmen, wenn sie

a)
in einem einwandfreien Verfahren mit angemessener öffentlicher Aufsicht und Transparenz erstellt wurden;

b)
bei der jährlichen oder konsolidierten Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung zu einem hohen Maß an Glaubwürdigkeit und Qualität beitragen; und

c)
dem Gemeinwohl der Union dienen.

16. Folgender Artikel wird eingefügt:

Artikel 27a
Bestätigung der konsolidierten Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung

(1)

Die Mitgliedstaaten stellen sicher, dass im Falle von Bestätigungsaufträgen in Bezug auf die konsolidierte Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung eines Konzerns

a)
der Konzernabschlussprüfer in Bezug auf die konsolidierte Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung die volle Verantwortung für den Prüfungsvermerk über die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung nach Artikel 28a trägt;

b)
der Konzernabschlussprüfer die von unabhängigen Erbringern von Bestätigungsleistungen, Prüfern aus einem Drittland, Abschlussprüfern, Prüfungsunternehmen aus einem Drittland oder Prüfungsgesellschaften für die Zwecke der Bestätigung der konsolidierten Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung durchgeführten Bestätigungstätigkeiten bewertet und die Art, den Zeitplan und das Ausmaß der von diesen Prüfern durchgeführten Arbeit dokumentiert, wozu gegebenenfalls auch die Durchsicht von relevanten Teilen der Bestätigungsunterlagen dieser Prüfer durch den Konzernabschlussprüfer zählt, und

c)
der Konzernabschlussprüfer die von unabhängigen Erbringern von Bestätigungsleistungen, Prüfern aus einem Drittland, Abschlussprüfern, Prüfungsunternehmen aus einem Drittland oder Prüfungsgesellschaften für die Zwecke der Bestätigung der konsolidierten Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung durchgeführten Bestätigungstätigkeiten überprüft und dokumentiert.

Die von dem Konzernabschlussprüfer aufbewahrten Unterlagen müssen so beschaffen sein, dass die entsprechende zuständige Behörde die Arbeit des Konzernabschlussprüfers überprüfen kann.
Für die Zwecke von Unterabsatz 1 Buchstabe c dieses Absatzes verlangt der Konzernabschlussprüfer als Voraussetzung dafür, dass er sich auf die Arbeit von unabhängigen Erbringern von Bestätigungsleistungen, Prüfern aus einem Drittland, Abschlussprüfern, Prüfungsunternehmen aus einem Drittland oder Prüfungsgesellschaften stützen kann, dass die betreffenden unabhängigen Erbringer von Bestätigungsleistungen, Prüfer aus einem Drittland, Abschlussprüfer, Prüfungsunternehmen aus einem Drittland oder Prüfungsgesellschaften in die Weitergabe relevanter Unterlagen während der Bestätigung der konsolidierten Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung einwilligen.

(2)
Ist es dem Konzernabschlussprüfer nicht möglich, die Bestimmungen in Absatz 1 Unterabsatz 1 Buchstabe c zu erfüllen, so ergreift er geeignete Maßnahmen und unterrichtet die jeweils zuständige Behörde entsprechend.
Solche Maßnahmen umfassen gegebenenfalls zusätzliche Bestätigungstätigkeiten bei dem betreffenden Tochterunternehmen, die entweder direkt oder im Wege einer Auslagerung durchgeführt werden.

(3)
Wird der Konzernabschlussprüfer in Bezug auf die Prüfung der konsolidierten Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung eines Konzerns einer Qualitätssicherungsprüfung oder Untersuchung unterzogen, so stellt er der zuständigen Behörde auf Verlangen die relevanten ihm vorliegenden Unterlagen zur Verfügung, die die von den betreffenden unabhängigen Erbringern von Bestätigungsleistungen, Prüfern aus einem Drittland, Abschlussprüfern, Prüfungsunternehmen aus einem Drittland oder Prüfungsgesellschaften für die Zwecke der Prüfung der konsolidierten Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung durchgeführten Bestätigungstätigkeiten betreffen, wozu auch sämtliche für die Bestätigung der konsolidierten Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung relevanten Arbeitspapiere zählen.
Die zuständige Behörde kann verlangen, dass die jeweils zuständigen Behörden gemäß Artikel 36 zusätzliche Unterlagen zu den von Abschlussprüfern oder Prüfungsgesellschaften für die Zwecke der Bestätigung der konsolidierten Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung durchgeführten Bestätigungstätigkeiten zur Verfügung stellen.
Wird die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung eines Mutter- oder Tochterunternehmens eines Konzerns von einem oder mehreren Prüfern oder Prüfungsunternehmen aus einem Drittland durchgeführt, so kann die zuständige Behörde verlangen, dass die jeweils zuständigen Drittlandsbehörden im Rahmen der Vereinbarung zur Zusammenarbeit zusätzliche Unterlagen zu den von Prüfern oder Prüfungsunternehmen aus einem Drittland durchgeführten Bestätigungstätigkeiten zur Verfügung stellen.
Abweichend von Unterabsatz 3 trägt der Konzernabschlussprüfer für den Fall, dass ein unabhängiger Erbringer von Bestätigungsleistungen, ein oder mehrere Prüfer aus einem Drittland oder ein oder mehrere Prüfungsunternehmen aus einem Drittland, die nicht über eine Vereinbarung zur Zusammenarbeit verfügen, die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung eines Mutter- oder Tochterunternehmens eines Konzerns durchführen, zudem dafür Sorge, dass – sollte dies verlangt werden – die zusätzlichen Unterlagen zu den von diesem unabhängigen Erbringer von Bestätigungsleistungen, Prüfer oder Prüfungsunternehmen bzw. von diesen unabhängigen Erbringern von Bestätigungsleistungen, Prüfern oder Prüfungsunternehmen aus einem Drittland durchgeführten Bestätigungstätigkeiten samt der für die Bestätigung der konsolidierten Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung relevanten Arbeitspapiere ordnungsgemäß ausgehändigt werden. Zur Sicherstellung dieser Aushändigung bewahrt der Konzernabschlussprüfer eine Kopie dieser Unterlagen auf oder vereinbart andernfalls mit dem unabhängigen Erbringer von Bestätigungsleistungen, Prüfer oder Prüfungsunternehmen bzw. den unabhängigen Erbringern von Bestätigungsleistungen, Prüfern oder Prüfungsunternehmen aus einem Drittland, dass auf Antrag unbeschränkter Zugang zu diesen Unterlagen gestattet wird, oder er trifft sonstige geeignete Maßnahmen. Verhindern rechtliche oder andere Hindernisse, dass die die Bestätigung betreffenden Arbeitspapiere aus einem Drittland an den Konzernabschlussprüfer weitergegeben werden können, so müssen die vom Konzernabschlussprüfer aufbewahrten Unterlagen Nachweise dafür enthalten, dass er die geeigneten Verfahren durchgeführt hat, um Zugang zu den Bestätigungsunterlagen zu erhalten, sowie, im Fall anderer als durch die Rechtsvorschriften des betroffenen Drittlands entstandener rechtlicher Hindernisse, Nachweise für das Vorhandensein eines solchen Hindernisses.

17. Artikel 28 Absatz 2 Buchstabe e erhält folgende Fassung:

e)
enthält ein Prüfungsurteil und eine Erklärung, die jeweils auf den gemäß Artikel 34 Absatz 1 Unterabsatz 2 Buchstaben a und b der Richtlinie 2013/34/EU im Laufe der Prüfung durchgeführten Arbeiten basieren;

18. Folgender Artikel wird eingefügt:

Artikel 28a
Prüfungsvermerk zur Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung

(1)
Der oder die Abschlussprüfer bzw. die Prüfungsgesellschaft oder -gesellschaften legt/legen die Ergebnisse der Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung in einem Prüfungsvermerk zur Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung dar. Dieser Vermerk wird entsprechend den Anforderungen der von der Kommission mittels nach Artikel 26a Absatz 3 delegierter Rechtsakte angenommenen Standards für die Bestätigung oder bis zum Erlass dieser Standards für die Bestätigung durch die Kommission im Einklang mit den nationalen Standards für die Bestätigung gemäß Artikel 26a Absatz 2 erstellt.

(2)

Der Prüfungsvermerk zur Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung wird schriftlich abgefasst und

a)
nennt das Unternehmen, dessen jährliche oder konsolidierte Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung Gegenstand des Bestätigungsauftrags ist; gibt an, ob es sich um eine jährliche oder eine konsolidierte Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung handelt und nennt das Datum und den Zeitraum, auf den er sich bezieht; und gibt den Rahmen für die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung an, der bei seiner Aufstellung verwendet wurde;

b)
enthält eine Beschreibung des Umfangs der Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung, die zumindest Angaben über die Standards für die Bestätigung enthält, nach denen die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung durchgeführt wurde;

c)
enthält das Urteil gemäß Artikel 34 Absatz 1 Unterabsatz 2 Buchstabe aa der Richtlinie 2013/34/EU.

(3)
Wurde die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung von mehr als einem Abschlussprüfer oder einer Prüfungsgesellschaft durchgeführt, so einigen sich diese auf die Ergebnisse der Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung und erstellen einen gemeinsamen Bericht und ein gemeinsames Urteil. Bei Uneinigkeit gibt jeder Abschlussprüfer bzw. jede Prüfungsgesellschaft in einem gesonderten Absatz des Prüfungsvermerks zur Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung ein eigenes Urteil ab und legt die Gründe für die Uneinigkeit dar.

(4)
Der Prüfungsvermerk zur Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung ist vom Abschlussprüfer, der die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung durchführt, unter Angabe des Datums zu unterzeichnen. Wird die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung von einer Prüfungsgesellschaft durchgeführt, so wird der Prüfungsvermerk zur Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung zumindest von dem Abschlussprüfer oder den Abschlussprüfern, der bzw. die die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung für die Prüfungsgesellschaft durchgeführt hat bzw. haben, unterzeichnet. Sind mehr als ein Abschlussprüfer oder eine Prüfungsgesellschaft gleichzeitig beauftragt worden, so wird der Prüfungsvermerk zur Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung von allen Abschlussprüfern oder zumindest von den Abschlussprüfern, die die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung für jede Prüfungsgesellschaft durchgeführt haben, unterzeichnet. Unter besonderen Umständen können die Mitgliedstaaten vorsehen, dass diese Unterschrift(en) nicht öffentlich bekannt gemacht werden muss bzw. müssen, weil eine solche Offenlegung zu einer absehbaren und ernst zu nehmenden Gefahr für die persönliche Sicherheit einer Person führen würde.
In jedem Fall müssen die jeweils zuständigen Behörden die Namen der beteiligten Personen kennen.

(5)
Die Mitgliedstaaten können verlangen, dass der Prüfungsvermerk zur Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung als gesonderter Abschnitt in den Bestätigungsvermerk aufgenommen wird, falls derselbe Abschlussprüfer die Abschlussprüfung des Jahresabschlusses und die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung durchführt.

(6)
Der Bericht des Abschlussprüfers oder der Prüfungsgesellschaft zur konsolidierten Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung hat den Anforderungen nach den Absätzen 1 bis 5 zu genügen.

19. Artikel 29 wird wie folgt geändert:
a) Absatz 1 Buchstabe d erhält folgende Fassung:

d)
die Personen, die die Qualitätssicherungsprüfungen durchführen, müssen über eine angemessene fachliche Ausbildung und einschlägige Erfahrungen auf den Gebieten der Abschlussprüfung und Rechnungslegung und gegebenenfalls der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung und der Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung oder anderen nachhaltigkeitsbezogenen Dienstleistungen verfügen und darüber hinaus eine spezielle Ausbildung für Qualitätssicherungsprüfungen absolviert haben;

b) Absatz 1 Buchstabe f erhält folgende Fassung:

f)
die Qualitätssicherungsprüfung muss auf der Grundlage angemessener Überprüfungen von ausgewählten Prüfungsakten und gegebenenfalls Bestätigungsakten eine Beurteilung der Einhaltung einschlägiger Standards für die Bestätigung und Unabhängigkeitsanforderungen und eine Beurteilung der Quantität und der Qualität von eingesetzten Ressourcen, der berechneten Prüfungshonorare und Honorare für die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung sowie des internen Qualitätssicherungssystems der Prüfungsgesellschaft umfassen;

c) Absatz 1 Buchstabe h erhält folgende Fassung:

h)
Qualitätssicherungsprüfungen müssen auf der Grundlage einer Risikoanalyse und im Fall von Abschlussprüfern und Prüfungsgesellschaften, die Abschlussprüfungen im Sinne des Artikels 2 Absatz 1 Buchstabe a und gegebenenfalls Bestätigungen der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung durchführen, mindestens alle sechs Jahre stattfinden;

d) Absatz 2 Buchstabe a erhält folgende Fassung:

a)
Die Qualitätssicherungsprüfer verfügen über eine angemessene fachliche Ausbildung und einschlägige Erfahrungen auf den Gebieten der Abschlussprüfung und Rechnungslegung und gegebenenfalls der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung und der Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung oder anderen nachhaltigkeitsbezogenen Dienstleistungen und haben eine spezielle Ausbildung in Qualitätssicherungsprüfungen absolviert.

e) Folgender Absatz wird eingefügt:

(2a)
Die Mitgliedstaaten können Personen, die Qualitätssicherungsprüfungen im Zusammenhang mit der Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung durchführen, bis zum 31. Dezember 2025 von der Anforderung befreien, über einschlägige Erfahrung auf dem Gebiet der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung und der Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung oder anderer nachhaltigkeitsbezogener Dienstleistungen zu verfügen.

20. Artikel 30 Absätze 1 und 2 erhalten folgende Fassung:

(1)
Die Mitgliedstaaten sorgen für wirksame Untersuchungen und Sanktionen, um eine unzureichende Durchführung von Abschlussprüfungen und Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung aufzudecken, zu berichtigen und zu verhindern.

(2)
Unbeschadet ihrer zivilrechtlichen Haftungsvorschriften sehen die Mitgliedstaaten wirksame, verhältnismäßige und abschreckende Sanktionen für Abschlussprüfer und Prüfungsgesellschaften vor, die sich bei der Durchführung von Abschlussprüfungen oder Bestätigungen der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung nicht an die Vorschriften halten, die zur Umsetzung dieser Richtlinie und gegebenenfalls der Verordnung (EU) Nr. 537/2014 angenommen wurden.
Die Mitgliedstaaten können beschließen, für Verstöße, die bereits dem einzelstaatlichen Strafrecht unterliegen, keine Vorschriften für verwaltungsrechtliche Sanktionen festzulegen. In diesem Fall teilen sie der Kommission die einschlägigen strafrechtlichen Vorschriften mit.

21. In Artikel 30a Absatz 1 wird folgender Buchstabe eingefügt:

ca)
ein dem Abschlussprüfer, der Prüfungsgesellschaft oder dem verantwortlichen Nachhaltigkeitspartner auferlegtes vorübergehendes Verbot der Durchführung von Bestätigungen der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung und/oder der Unterzeichnung von Prüfungsvermerken zur Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung von bis zu drei Jahren;

22. In Artikel 30a Absatz 1 wird folgender Buchstabe eingefügt:

da)
eine Erklärung, dass der Prüfungsvermerk zur Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung nicht die Anforderungen des Artikels 28a dieser Richtlinie erfüllt;

23. Artikel 32 wird wie folgt geändert:
a) Absatz 3 Unterabsatz 1 erhält folgende Fassung:

(3)
Die zuständige Behörde wird von Nichtberufsausübenden geleitet, die in den für Abschlussprüfungen und gegebenenfalls für Bestätigungen der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung relevanten Bereichen über entsprechende Kenntnisse verfügen. Diese Personen werden in einem unabhängigen und transparenten Verfahren ausgewählt.

b) Absatz 4 Buchstabe b erhält folgende Fassung:

b)
die Annahme von Berufsgrundsätzen, von Standards für die interne Qualitätssicherung von Prüfungsgesellschaften, von Prüfungsstandards sowie von Standards für die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung zu beaufsichtigen, es sei denn, diese Standards werden von anderen mitgliedstaatlichen Behörden angenommen oder genehmigt;

24. Folgender Artikel wird eingefügt:

Artikel 36a
Gegenseitige Anerkennung der mitgliedstaatlichen Regelungen für die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung
Die Anforderungen der Artikel 34 und 36, die sich auf die Abschlussprüfung beziehen, sind entsprechend auf die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung anzuwenden.

25. Artikel 37 wird wie folgt geändert:
a) In Absatz 1 wird folgender Unterabsatz angefügt:

Unterabsatz 1 gilt auch für die Bestellung des Abschlussprüfers oder der Prüfungsgesellschaft zum Zweck der Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung.

b) in Absatz 2 wird folgender Unterabsatz angefügt:

Unterabsatz 1 gilt auch für die Bestellung des Abschlussprüfers oder der Prüfungsgesellschaft zum Zweck der Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung.

c) Absatz 3 erhält folgende Fassung:

(3)
Jegliche Vertragsklausel, die die Auswahlmöglichkeiten der Gesellschafterversammlung oder der Aktionärshauptversammlung des geprüften Unternehmens gemäß Absatz 1 in Bezug auf Ernennung eines Abschlussprüfers oder einer Prüfungsgesellschaft zur Durchführung der Abschlussprüfung und gegebenenfalls der Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung bei diesem Unternehmen auf bestimmte Kategorien oder Listen von Abschlussprüfern oder Prüfungsgesellschaften beschränkt, ist untersagt. Jede bestehende Klausel dieser Art ist nichtig.
Die Mitgliedstaaten sorgen dafür, dass Aktionäre oder Gesellschafter großer Unternehmen, für die die Artikel 19a und 29a der Richtlinie 2013/34/EU gelten, ausgenommen in Artikel 2 Nummer 1 Buchstabe a der genannten Richtlinie genannte Unternehmen, die mehr als 5 % der Stimmrechte oder 5 % des Kapitals des Unternehmens ausmachen, einzeln oder gemeinsam das Recht haben, Beschlussentwürfe einzureichen, die in der Gesellschafterversammlung oder der Aktionärshauptversammlung anzunehmen sind, in der verlangt wird, dass eine akkreditierte dritte Partei, die nicht zu derselben Prüfungsgesellschaft oder demselben Netzwerk wie der Abschlussprüfer oder die Prüfungsgesellschaft, die die Abschlussprüfung vornimmt, einen Bericht über bestimmte Bestandteile der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung ausarbeitet und dass dieser Bericht der Gesellschafterversammlung bzw. Aktionärshauptversammlung zur Verfügung gestellt wird.

26. Artikel 38 wird wie folgt geändert:
a) Absatz 1 erhält folgende Fassung:

(1)
Die Mitgliedstaaten stellen sicher, dass Abschlussprüfer oder Prüfungsgesellschaften nur bei Vorliegen triftiger Gründe abberufen werden können. Meinungsverschiedenheiten über Bilanzierungsmethoden, Prüfverfahren oder gegebenenfalls die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung oder entsprechende Bestätigungsverfahren sind kein triftiger Grund für eine Abberufung.

b) In Absatz 2 wird folgender Unterabsatz angefügt:

Die Unterrichtungspflicht nach Unterabsatz 1 gilt auch für die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung.

c) In Absatz 3 wird folgender Unterabsatz angefügt:

Unterabsatz 1 gilt auch für die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung.

27. Artikel 39 wird wie folgt geändert:
a) Folgender Absatz wird eingefügt:

(4a)
Die Mitgliedstaaten können gestatten, dass die dem Prüfungsausschuss übertragenen Aufgaben im Zusammenhang mit der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung und im Zusammenhang mit der Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung von dem Verwaltungs- oder Aufsichtsorgan in seiner Gesamtheit oder von einem vom Verwaltungs- oder Aufsichtsorgan eigens eingerichteten Gremium wahrgenommen werden.

b) Absatz 6 Buchstaben a bis e erhalten folgende Fassung:

a)
das Verwaltungs- oder Aufsichtsorgan des geprüften Unternehmens über das Ergebnis der Abschlussprüfung und gegebenenfalls das Ergebnis der Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung zu unterrichten und darzulegen, wie die Abschlussprüfung und die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung zur Integrität der Rechnungslegung bzw. der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung beigetragen haben und welche Rolle der Prüfungsausschuss in diesem Prozess gespielt hat;

b)
den Rechnungslegungsprozess und gegebenenfalls der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattungsprozess, einschließlich des Prozesses der elektronischen Berichterstattung nach Artikel 29d der Richtlinie 2013/34/EU und des vom Unternehmen durchgeführten Prozesses zur Ermittlung der Informationen, über die Bericht erstattet wurde, im Einklang mit den nach Artikel 29b der genannten Richtlinie angenommenen Standards für die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung, zu beobachten und Empfehlungen oder Vorschläge zur Gewährleistung ihrer Integrität zu unterbreiten;

c)
die Wirksamkeit des internen Kontrollsystems und des Risikomanagementsystems sowie gegebenenfalls der internen Revision des Unternehmens, die die Rechnungslegung und gegebenenfalls die Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung des Unternehmens berühren, einschließlich des Prozesses der elektronischen Berichterstattung nach Artikel 29d der Richtlinie 2013/34/EU, zu beobachten, ohne dass seine Unabhängigkeit verletzt wird;

d)
die Abschlussprüfung des Jahresabschlusses und des konsolidierten Abschlusses und gegebenenfalls die Bestätigung der jährlichen und konsolidierten Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung zu beobachten, insbesondere deren Leistung unter Berücksichtigung der Erkenntnisse und Schlussfolgerungen der zuständigen Behörde nach Artikel 26 Absatz 6 der Verordnung (EU) Nr. 537/2014;

e)
die Unabhängigkeit der Abschlussprüfer oder Prüfungsgesellschaften gemäß den Artikeln 22, 22a, 22b, 24a, 24b, 25b, 25c und 25d dieser Richtlinie sowie gemäß Artikel 6 der Verordnung (EU) Nr. 537/2014 und insbesondere die Angemessenheit der für das geprüfte Unternehmen erbrachten Nichtprüfungsleistungen gemäß Artikel 5 jener Verordnung zu überprüfen und zu beobachten;

28. Artikel 45 wird wie folgt geändert:
a) Absatz 1 erhält folgende Fassung:

(1)

Die zuständigen Behörden eines Mitgliedstaats registrieren gemäß den Artikeln 15, 16 und 17 der vorliegenden Richtlinie alle Prüfer und Prüfungsunternehmen aus Drittländern, wenn diese Prüfer oder Prüfungsunternehmen aus Drittländern einen Bestätigungsvermerk zu dem Jahresabschluss oder konsolidierten Abschluss oder gegebenenfalls einen Prüfungsvermerk zur jährlichen oder konsolidierten Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung eines Unternehmens mit Sitz außerhalb der Union erteilen, dessen übertragbare Wertpapiere zum Handel an einem geregelten Markt dieses Mitgliedstaats im Sinne von Artikel 4 Absatz 1 Nummer 21 der Richtlinie 2014/65/EU des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates

Richtlinie 2014/65/EU des Europäischen Parlaments und des Rates vom 15. Mai 2014 über Märkte für Finanzinstrumente sowie zur Änderung der Richtlinien 2002/92/EG und 2011/61/EU (ABl. L 173 vom 12.6.2014, S. 349).

zugelassen sind, es sei denn, das Unternehmen ist ein Emittent ausschließlich ausstehender Schuldtitel, die eines der folgenden Merkmale aufweisen:

a)
Diese Titel wurden vor dem 31. Dezember 2010 zum Handel an einem geregelten Markt in einem Mitgliedstaat im Sinne von Artikel 4 Absatz 1 Nummer 21 der Richtlinie 2014/65/EU mit einer Mindeststückelung von 50000 EUR am Ausgabetag oder, wenn es sich um Schuldtitel handelt, die auf eine andere Währung als Euro lauten, mit einer Mindeststückelung, deren Wert am Ausgabetag mindestens 50000 EUR entspricht, zugelassen.

b)
Diese Titel wurden ab dem 31. Dezember 2010 zum Handel an einem geregelten Markt in einem Mitgliedstaat im Sinne von Artikel 4 Absatz 1 Nummer 21 der Richtlinie 2014/65/EU mit einer Mindeststückelung von 100000 EUR am Ausgabetag oder, wenn es sich um Schuldtitel handelt, die auf eine andere Währung als Euro lauten, mit einer Mindeststückelung, deren Wert am Ausgabetag mindestens 100000 EUR entspricht, zugelassen.

b) Die Absätze 4 bis 6 erhalten folgende Fassung:

(4)
Unbeschadet des Artikels 46 haben Bestätigungsvermerke zu Jahresabschlüssen oder konsolidierten Abschlüssen oder gegebenenfalls Prüfungsvermerke zu jährlicher oder konsolidierter Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung nach Absatz 1 des vorliegenden Artikels, die von in dem Mitgliedstaat nicht registrierten Prüfern oder Prüfungsunternehmen aus Drittländern erteilt werden, in diesem Mitgliedstaat keinerlei Rechtswirkung.

(5)

Ein Mitgliedstaat kann ein Prüfungsunternehmen aus einem Drittland zum Zweck der Abschlussprüfung nur registrieren, wenn

a)
die Mehrheit der Mitglieder des Verwaltungs- bzw. Leitungsorgans des Prüfungsunternehmens aus einem Drittland Voraussetzungen erfüllt, die den Vorgaben der Artikel 4 bis 10 – mit Ausnahme von Artikel 7 Absatz 2, Artikel 8 Absatz 3 und Artikel 10 Absatz 1 Unterabsatz 2 – gleichwertig sind;

b)
der Prüfer aus einem Drittland, der die Prüfung im Auftrag des Prüfungsunternehmens aus einem Drittland durchführt, Voraussetzungen erfüllt, die den Vorgaben der Artikel 4 bis 10 – mit Ausnahme von Artikel 7 Absatz 2, Artikel 8 Absatz 3 und Artikel 10 Absatz 1 Unterabsatz 2 – gleichwertig sind;

c)
die Prüfungen des Jahresabschlusses bzw. konsolidierten Abschlusses nach Absatz 1 dieses Artikels in Übereinstimmung mit den internationalen Prüfungsstandards gemäß Artikel 26 und den in den Artikeln 22, 22b und 25 niedergelegten Anforderungen oder gleichwertigen Standards und Anforderungen durchgeführt werden;

d)
das Prüfungsunternehmen aus einem Drittland auf seiner Website einen jährlichen Transparenzbericht veröffentlicht, der die in Artikel 13 der Verordnung (EU) Nr. 537/2014 genannten Informationen enthält, oder gleichwertige Anforderungen an die Offenlegung erfüllt.

Ein Mitgliedstaat kann ein Prüfungsunternehmen aus einem Drittland zum Zweck der Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung nur registrieren, wenn

a)
die Mehrheit der Mitglieder des Verwaltungs- bzw. Leitungsorgans des Prüfungsunternehmens aus einem Drittland Voraussetzungen erfüllt, die den Vorgaben der Artikel 4 bis 10 gleichwertig sind;

b)
der Prüfer aus einem Drittland, der die Bestätigung im Auftrag des Prüfungsunternehmens aus einem Drittland durchführt, Voraussetzungen erfüllt, die den Vorgaben der Artikel 4 bis 10 gleichwertig sind;

c)
die Bestätigung der jährlichen oder konsolidierten Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung nach Absatz 1 in Übereinstimmung mit den Standards für die Bestätigung gemäß Artikel 26a und den in den Artikeln 22, 22b, 25 und 25b niedergelegten Anforderungen oder gleichwertigen Standards und Anforderungen durchgeführt wird;

d)
das Prüfungsunternehmen aus einem Drittland auf seiner Website einen jährlichen Transparenzbericht veröffentlicht, der die in Artikel 13 der Verordnung (EU) Nr. 537/2014 genannten Informationen enthält, oder gleichwertige Anforderungen an die Offenlegung erfüllt.

(5a)
Ein Mitgliedstaat darf einen Prüfer aus einem Drittland zum Zweck der Abschlussprüfung nur registrieren, wenn er die Anforderungen nach Absatz 5 Unterabsatz 1 Buchstaben b, c und d dieses Artikels erfüllt.
Ein Mitgliedstaat darf einen Prüfer aus einem Drittland zum Zweck der Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung nur registrieren, wenn er die Anforderungen nach Absatz 5 Unterabsatz 2 Buchstaben b, c und d dieses Artikels erfüllt.

(6)
Um einheitliche Bedingungen für die Anwendung von Absatz 5 Unterabsatz 1 Buchstabe c und Absatz 5 Unterabsatz 2 Buchstabe c dieses Artikels zu gewährleisten, wird die Kommission ermächtigt, über die darin genannte Gleichwertigkeit im Wege von Durchführungsrechtsakten zu entscheiden. Diese Durchführungsrechtsakte werden gemäß dem in Artikel 48 Absatz 2 genannten Prüfverfahren erlassen.
Bis zu einer solchen Entscheidung der Kommission können die Mitgliedstaaten die Gleichwertigkeit im Sinne von Absatz 5 Unterabsatz 1 Buchstabe c und Absatz 5 Unterabsatz 2 Buchstabe c dieses Artikels selbst beurteilen.
Die Kommission wird zum Erlass delegierter Rechtsakte gemäß Artikel 48a zur Ergänzung dieser Richtlinie ermächtigt, um allgemeine Kriterien für die Beurteilung der Gleichwertigkeit festzulegen, die bei der Beurteilung der Frage heranzuziehen sind, ob die Abschlussprüfungen und gegebenenfalls die Bestätigungen der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung nach Absatz 1 im Einklang mit den internationalen Prüfungsstandards nach Artikel 26 bzw. den Standards für die Bestätigung der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung entsprechend der Definition in Artikel 26a und den in den Artikeln 22, 24 und 25 niedergelegten Anforderungen durchgeführt wurden. Die Mitgliedstaaten ziehen bei der Beurteilung der Gleichwertigkeit auf nationaler Ebene diese für alle Drittländer geltenden Kriterien heran.

29. Artikel 48a wird wie folgt geändert:
a) In Absatz 2 wird folgender Unterabsatz angefügt:

Die Befugnis zum Erlass der in Artikel 26a Absatz 2 genannten delegierten Rechtsakte wird der Kommission auf unbestimmte Zeit übertragen.

b) Absatz 3 erhält folgende Fassung:

(3)
Die Befugnisübertragung gemäß Artikel 26 Absatz 3, Artikel 26a Absatz 3, Artikel 45 Absatz 6, Artikel 46 Absatz 2 und Artikel 47 Absatz 3 kann vom Europäischen Parlament oder vom Rat jederzeit widerrufen werden. Der Beschluss über den Widerruf beendet die Übertragung der in diesem Beschluss angegebenen Befugnis. Er wird am Tag nach seiner Veröffentlichung im Amtsblatt der Europäischen Union oder zu einem im Beschluss über den Widerruf angegebenen späteren Zeitpunkt wirksam. Die Gültigkeit von delegierten Rechtsakten, die bereits in Kraft sind, wird von dem Beschluss über den Widerruf nicht berührt.

c) Absatz 5 erhält folgende Fassung:

(5)
Ein delegierter Rechtsakt, der gemäß Artikel 26 Absatz 3, Artikel 26a Absatz 3, Artikel 45 Absatz 6, Artikel 46 Absatz 2 oder Artikel 47 Absatz 3 erlassen wurde, tritt nur in Kraft, wenn weder das Europäische Parlament noch der Rat innerhalb einer Frist von vier Monaten nach Übermittlung dieses Rechtsakts an das Europäische Parlament und den Rat Einwände erhoben haben oder wenn vor Ablauf dieser Frist das Europäische Parlament und der Rat beide der Kommission mitgeteilt haben, dass sie keine Einwände erheben werden. Auf Initiative des Europäischen Parlaments oder des Rates wird diese Frist um zwei Monate verlängert.

Article 4 — Amendments to Regulation (EU) No 537/2014 Article 4 — Amendments to Regulation (EU) No 537/2014 Article 4 — Änderung der Verordnung (EU) Nr. 537/2014

Regulation (EU) No 537/2014 is amended as follows:

(1) in Article 4(2), the second subparagraph is replaced by the following:

For the purposes of the limits specified in the first subparagraph of this paragraph, the assurance of sustainability reporting, and non-audit services other than those referred to in Article 5(1), required by Union or national legislation, shall be excluded.;

(2) Article 5 is amended as follows:
- (a) in paragraph 1, second subparagraph, point (c) is replaced by the following:
(c) bookkeeping and preparing accounting records and financial statements as well as preparing sustainability reporting;;
- (b) in paragraph 4, the following subparagraph is inserted after the first subparagraph:

The approval of the audit committee referred to in the first subparagraph shall not be needed for the provision of assurance of sustainability reporting..

Regulation (EU) No 537/2014 is amended as follows:

(1) in Article 4(2), the second subparagraph is replaced by the following:

(2) Article 5 is amended as follows:
- (a) in paragraph 1, second subparagraph, point (c) is replaced by the following:
(c) bookkeeping and preparing accounting records and financial statements as well as preparing sustainability reporting;;
- (b) in paragraph 4, the following subparagraph is inserted after the first subparagraph:

The approval of the audit committee referred to in the first subparagraph shall not be needed for the provision of assurance of sustainability reporting..

Die Verordnung (EU) Nr. 537/2014 wird wie folgt geändert:

1. Artikel 4 Absatz 2 Unterabsatz 2 erhält folgende Fassung:

Bestätigungen der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung und andere als die in Artikel 5 Absatz 1 genannten Nichtprüfungsleistungen, die nach Unionsrecht oder nationalem Recht erforderlich sind, sind für die Zwecke der in Unterabsatz 1 des vorliegenden Absatzes genannten Beschränkungen ausgenommen.

2. Artikel 5 wird wie folgt geändert:
- a) Absatz 1 Unterabsatz 2 Buchstabe c erhält folgende Fassung:
c) Buchhaltung und Erstellung von Unterlagen der Rechnungslegung und von Abschlüssen sowie Erstellung von Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung;
- b) In Absatz 4 wird nach Unterabsatz 1 folgender Unterabsatz eingefügt:

Die Billigung des Prüfungsausschusses nach Unterabsatz 1 ist für die Durchführung von Bestätigungen der Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung nicht erforderlich.

Article 5 — Transposition Article 5 — Transposition Article 5 — Umsetzung

1 1 1

Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with Articles 1 to 3 of this Directive by 6 July 2024. They shall immediately communicate the text of those measures to the Commission.

2 2 2

Member States shall apply the measures necessary to comply with Article 1, with the exception of point (14):

(a) for financial years starting between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2026:
- (i) to large undertakings within the meaning of Article 3(4) of Directive 2013/34/EU which are public-interest entities as defined in point (1) of Article 2 of that Directive exceeding on their balance sheet dates the average number of 500 employees during the financial year;
- (ii) to public-interest entities as defined in point (1) of Article 2 of Directive 2013/34/EU which are parent undertakings of a large group within the meaning of Article 3(7) of that Directive exceeding on its balance sheet dates, on a consolidated basis, the average number of 500 employees during the financial year;
(b) for financial years starting on or after 1 January 2027:
- (i) to undertakings which, on their balance sheet dates, exceed a net turnover of EUR 450000000 and an average number of 1000 employees during the financial year;
- (ii) to parent undertakings of a group which, on its balance sheet dates, exceeds, on a consolidated basis, a net turnover of EUR 450000000 and an average number of 1000 employees during the financial year.
(c) for financial years starting on or after 1 January 2028:
- (i) to small and medium-sized undertakings within the meaning of Article 3(2) and (3) of Directive 2013/34/EU which are public-interest entities as defined in point (a) of point (1) of Article 2 of that Directive and which are not micro-undertakings as defined in Article 3(1) of that Directive;
- (ii) to small and non-complex institutions defined in point (145) of Article 4(1) of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013, provided they are large undertakings within the meaning of Article 3(4) of Directive 2013/34/EU or that they are small and medium sized undertakings within the meaning of Article 3(2) and (3) of that Directive which are public-interest entities as defined in point (a) of point (1) of Article 2 of that Directive and which are not micro-undertakings as defined in Article 3(1) of that Directive;
- (iii) to captive insurance undertakings defined in point (2) of Article 13 of Directive 2009/138/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council

, and captive reinsurance undertakings defined in point (5) of Article 13 of that Directive, provided that they are large undertakings within the meaning of Article 3(4) of Directive 2013/34/EU or that they are small and medium sized undertakings within the meaning of Article 3(2) and (3) of that Directive which are public-interest entities as defined in point (a) of point (1) of Article 2 of that Directive and which are not micro-undertakings as defined in Article 3(1) of that Directive.

Member States shall apply the measures necessary to comply with point (14) of Article 1 for financial years starting on or after 1 January 2028.

Member States shall apply the measures necessary to comply with Article 2:

(a) for financial years starting between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2026:
- (i) to issuers as defined in point (d) of Article 2(1) of Directive 2004/109/EC which are large undertakings within the meaning of Article 3(4) of Directive 2013/34/EU exceeding on their balance sheet dates the average number of 500 employees during the financial year;
- (ii) to issuers as defined in point (d) of Article 2(1) of Directive 2004/109/EC which are parent undertakings of a large group within the meaning of Article 3(7) of Directive 2013/34/EU exceeding on its balance sheet dates, on a consolidated basis, the average number of 500 employees during the financial year;
(b) for financial years starting on or after 1 January 2027:
- (i) to issuers as defined in point (d) of Article 2(1) of Directive 2004/109/EC which are undertakings which, on their balance sheet dates, exceed a net turnover of EUR 450000000 and an average number of 1000 employees during the financial year;
- (ii) to issuers as defined in point (d) of Article 2(1) of Directive 2004/109/EC which are parent undertakings of a group which, on its balance sheet dates, exceeds, on a consolidated basis, a net turnover of EUR 450000000 and an average number of 1000 employees during the financial year.
(c) for financial years starting on or after 1 January 2028:
- (i) to issuers as defined in point (d) of Article 2(1) of Directive 2004/109/EC which are small and medium-sized undertakings within the meaning of Article 3(2) and (3) of Directive 2013/34/EU and which are not micro-undertakings as defined in Article 3(1) of Directive 2013/34/EU;
- (ii) to issuers defined as small and non-complex institutions in point (145) of Article 4(1) of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013, provided they are large undertakings within the meaning of Article 3(4) of Directive 2013/34/EU or that they are small and medium-sized undertakings within the meaning of Article 3(2) and (3) of that Directive which are public-interest entities as defined in point (a) of point (1) of Article 2 of that Directive and which are not micro-undertakings as defined in Article 3(1) of that Directive;
- (iii) to issuers defined as captive insurance undertakings in point (2) of Article 13 of Directive 2009/138/EC, or as captive reinsurance undertakings in point (5) of Article 13 of that Directive, provided that they are large undertakings within the meaning of Article 3 (4) of Directive 2013/34/EU or that they are small and medium-sized undertakings within the meaning of Article 3(2) and (3) of that Directive which are public-interest entities as defined in point (a) of point (1) of Article 2 of that Directive and which are not micro-undertakings as defined in Article 3(1) of that Directive.

Member States shall apply the measures necessary to comply with Article 3 for financial years starting on or after 1 January 2024.By way of derogation from point (a) of the first subparagraph and point (a) of the third subparagraph, Member States may exempt undertakings or issuers which do not exceed a net turnover of EUR 450000000 or an average number of 1000 employees during the financial year, on a consolidated basis where applicable, from complying with the measures necessary to comply with Article 1, with the exception of point (14), and with Article 2, for the financial years starting between 1 January 2025 and 31 December 2026.

Member States shall apply the measures necessary to comply with Article 1, with the exception of point (14):

(a) for financial years starting between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2026:
- (i) to large undertakings within the meaning of Article 3(4) of Directive 2013/34/EU which are public-interest entities as defined in point (1) of Article 2 of that Directive exceeding on their balance sheet dates the average number of 500 employees during the financial year;
- (ii) to public-interest entities as defined in point (1) of Article 2 of Directive 2013/34/EU which are parent undertakings of a large group within the meaning of Article 3(7) of that Directive exceeding on its balance sheet dates, on a consolidated basis, the average number of 500 employees during the financial year;
(b) for financial years starting on or after 1 January 2027:
- (i) to undertakings which, on their balance sheet dates, exceed a net turnover of EUR 450000000 and an average number of 1000 employees during the financial year;
- (ii) to parent undertakings of a group which, on its balance sheet dates, exceeds, on a consolidated basis, a net turnover of EUR 450000000 and an average number of 1000 employees during the financial year.
(c) for financial years starting on or after 1 January 2028:
- (i) to small and medium-sized undertakings within the meaning of Article 3(2) and (3) of Directive 2013/34/EU which are public-interest entities as defined in point (a) of point (1) of Article 2 of that Directive and which are not micro-undertakings as defined in Article 3(1) of that Directive;
- (ii) to small and non-complex institutions defined in point (145) of Article 4(1) of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013, provided they are large undertakings within the meaning of Article 3(4) of Directive 2013/34/EU or that they are small and medium sized undertakings within the meaning of Article 3(2) and (3) of that Directive which are public-interest entities as defined in point (a) of point (1) of Article 2 of that Directive and which are not micro-undertakings as defined in Article 3(1) of that Directive;
- (iii) to captive insurance undertakings defined in point (2) of Article 13 of Directive 2009/138/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council

Member States shall apply the measures necessary to comply with point (14) of Article 1 for financial years starting on or after 1 January 2028.

Member States shall apply the measures necessary to comply with Article 2:

(a) for financial years starting between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2026:
- (i) to issuers as defined in point (d) of Article 2(1) of Directive 2004/109/EC which are large undertakings within the meaning of Article 3(4) of Directive 2013/34/EU exceeding on their balance sheet dates the average number of 500 employees during the financial year;
- (ii) to issuers as defined in point (d) of Article 2(1) of Directive 2004/109/EC which are parent undertakings of a large group within the meaning of Article 3(7) of Directive 2013/34/EU exceeding on its balance sheet dates, on a consolidated basis, the average number of 500 employees during the financial year;
(b) for financial years starting on or after 1 January 2027:
- (i) to issuers as defined in point (d) of Article 2(1) of Directive 2004/109/EC which are undertakings which, on their balance sheet dates, exceed a net turnover of EUR 450000000 and an average number of 1000 employees during the financial year;
- (ii) to issuers as defined in point (d) of Article 2(1) of Directive 2004/109/EC which are parent undertakings of a group which, on its balance sheet dates, exceeds, on a consolidated basis, a net turnover of EUR 450000000 and an average number of 1000 employees during the financial year.
(c) for financial years starting on or after 1 January 2028:
- (i) to issuers as defined in point (d) of Article 2(1) of Directive 2004/109/EC which are small and medium-sized undertakings within the meaning of Article 3(2) and (3) of Directive 2013/34/EU and which are not micro-undertakings as defined in Article 3(1) of Directive 2013/34/EU;
- (ii) to issuers defined as small and non-complex institutions in point (145) of Article 4(1) of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013, provided they are large undertakings within the meaning of Article 3(4) of Directive 2013/34/EU or that they are small and medium-sized undertakings within the meaning of Article 3(2) and (3) of that Directive which are public-interest entities as defined in point (a) of point (1) of Article 2 of that Directive and which are not micro-undertakings as defined in Article 3(1) of that Directive;
- (iii) to issuers defined as captive insurance undertakings in point (2) of Article 13 of Directive 2009/138/EC, or as captive reinsurance undertakings in point (5) of Article 13 of that Directive, provided that they are large undertakings within the meaning of Article 3 (4) of Directive 2013/34/EU or that they are small and medium-sized undertakings within the meaning of Article 3(2) and (3) of that Directive which are public-interest entities as defined in point (a) of point (1) of Article 2 of that Directive and which are not micro-undertakings as defined in Article 3(1) of that Directive.

Member States shall apply the measures necessary to comply with Article 1, with the exception of point (14):

(a) for financial years starting between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2026:
- (i) to large undertakings within the meaning of Article 3(4) of Directive 2013/34/EU which are public-interest entities as defined in point (1) of Article 2 of that Directive exceeding on their balance sheet dates the average number of 500 employees during the financial year;
- (ii) to public-interest entities as defined in point (1) of Article 2 of Directive 2013/34/EU which are parent undertakings of a large group within the meaning of Article 3(7) of that Directive exceeding on its balance sheet dates, on a consolidated basis, the average number of 500 employees during the financial year;
(b) for financial years starting on or after 1 January 2027:
- (i) to undertakings which, on their balance sheet dates, exceed a net turnover of EUR 450000000 and an average number of 1000 employees during the financial year;
- (ii) to parent undertakings of a group which, on its balance sheet dates, exceeds, on a consolidated basis, a net turnover of EUR 450000000 and an average number of 1000 employees during the financial year.
(c) for financial years starting on or after 1 January 2028:
- (i) to small and medium-sized undertakings within the meaning of Article 3(2) and (3) of Directive 2013/34/EU which are public-interest entities as defined in point (a) of point (1) of Article 2 of that Directive and which are not micro-undertakings as defined in Article 3(1) of that Directive;
- (ii) to small and non-complex institutions defined in point (145) of Article 4(1) of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013, provided they are large undertakings within the meaning of Article 3(4) of Directive 2013/34/EU or that they are small and medium sized undertakings within the meaning of Article 3(2) and (3) of that Directive which are public-interest entities as defined in point (a) of point (1) of Article 2 of that Directive and which are not micro-undertakings as defined in Article 3(1) of that Directive;
- (iii) to captive insurance undertakings defined in point (2) of Article 13 of Directive 2009/138/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council

Member States shall apply the measures necessary to comply with point (14) of Article 1 for financial years starting on or after 1 January 2028.

Member States shall apply the measures necessary to comply with Article 2:

(a) for financial years starting between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2026:
- (i) to issuers as defined in point (d) of Article 2(1) of Directive 2004/109/EC which are large undertakings within the meaning of Article 3(4) of Directive 2013/34/EU exceeding on their balance sheet dates the average number of 500 employees during the financial year;
- (ii) to issuers as defined in point (d) of Article 2(1) of Directive 2004/109/EC which are parent undertakings of a large group within the meaning of Article 3(7) of Directive 2013/34/EU exceeding on its balance sheet dates, on a consolidated basis, the average number of 500 employees during the financial year;
(b) for financial years starting on or after 1 January 2027:
- (i) to issuers as defined in point (d) of Article 2(1) of Directive 2004/109/EC which are undertakings which, on their balance sheet dates, exceed a net turnover of EUR 450000000 and an average number of 1000 employees during the financial year;
- (ii) to issuers as defined in point (d) of Article 2(1) of Directive 2004/109/EC which are parent undertakings of a group which, on its balance sheet dates, exceeds, on a consolidated basis, a net turnover of EUR 450000000 and an average number of 1000 employees during the financial year.
(c) for financial years starting on or after 1 January 2028:
- (i) to issuers as defined in point (d) of Article 2(1) of Directive 2004/109/EC which are small and medium-sized undertakings within the meaning of Article 3(2) and (3) of Directive 2013/34/EU and which are not micro-undertakings as defined in Article 3(1) of Directive 2013/34/EU;
- (ii) to issuers defined as small and non-complex institutions in point (145) of Article 4(1) of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013, provided they are large undertakings within the meaning of Article 3(4) of Directive 2013/34/EU or that they are small and medium-sized undertakings within the meaning of Article 3(2) and (3) of that Directive which are public-interest entities as defined in point (a) of point (1) of Article 2 of that Directive and which are not micro-undertakings as defined in Article 3(1) of that Directive;
- (iii) to issuers defined as captive insurance undertakings in point (2) of Article 13 of Directive 2009/138/EC, or as captive reinsurance undertakings in point (5) of Article 13 of that Directive, provided that they are large undertakings within the meaning of Article 3 (4) of Directive 2013/34/EU or that they are small and medium-sized undertakings within the meaning of Article 3(2) and (3) of that Directive which are public-interest entities as defined in point (a) of point (1) of Article 2 of that Directive and which are not micro-undertakings as defined in Article 3(1) of that Directive.

3 3 3

When Member States adopt the measures referred to in paragraph 1, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.

4 4 4

Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.

Article 6 — Review and reporting Article 6 — Review and reporting Article 6 — Überprüfung und Berichterstattung

1 1 1

The Commission shall submit a report to the European Parliament and to the Council on the implementation of this amending Directive, including, inter alia:

(a) an assessment of the achievement of the goals of this amending Directive, including the convergence of reporting practices between Member States;
(b) an assessment of the number of undertakings voluntarily using the sustainability reporting standards referred to in Article 29ca of Directive 2013/34/EU;
(c) an assessment of whether and how the scope of the provisions amended by this amending Directive should be extended, in particular in relation to large undertakings with a net turnover not exceeding EUR 450000000 and an average number of employees not exceeding 1000 during the financial year, as well as to third-country undertakings operating directly on the Union internal market without a subsidiary or a branch on the territory of the Union;
(d) an assessment of the implementation of the reporting requirements on subsidiaries and branches of third-country undertakings introduced by this amending Directive, including an assessment of the number of third-country undertakings which have a subsidiary undertaking or a branch reporting in accordance with Article 40a of Directive 2013/34/EU; an assessment of the enforcement mechanism and of the thresholds set out in that Article;
(e) an assessment of whether and how to ensure the accessibility for persons with disabilities to the sustainability reports published by undertakings falling under the scope of this amending Directive.

The report concerning points (a), (b), (d) and (e) of the first subparagraph shall be published by 30 April 2029 and every three years thereafter, and shall be accompanied, if appropriate, by legislative proposals. The report concerning point (c) of the first subparagraph shall be published by 30 April 2031 and every three years thereafter, and shall be accompanied, if appropriate, by legislative proposals.

The Commission shall submit a report to the European Parliament and to the Council on the implementation of this amending Directive, including, inter alia:

(a) an assessment of the achievement of the goals of this amending Directive, including the convergence of reporting practices between Member States;
(b) an assessment of the number of undertakings voluntarily using the sustainability reporting standards referred to in Article 29ca of Directive 2013/34/EU;
(c) an assessment of whether and how the scope of the provisions amended by this amending Directive should be extended, in particular in relation to large undertakings with a net turnover not exceeding EUR 450000000 and an average number of employees not exceeding 1000 during the financial year, as well as to third-country undertakings operating directly on the Union internal market without a subsidiary or a branch on the territory of the Union;
(d) an assessment of the implementation of the reporting requirements on subsidiaries and branches of third-country undertakings introduced by this amending Directive, including an assessment of the number of third-country undertakings which have a subsidiary undertaking or a branch reporting in accordance with Article 40a of Directive 2013/34/EU; an assessment of the enforcement mechanism and of the thresholds set out in that Article;
(e) an assessment of whether and how to ensure the accessibility for persons with disabilities to the sustainability reports published by undertakings falling under the scope of this amending Directive.

The Commission shall submit a report to the European Parliament and to the Council on the implementation of this amending Directive, including, inter alia:

(a) an assessment of the achievement of the goals of this amending Directive, including the convergence of reporting practices between Member States;
(b) an assessment of the number of undertakings voluntarily using the sustainability reporting standards referred to in Article 29ca of Directive 2013/34/EU;
(c) an assessment of whether and how the scope of the provisions amended by this amending Directive should be extended, in particular in relation to large undertakings with a net turnover not exceeding EUR 450000000 and an average number of employees not exceeding 1000 during the financial year, as well as to third-country undertakings operating directly on the Union internal market without a subsidiary or a branch on the territory of the Union;
(d) an assessment of the implementation of the reporting requirements on subsidiaries and branches of third-country undertakings introduced by this amending Directive, including an assessment of the number of third-country undertakings which have a subsidiary undertaking or a branch reporting in accordance with Article 40a of Directive 2013/34/EU; an assessment of the enforcement mechanism and of the thresholds set out in that Article;
(e) an assessment of whether and how to ensure the accessibility for persons with disabilities to the sustainability reports published by undertakings falling under the scope of this amending Directive.

2 2 2

By 31 December 2028, the Commission shall review and report on the level of concentration of the sustainability assurance market. That review shall take into account the national regimes applicable to independent assurance services providers and assess whether and to what extent those national regimes contribute to opening up the assurance market.By 31 December 2028, the Commission shall assess possible legal measures to ensure sufficient diversification of the sustainability assurance market and appropriate sustainability reporting quality. The Commission shall review the measures provided for in Article 34 of Directive 2013/34/EU and assess the need to extend them to other large undertakings.The report shall be transmitted to the European Parliament and the Council by 31 December 2028 and shall be accompanied, if appropriate, by legislative proposals.

Article 7 — Entry into force and application Article 7 — Entry into force and application Article 7 — Inkrafttreten und Anwendung

This Directive shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.Article 4 of this Directive shall apply from 1 January 2024 for financial years starting on or after 1 January 2024.

Diese Richtlinie tritt am zwanzigsten Tag nach ihrer Veröffentlichung im Amtsblatt der Europäischen Union in Kraft.Artikel 4 dieser Richtlinie wird ab dem 1. Januar 2024 auf am oder nach dem 1. Januar 2024 beginnende Geschäftsjahre angewandt.

Article 8 — Addressees Article 8 — Addressees Article 8 — Adressaten

This Directive is addressed to the Member States.

Diese Richtlinie ist an die Mitgliedstaaten gerichtet.

Annexes

No annexes extracted yet.

Full text

02022L2464 — EN — 18.03.2026 — 002.001

This text is meant purely as a documentation tool and has no legal effect. The Union's institutions do not assume any liability for its contents. The authentic versions of the relevant acts, including their preambles, are those published in the Official Journal of the European Union and available in EUR-Lex. Those official texts are directly accessible through the links embedded in this document

►B DIRECTIVE (EU) 2022/2464 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL; of 14 December 2022; amending Regulation (EU) No 537/2014, Directive 2004/109/EC, Directive 2006/43/EC and Directive 2013/34/EU, as regards corporate sustainability reporting; (Text with EEA relevance); (OJ L 322 16.12.2022, p. 15)

Amended by:

		Official Journal
No	page	date
►M1	DIRECTIVE (EU) 2025/794 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 14 April 2025	L 794	1	16.4.2025
►M2	DIRECTIVE (EU) 2026/470 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 24 February 2026	L 470	1	26.2.2026

▼B

DIRECTIVE (EU) 2022/2464 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL

of 14 December 2022

amending Regulation (EU) No 537/2014, Directive 2004/109/EC, Directive 2006/43/EC and Directive 2013/34/EU, as regards corporate sustainability reporting

(Text with EEA relevance)

Article 1

Amendments to Directive 2013/34/EU

Directive 2013/34/EU is amended as follows:

(1)

in Article 1, the following paragraphs are added:

‘3.

(a)

insurance undertakings within the meaning of Article 2(1) of Council Directive 91/674/EEC (*1);

(b)

credit institutions as defined in point (1) of Article 4(1) of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (*2).

4.
The coordination measures prescribed by Articles 19a, 29a and 29d shall not apply to financial products listed in points (b) and (f) of point (12) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 of the European Parliament and of the Council (*4).

5.
The coordination measures prescribed by Articles 40a to 40d shall also apply to the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States relating to subsidiary undertakings and branches of undertakings which are not governed by the law of a Member State but whose legal form is comparable with the types of undertakings listed in Annex I.

(2)

Article 2 is amended as follows:

(a)

point (5) is replaced by the following:

‘(5)

“net turnover” means the amounts derived from the sale of products and the provision of services after deducting sales rebates and value added tax and other taxes directly linked to turnover; however, for insurance undertakings referred to in point (a) of the first subparagraph of Article 1(3) of this Directive, “net turnover” shall be defined in accordance with Article 35 and point 2 of Article 66 of Council Directive 91/674/EEC (*5); for credit institutions referred to in point (b) of the first subparagraph of Article 1(3) of this Directive, “net turnover” shall be defined in accordance with point (c) of Article 43(2) of Council Directive 86/635/EEC (*6); and for undertakings falling under the scope of Article 40a(1) of this Directive, “net turnover” means the revenue as defined by or within the meaning of the financial reporting framework on the basis of which the financial statements of the undertaking are prepared;

(b)

the following points are added:

‘(17)

“sustainability matters” means environmental, social and human rights, and governance factors, including sustainability factors defined in point (24) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 2019/2088;

(18)

“sustainability reporting” means reporting information related to sustainability matters in accordance with Articles 19a, 29a and 29d;

(19)

“key intangible resources” means resources without physical substance on which the business model of the undertaking fundamentally depends and which are a source of value creation for the undertaking;

(20)

“independent assurance services provider” means a conformity assessment body accredited in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council (*7) for the specific conformity assessment activity referred to in point (aa) of the second subparagraph of Article 34(1) of this Directive.

(3)

in Article 19(1), the following subparagraph is added:

‘Large undertakings, and small and medium-sized undertakings, except micro undertakings, which are public-interest entities as defined in point (a) of point (1) of Article 2 shall report information on the key intangible resources and explain how the business model of the undertaking fundamentally depends on such resources and how such resources are a source of value creation for the undertaking.’;

(4)

Article 19a is replaced by the following:

‘Article 19a

Sustainability reporting

1.
Large undertakings, and small and medium-sized undertakings, except micro undertakings, which are public-interest entities as defined in point (a) of point (1) of Article 2 shall include in the management report information necessary to understand the undertaking’s impacts on sustainability matters, and information necessary to understand how sustainability matters affect the undertaking’s development, performance and position.

The information referred to in the first subparagraph shall be clearly identifiable within the management report, through a dedicated section of the management report.

The information referred to in paragraph 1 shall contain:

(a)

a brief description of the undertaking’s business model and strategy, including:

(i)

the resilience of the undertaking’s business model and strategy in relation to risks related to sustainability matters;

(ii)

the opportunities for the undertaking related to sustainability matters;

(iii)

the plans of the undertaking, including implementing actions and related financial and investment plans, to ensure that its business model and strategy are compatible with the transition to a sustainable economy and with the limiting of global warming to 1,5 °C in line with the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change adopted on 12 December 2015 (the ‘Paris Agreement’) and the objective of achieving climate neutrality by 2050 as established in Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 of the European Parliament and of the Council (*8), and, where relevant, the exposure of the undertaking to coal-, oil- and gas-related activities;

(iv)

how the undertaking’s business model and strategy take account of the interests of the undertaking’s stakeholders and of the impacts of the undertaking on sustainability matters;

(v)

how the undertaking’s strategy has been implemented with regard to sustainability matters;

(b)

a description of the time-bound targets related to sustainability matters set by the undertaking, including, where appropriate, absolute greenhouse gas emission reduction targets at least for 2030 and 2050, a description of the progress the undertaking has made towards achieving those targets, and a statement of whether the undertaking’s targets related to environmental factors are based on conclusive scientific evidence;

(c)

a description of the role of the administrative, management and supervisory bodies with regard to sustainability matters, and of their expertise and skills in relation to fulfilling that role or the access such bodies have to such expertise and skills;

(d)

a description of the undertaking’s policies in relation to sustainability matters;

(e)

information about the existence of incentive schemes linked to sustainability matters which are offered to members of the administrative, management and supervisory bodies;

(f)

a description of:

(i)

the due diligence process implemented by the undertaking with regard to sustainability matters, and, where applicable, in line with Union requirements on undertakings to conduct a due diligence process;

(ii)

the principal actual or potential adverse impacts connected with the undertaking’s own operations and with its value chain, including its products and services, its business relationships and its supply chain, actions taken to identify and monitor those impacts, and other adverse impacts which the undertaking is required to identify pursuant to other Union requirements on undertakings to conduct a due diligence process;

(iii)

any actions taken by the undertaking to prevent, mitigate, remediate or bring an end to actual or potential adverse impacts, and the result of such actions;

(g)

a description of the principal risks to the undertaking related to sustainability matters, including a description of the undertaking’s principal dependencies on those matters, and how the undertaking manages those risks;

(h)

indicators relevant to the disclosures referred to in points (a) to (g).

For the first three years of the application of the measures to be adopted by the Member States in accordance with Article 5(2) of Directive (EU) 2022/2464 of the European Parliament and of the Council (*9), and in the event that not all the necessary information regarding its value chain is available, the undertaking shall explain the efforts made to obtain the necessary information about its value chain, the reasons why not all of the necessary information could be obtained, and its plans to obtain the necessary information in the future.

Where applicable, the information referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall also contain references to, and additional explanations of, the other information included in the management report in accordance with Article 19, and the amounts reported in the annual financial statements.

Member States may allow information relating to impending developments or matters in the course of negotiation to be omitted in exceptional cases where, in the duly justified opinion of the members of the administrative, management and supervisory bodies, acting within the competences assigned to them by national law and having collective responsibility for that opinion, the disclosure of such information would be seriously prejudicial to the commercial position of the undertaking, provided that such omission does not prevent a fair and balanced understanding of the undertaking’s development, performance and position, and the impact of its activity.

4.
Undertakings shall report the information referred to in paragraphs 1 to 3 of this Article in accordance with the sustainability reporting standards adopted pursuant to Article 29b.

5.
The management of the undertaking shall inform the workers’ representatives at the appropriate level and discuss with them the relevant information and the means of obtaining and verifying sustainability information. The workers’ representatives’ opinion shall be communicated, where applicable, to the relevant administrative, management or supervisory bodies.

(a)

a brief description of the undertaking’s business model and strategy;

(b)

a description of the undertaking’s policies in relation to sustainability matters;

(c)

the principal actual or potential adverse impacts of the undertaking on sustainability matters, and any actions taken to identify, monitor, prevent, mitigate or remediate such actual or potential adverse impacts;

(d)

the principal risks to the undertaking related to sustainability matters and how the undertaking manages those risks;

(e)

key indicators necessary for the disclosures referred to in points (a) to (d).

7.
For financial years starting before 1 January 2028, by way of derogation from paragraph 1 of this Article, small and medium-sized undertakings which are public-interest entities as defined in point (a) of point (1) of Article 2 may decide not to include in their management report the information referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article. In such cases, the undertaking shall, nevertheless, briefly state in its management report why the sustainability reporting was not provided.

8.
Undertakings that comply with the requirements set out in paragraphs 1 to 4 of this Article and undertakings that rely on the derogation laid down in paragraph 6 of this Article shall be deemed to have complied with the requirement set out in the third subparagraph of Article 19(1).

9.
Provided that the conditions set out in the second subparagraph of this paragraph are met, an undertaking which is a subsidiary undertaking shall be exempted from the obligations set out in paragraphs 1 to 4 of this Article (“the exempted subsidiary undertaking”) if such undertaking and its subsidiary undertakings are included in the consolidated management report of a parent undertaking, drawn up in accordance with Articles 29 and 29a. An undertaking which is a subsidiary undertaking of a parent undertaking that is established in a third country shall also be exempted from the obligations set out in paragraphs 1 to 4 of this Article where such undertaking and its subsidiary undertakings are included in the consolidated sustainability reporting of that parent undertaking that is established in a third country and where that consolidated sustainability reporting is carried out in accordance with the sustainability reporting standards adopted pursuant to Article 29b or in a manner equivalent to those sustainability reporting standards, as determined in accordance with an implementing act on the equivalence of sustainability reporting standards adopted pursuant to the third subparagraph of Article 23(4) of Directive 2004/109/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (*11).

The exemption in the first subparagraph shall be subject to the following conditions:

(a)

the management report of the exempted subsidiary undertaking contains all of the following information:

(i)

the name and registered office of the parent undertaking that reports information at group level in accordance with this Article or in a manner equivalent to the sustainability reporting standards adopted pursuant to Article 29b of this Directive, as determined in accordance with an implementing act on the equivalence of sustainability reporting standards adopted pursuant to the third subparagraph of Article 23(4) of Directive 2004/109/EC;

(ii)

the weblinks to the consolidated management report of the parent undertaking or, where applicable, to the consolidated sustainability reporting of the parent undertaking, as referred to in the first subparagraph of this paragraph, and to the assurance opinion referred to in point (aa) of the second subparagraph of Article 34(1) of this Directive or to the assurance opinion referred to in point (b) of this subparagraph;

(iii)

the information that the undertaking is exempted from the obligations set out in paragraphs 1 to 4 of this Article;

(b)

if the parent undertaking is established in a third country, its consolidated sustainability reporting and the assurance opinion on the consolidated sustainability reporting, expressed by one or more person(s) or firm(s) authorised to give an opinion on the assurance of sustainability reporting under the law governing that parent undertaking, are published in accordance with Article 30 of this Directive, and in accordance with the law of the Member State by which the exempted subsidiary undertaking is governed;

(c)

if the parent undertaking is established in a third country, the disclosures laid down in Article 8 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council (*12), covering the activities carried out by the exempted subsidiary undertaking established in the Union and its subsidiary undertakings, are included in the management report of the exempted subsidiary undertaking, or in the consolidated sustainability reporting carried out by the parent undertaking established in a third country.

The Member State by whose national law the exempted subsidiary undertaking is governed may require that the consolidated management report or, where applicable, the consolidated sustainability report, of the parent undertaking is published in a language that that Member State accepts, and that any necessary translation into such language is provided. Any translation that has not been certified shall include a statement to that effect.

Undertakings which are exempted from preparing a management report in accordance with Article 37 shall not be obliged to provide the information referred to in points (a)(i) to (iii) of the second subparagraph of this paragraph, provided that such undertakings publish the consolidated management report in accordance with Article 37.

For the purposes of the first subparagraph of this paragraph, and where Article 10 of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 applies, credit institutions referred to in point (b) of the first subparagraph of Article 1(3) of this Directive that are permanently affiliated to a central body which supervises them under the conditions laid down in Article 10 of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 shall be treated as subsidiary undertakings of that central body.

For the purposes of the first subparagraph of this paragraph, insurance undertakings referred to in point (a) of the first subparagraph of Article 1(3) of this Directive that are part of a group, on the basis of financial relationships as referred to in point (c)(ii) of Article 212(1) of Directive 2009/138/EC, and which are subject to group supervision in accordance with points (a) to (c) of Article 213(2) of that Directive shall be treated as subsidiary undertakings of the parent undertaking of that group.

10.
The exemption laid down in paragraph 9 shall also apply to public-interest entities subject to the requirements of this Article, with the exception of large undertakings which are public-interest entities defined in point (a) of point (1) of Article 2 of this Directive.

(5)

Article 20(1) is amended as follows:

(a)

point (g) is replaced by the following:

‘(g)

a description of the diversity policy applied in relation to the undertaking’s administrative, management and supervisory bodies with regard to gender and other aspects such as, age, disabilities or educational and professional background, the objectives of that diversity policy, how it has been implemented and the results in the reporting period. If no such policy is applied, the statement shall contain an explanation as to why that is the case.’;

(b)

the following subparagraph is added:

‘Undertakings subject to Article 19a shall be deemed to have complied with the obligation laid down in point (g) of the first subparagraph of this paragraph where they include the information required under that point as part of their sustainability reporting and a reference thereto is included in the corporate governance statement.’;

(6)

Article 23 is amended as follows:

(a)

in paragraph 4, point (b) is replaced by the following:

‘(b)

the consolidated financial statements referred to in point (a) and the consolidated management report of the larger body of undertakings are drawn up by the parent undertaking of that body, in accordance with the law of the Member State by which that parent undertaking is governed, in accordance with this Directive, with the exception of the requirements laid down in Article 29a, or in accordance with international accounting standards adopted in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1606/2002;’;

(b)

in paragraph 8, point (b)(i) is replaced by the following:

‘(i)

in accordance with this Directive, with the exception of the requirements laid down in Article 29a,’;

(c)

in paragraph 8, point (b)(iii) is replaced by the following:

‘(iii)

in a manner equivalent to consolidated financial statements and consolidated management reports drawn up in accordance with this Directive, with the exception of the requirements laid down in Article 29a, or’;

(7)

Article 29a is replaced by the following:

‘Article 29a

Consolidated sustainability reporting

The information referred to in the first subparagraph shall be clearly identifiable within the consolidated management report, through a dedicated section of the consolidated management report.

The information referred to in paragraph 1 shall contain:

(a)

a brief description of the group’s business model and strategy, including:

(i)

the resilience of the group’s business model and strategy in relation to risks related to sustainability matters;

(ii)

the opportunities for the group related to sustainability matters;

(iii)

the plans of the group, including implementing actions and related financial and investment plans, to ensure that its business model and strategy are compatible with the transition to a sustainable economy and with the limiting of global warming to 1,5 °C in line with the Paris Agreement and the objective of achieving climate neutrality by 2050 as established in Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 and where relevant, the exposure of the group to coal-, oil- and gas-related activities;

(iv)

how the group’s business model and strategy take account of the interests of the group’s stakeholders and of the impacts of the group on sustainability matters;

(v)

how the group’s strategy has been implemented with regard to sustainability matters;

(b)

a description of the time-bound targets related to sustainability matters set by the group, including, where appropriate, absolute greenhouse gas emission reduction targets at least for 2030 and 2050, a description of the progress the group has made towards achieving those targets, and a statement of whether the group’s targets related to environmental factors are based on conclusive scientific evidence;

(c)

(d)

a description of the group’s policies in relation to sustainability matters;

(e)

information about the existence of incentive schemes linked to sustainability matters which are offered to members of the administrative, management and supervisory bodies;

(f)

a description of:

(i)

the due diligence process implemented by the group with regard to sustainability matters, and, where applicable, in line with Union requirements on undertakings to conduct a due diligence process;

(ii)

the principal actual or potential adverse impacts connected with the group’s own operations and with its value chain, including its products and services, its business relationships and its supply chain, actions taken to identify and monitor those impacts, and other adverse impacts which the parent undertaking is required to identify pursuant to other Union requirements to conduct a due diligence process;

(iii)

any actions taken by the group to prevent, mitigate, remediate or bring an end to actual or potential adverse impacts, and the result of such actions;

(g)

a description of the principal risks to the group related to sustainability matters, including the group’s principal dependencies on those matters, and how the group manages those risks;

(h)

indicators relevant to the disclosures referred to in points (a) to (g).

Parent undertakings shall report the process carried out to identify the information that they have included in the consolidated management report in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Article. The information listed in the first subparagraph of this paragraph shall include information related to short-, medium- and long-term time horizons, as applicable.

For the first three years of the application of the measures to be adopted by the Member States in accordance with Article 5(2) of Directive (EU) 2022/2464, and in the event that not all the necessary information regarding its value chain is available, the parent undertaking shall explain the efforts made to obtain the necessary information about its value chain, the reasons why not all of the necessary information could be obtained, and its plans to obtain the necessary information in the future.

Where applicable, the information referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall also include references to, and additional explanations of, the other information included in the consolidated management report in accordance with Article 29 of this Directive and the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements.

Member States may allow information relating to impending developments or matters in the course of negotiation to be omitted in exceptional cases where, in the duly justified opinion of the members of the administrative, management and supervisory bodies, acting within the competences assigned to them by national law and having collective responsibility for that opinion, the disclosure of such information would be seriously prejudicial to the commercial position of the group, provided that such omission does not prevent a fair and balanced understanding of the group’s development, performance, and position, and the impact of its activity.

Undertakings shall indicate which subsidiary undertakings included in the consolidation are exempted from annual or consolidated sustainability reporting pursuant to Articles 19a(9) or 29a(8) respectively.

5.
Parent undertakings shall report the information referred to in paragraphs 1 to 3 of this Article in accordance with the sustainability reporting standards adopted pursuant to Article 29b.

6.
The management of the parent undertaking shall inform the workers’ representatives at the appropriate level and discuss with them the relevant information and the means of obtaining and verifying sustainability information. The workers’ representatives’ opinion shall be communicated, where applicable, to the relevant administrative, management or supervisory bodies.

7.
A parent undertaking that complies with the requirements set out in paragraphs 1 to 5 of this Article shall be deemed to have complied with the requirements set out in the third subparagraph of Article 19(1) and Article 19a.

8.
Provided that the conditions set out in the second subparagraph of this paragraph are met, a parent undertaking which is a subsidiary undertaking shall be exempted from the obligations set out in paragraphs 1 to 5 of this Article (the “exempted parent undertaking”) if such parent undertaking and its subsidiary undertakings are included in the consolidated management report of another undertaking, drawn up in accordance with Article 29 and this Article. A parent undertaking which is a subsidiary undertaking of a parent undertaking that is established in a third country shall also be exempted from the obligations set out in paragraphs 1 to 5 of this Article where such parent undertaking and its subsidiary undertakings are included in the consolidated sustainability reporting of that parent undertaking that is established in a third country and where that consolidated sustainability reporting is carried out in accordance with the sustainability reporting standards adopted pursuant to Article 29b or in a manner equivalent to those sustainability reporting standards, as determined in accordance with an implementing act on the equivalence of sustainability reporting standards adopted pursuant to the third subparagraph of Article 23(4) of Directive 2004/109/EC.

The exemption in the first subparagraph shall be subject to the following conditions:

(a)

the management report of the exempted parent undertaking contains all of the following information:

(i)

the name and registered office of the parent undertaking that reports information at group level in accordance with this Article, or in a manner equivalent to the sustainability reporting standards adopted pursuant to Article 29b of this Directive, as determined in accordance with an implementing act on the equivalence of sustainability reporting standards adopted pursuant to the third subparagraph of Article 23(4) of Directive 2004/109/EC;

(ii)

(iii)

the information that the parent undertaking is exempted from the obligations set out in paragraphs 1 to 5 of this Article;

(b)

if the parent undertaking is established in a third country, its consolidated sustainability reporting and the assurance opinion, expressed by one or more person(s) or firm(s) authorised to give an opinion on the assurance of sustainability reporting under the national law governing the parent undertaking, are published in accordance with Article 30, and in accordance with the law of the Member State by which the exempted parent undertaking is governed;

(c)

if the parent undertaking is established in a third country, the disclosures laid down in Article 8 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, covering the activities carried out by the subsidiary undertaking established in the Union and exempted from sustainability reporting on the basis of Article 19a(9) of this Directive, shall be included in the management report of the exempted parent undertaking, or in the consolidated sustainability reporting carried out by the parent undertaking established in a third country.

The Member State by whose national law the exempted parent undertaking is governed may require that the consolidated management report or, where applicable, the consolidated sustainability report of the parent undertaking is published in a language that that Member State accepts, and that any necessary translation into such language is provided. Any translation that has not been certified shall include a statement to that effect.

Parent undertakings which are exempted from preparing a management report pursuant to Article 37 shall not be obliged to provide the information referred to in points (a)(i) to (a)(iii) of the second subparagraph of this paragraph, provided that such undertakings publish the consolidated management report in accordance with Article 37.

For the purposes of the first subparagraph of this paragraph, insurance undertakings referred to in point (a) of the first subparagraph of Article 1(3) of this Directive that are part of a group, on the basis of financial relationships referred to in point (c)(ii) of Article 212(1) of Directive 2009/138/EC, and which are subject to group supervision in accordance with points (a) to (c) of Article 213(2) of that Directive shall be treated as subsidiary undertakings of the parent undertaking of that group.

9.
The exemption laid down in paragraph 8 shall also apply to public-interest entities subject to the requirements of this Article, with the exception of large undertakings which are public-interest entities defined in point (a) of point (1) of Article 2 of this Directive.’;

(8)

the following chapter is inserted:

‘CHAPTER 6a

SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING STANDARDS

Article 29b

Sustainability reporting standards

In the delegated acts referred to in the first subparagraph of this paragraph the Commission shall, by 30 June 2023, specify the information that undertakings are to report in accordance with Article 19a(1) and (2), and Article 29a(1) and (2) where appropriate, which shall at least include the information that financial market participants subject to the disclosure obligations of Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 need in order to comply with those obligations.

In the delegated acts referred to in the first subparagraph the Commission shall, by 30 June 2024, specify:

(i)

complementary information that undertakings are to report with regard to the sustainability matters and reporting areas listed in Article 19a(2), where necessary;

(ii)

information that undertakings are to report that is specific to the sector in which they operate.

The reporting requirements laid down in the delegated acts referred to in the first subparagraph shall not enter into force earlier than four months after their adoption by the Commission.

When adopting delegated acts to specify the information required under point (ii) of the third subparagraph, the Commission shall pay particular attention to the scale of the risks and impacts related to sustainability matters for each sector, taking account of the fact that risks and impacts are higher for some sectors than for others.

The Commission shall, at least every three years after their date of application, review the delegated acts adopted pursuant to this Article, taking into consideration the technical advice of the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG), and, where necessary, it shall amend such delegated acts to take into account relevant developments, including developments with regard to international standards.

The Commission shall, at least once a year, consult the European Parliament, and consult jointly the Member State Expert Group on Sustainable Finance, referred to in Article 24 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, and the Accounting Regulatory Committee, referred to in Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 1606/2002, on EFRAG’s work programme as regards the development of sustainability reporting standards.

2.
The sustainability reporting standards shall ensure the quality of reported information, by requiring that it is understandable, relevant, verifiable, comparable and represented in a faithful manner. The sustainability reporting standards shall avoid imposing a disproportionate administrative burden on undertakings, including by taking account, to the greatest extent possible, of the work of global standard-setting initiatives for sustainability reporting as required by point (a) of paragraph 5.

The sustainability reporting standards shall, taking into account the subject matter of a particular sustainability reporting standard:

(a)

specify the information that undertakings are to disclose about the following environmental factors:

(i)

climate change mitigation, including as regards scope 1, scope 2 and, where relevant, scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions;

(ii)

climate change adaptation;

(iii)

water and marine resources;

(iv)

resource use and the circular economy;

(v)

pollution;

(vi)

biodiversity and ecosystems;

(b)

specify the information that undertakings are to disclose about the following social and human rights factors:

(i)

equal treatment and opportunities for all, including gender equality and equal pay for work of equal value, training and skills development, the employment and inclusion of people with disabilities, measures against violence and harassment in the workplace, and diversity;

(ii)

working conditions, including secure employment, working time, adequate wages, social dialogue, freedom of association, existence of works councils, collective bargaining, including the proportion of workers covered by collective agreements, the information, consultation and participation rights of workers, work-life balance, and health and safety;

(iii)

respect for the human rights, fundamental freedoms, democratic principles and standards established in the International Bill of Human Rights and other core UN human rights conventions, including the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the International Labour Organization’s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and the fundamental conventions of the International Labour Organization, the European Convention for the protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, the European Social Charter, and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union;

(c)

specify the information that undertakings are to disclose about the following governance factors:

(i)

the role of the undertaking’s administrative, management and supervisory bodies with regard to sustainability matters, and their composition, as well as their expertise and skills in relation to fulfilling that role or the access such bodies have to such expertise and skills;

(ii)

the main features of the undertaking’s internal control and risk management systems, in relation to the sustainability reporting and decision-making process;

(iii)

business ethics and corporate culture, including anti-corruption and anti-bribery, the protection of whistleblowers and animal welfare;

(iv)

activities and commitments of the undertaking related to exerting its political influence, including its lobbying activities;

(v)

the management and quality of relationships with customers, suppliers and communities affected by the activities of the undertaking, including payment practices, especially with regard to late payment to small and medium-sized undertakings.

3.
The sustainability reporting standards shall specify the forward-looking, retrospective, qualitative and quantitative information, as appropriate, to be reported by undertakings.

4.
Sustainability reporting standards shall take account of the difficulties that undertakings may encounter in gathering information from actors throughout their value chain, especially from those which are not subject to the sustainability reporting requirements laid down in Article 19a or 29a and from suppliers in emerging markets and economies. Sustainability reporting standards shall specify disclosures on value chains that are proportionate and relevant to the capacities and the characteristics of undertakings in value chains, and to the scale and complexity of their activities, especially those of undertakings that are not subject to the sustainability reporting requirements in Article 19a or 29a. Sustainability reporting standards shall not specify disclosures that would require undertakings to obtain information from small and medium-sized undertakings in their value chain that exceeds the information to be disclosed pursuant to the sustainability reporting standards for small and medium-sized undertakings referred to in Article 29c.

The first subparagraph is without prejudice to Union requirements on undertakings to conduct a due diligence process.

When adopting delegated acts pursuant to paragraph 1, the Commission shall, to the greatest extent possible, take account of:

(a)

the work of global standard-setting initiatives for sustainability reporting, and existing standards and frameworks for natural capital accounting and for greenhouse gas accounting, responsible business conduct, corporate social responsibility, and sustainable development;

(b)

the information that financial market participants need in order to comply with their disclosure obligations laid down in Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 and the delegated acts adopted pursuant to that Regulation;

(c)

the criteria, indicators and methodologies set out in the delegated acts adopted pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2020/852, including the technical screening criteria established pursuant to Article 10(3), Article 11(3), Article 12(2), Article 13(2), Article 14(2) and Article 15(2) of that Regulation and the reporting requirements set out in the delegated act adopted pursuant to Article 8 of that Regulation;

(d)

the disclosure requirements applicable to benchmark administrators in the benchmark statement and in the benchmark methodology and the minimum standards for the construction of EU Climate Transition Benchmarks and EU Paris-aligned Benchmarks in accordance with Commission Delegated Regulations (EU) 2020/1816 (*13), (EU) 2020/1817 (*14) and (EU) 2020/1818 (*15);

(e)

the disclosures specified in the implementing acts adopted pursuant to Article 434a of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013;

(f)

Commission Recommendation 2013/179/EU (*16);

(g)

Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (*17);

(h)

Regulation (EU) 2021/1119;

(i)

Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council (*18);

(j)

Directive (EU) 2019/1937 of the European Parliament and of the Council (*19).

Article 29c

Sustainability reporting standards for small and medium-sized undertakings

1.
The Commission shall, by 30 June 2024, adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 49 supplementing this Directive to provide for sustainability reporting standards proportionate and relevant to the capacities and the characteristics of small and medium-sized undertakings and to the scale and complexity of their activities. Those sustainability reporting standards shall specify for the small and medium-sized undertakings referred to in point (1)(a) of Article 2 the information that is to be reported in accordance with Article 19a(6).

The reporting requirements laid down in the delegated acts referred to in the first subparagraph shall not enter into force earlier than four months after their adoption by the Commission.

2.
Sustainability reporting standards for small and medium-sized undertakings shall take into account the criteria set out in Article 29b(2) to (5). They shall also, to the extent possible, specify the structure to be used to present that information.

3.
The Commission shall, at least every three years after their date of application, review the delegated acts adopted pursuant to this Article, taking into consideration the technical advice of the EFRAG and, where necessary, it shall amend such delegated acts to take into account relevant developments, including developments with regard to international standards.

(9)

the following chapter is inserted:

‘CHAPTER 6b

SINGLE ELECTRONIC REPORTING FORMAT

Article 29d

Single electronic reporting format

1.
Undertakings subject to the requirements of Article 19a of this Directive shall prepare their management report in the electronic reporting format specified in Article 3 of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/815 (*20) and shall mark up their sustainability reporting, including the disclosures provided for in Article 8 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, in accordance with the electronic reporting format specified in that Delegated Regulation.

2.
Parent undertakings subject to the requirements of Article 29a shall prepare their consolidated management report in the electronic reporting format specified in Article 3 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/815 and shall mark up their sustainability reporting, including the disclosures provided for in Article 8 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, in accordance with the electronic reporting format specified in that Delegated Regulation.

(10)

in Article 30, paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:

‘1.
Member States shall ensure that undertakings publish within a reasonable period of time, which shall not exceed 12 months after the balance sheet date, the duly approved annual financial statements and the management report, in the electronic reporting format referred to in Article 29d of this Directive where applicable, together with the opinion and statement submitted by the statutory auditor or audit firm referred to in Article 34 of this Directive, as laid down by the laws of each Member State in accordance with Chapter III of Title 1 of Directive (EU) 2017/1132 of the European Parliament and of the Council (*21).

Member States may require undertakings subject to Articles 19a and 29a to make the management report available to the public on their website, free of charge. Where an undertaking does not have a website, Member States may require it to make a written copy of its management report available upon request.

Where an independent assurance services provider expresses the opinion referred to in point (aa) of the second subparagraph of Article 34(1), that opinion shall be published together with the documents referred to in the first subparagraph of this paragraph.

Member States may, however, exempt undertakings from the obligation to publish the management report where a copy of all or part of any such report can be easily obtained upon request at a price not exceeding its administrative cost.

The exemption laid down in the fourth subparagraph of this paragraph shall not apply to undertakings subject to the requirements on sustainability reporting laid down in Articles 19a and 29a.

(11)

in Article 33, paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:

‘1.

(a)

the annual financial statements, the management report and the corporate governance statement when provided separately; and

(b)

the consolidated financial statements, the consolidated management reports and the consolidated corporate governance statement when provided separately.’;

(12)

the title of Chapter 8 is replaced by the following:

‘Auditing and assurance of sustainability reporting’;

(13)

Article 34 is amended as follows:

(a)

in paragraph 1, the second subparagraph is amended as follows:

(i)

point (a)(ii) is replaced by the following:

‘(ii)

whether the management report has been prepared in accordance with the applicable legal requirements, excluding the requirements on sustainability reporting laid down in Article 19a of this Directive;’;

(ii)

the following point is inserted:

‘(aa)

where applicable, express an opinion based on a limited assurance engagement as regards the compliance of the sustainability reporting with the requirements of this Directive, including the compliance of the sustainability reporting with the sustainability reporting standards adopted pursuant to Article 29b or Article 29c, the process carried out by the undertaking to identify the information reported pursuant to those sustainability reporting standards, and the compliance with the requirement to mark up sustainability reporting in accordance with Article 29d, and as regards the compliance with the reporting requirements provided for in Article 8 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852;’;

(b)

paragraph 3 is replaced by the following:

‘3.
Member States may allow a statutory auditor or an audit firm other than the one(s) carrying out the statutory audit of financial statements to express the opinion referred to in point (aa) of the second subparagraph of paragraph 1.’;

(c)

the following paragraphs are added:

‘4.

(a)

training and examination, ensuring that independent assurance services providers acquire the necessary expertise concerning sustainability reporting and the assurance of sustainability reporting;

(b)

continuing education;

(c)

quality assurance systems;

(d)

professional ethics, independence, objectivity, confidentiality and professional secrecy;

(e)

appointment and dismissal;

(f)

investigations and sanctions;

(g)

the organisation of the work of the independent assurance services provider, in particular in terms of sufficient resources and personnel and the maintenance of client account records and files; and

(h)

reporting irregularities.

Member States shall ensure that independent assurance services providers accredited before 1 January 2024 for the assurance of sustainability reporting, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 765/2008, are not subject to the training and examination requirements referred to in point (a) of the first subparagraph of this paragraph.

Member States shall ensure that independent assurance services providers that on 1 January 2024 are undergoing the accreditation process in accordance with the relevant national requirements are not subject to the training and examination requirements referred to in point (a) of the first subparagraph as regards the assurance of sustainability reporting, provided they complete that process by 1 January 2026.

Member States shall ensure that the independent assurance services providers referred to in the third and fourth subparagraphs acquire the necessary knowledge in sustainability reporting and the assurance of sustainability reporting via the continuing education requirement referred to in point (b) of the first subparagraph.

If a Member State, pursuant to the first subparagraph, decides to allow an independent assurance services provider to express the opinion referred to in point (aa) of the second subparagraph of paragraph 1, it shall also allow a statutory auditor other than the one(s) carrying out the statutory audit of financial statements to do so, as provided for in paragraph 3.

5.
From 6 January 2027, a Member State that has made use of the option provided for in paragraph 4 (the “host Member State”) shall allow independent assurance services provider established in a Member State other than the host Member State (the “home Member State”) to carry out the assurance of sustainability reporting.

The home Member State shall be responsible for the supervision of the independent assurance services providers established in its territory, unless the host Member State decides to supervise the assurance of sustainability reporting carried out by independent assurance services providers in its territory.

(a)

not impose more stringent requirements or liability on such independent assurance services providers than those required for assurance of sustainability reporting by the national laws for the independent assurance services providers or auditors established in that host Member State; and

(b)

inform other Member States about its decision to supervise the assurance of sustainability reporting carried out by independent assurance services providers established in other Member States.

6.
Member States shall ensure that where an undertaking is required by Union law to have elements of its sustainability reporting verified by an accredited independent third party, the report of the accredited independent third party is made available either as an annex to the management report or by other publicly accessible means.

(14)

the following chapter is inserted:

‘CHAPTER 9a

REPORTING CONCERNING THIRD-COUNTRY UNDERTAKINGS

Article 40a

Sustainability reports concerning third-country undertakings

The first subparagraph shall only apply to large subsidiary undertakings and to small and medium-sized subsidiary undertakings, except micro undertakings, which are public-interest entities as defined in point (a) of point (1) of Article 2.

A Member State shall require that a branch located in its territory, and which is a branch of an undertaking governed by the law of a third country, which is either not part of a group or is ultimately held by an undertaking that is formed in accordance with the law of a third country publish and make accessible a sustainability report covering the information specified in points (a)(iii) to (a)(v), points (b) to (f) and, where appropriate, point (h) of Article 29a(2), at the group level, or, if not applicable, the individual level, of the third-country undertaking.

The rule referred to in the third subparagraph shall only apply to a branch where the third-country undertaking does not have a subsidiary undertaking as referred to in the first subparagraph, and where the branch generated a net turnover of more than EUR 40 million in the preceding financial year.

The first and third subparagraphs shall only apply to the subsidiary undertakings or branches referred to in those subparagraphs where the third-country undertaking, at its group level, or, if not applicable, the individual level, generated a net turnover of more than EUR 150 million in the Union for each of the last two consecutive financial years.

Member States may require subsidiary undertakings or branches referred to in the first and third subparagraphs to send them information about the net turnover generated in their territory and in the Union by the third-country undertakings.

By way of derogation from the first subparagraph of this paragraph, the sustainability report referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article may be drawn up in accordance with the sustainability reporting standards adopted pursuant to Article 29b or in a manner equivalent to those sustainability reporting standards, as determined in accordance with an implementing act on the equivalence of sustainability reporting standards adopted pursuant to the third subparagraph of Article 23(4) of Directive 2004/109/EC.

Where the information required to draw up the sustainability report referred to in the first subparagraph of this paragraph is not available, the subsidiary undertaking or branch referred to in paragraph 1 shall request the third-country undertaking to provide them with all information necessary to enable them to meet their obligations.

In the event that not all the required information is provided, the subsidiary undertaking or branch referred to in paragraph 1 shall draw up, publish and make accessible the sustainability report referred to in paragraph 1, containing all information in its possession, obtained or acquired, and issue a statement indicating that the third-country undertaking did not make the necessary information available.

In the event that the third-country undertaking does not provide the assurance opinion in accordance with the first subparagraph, the subsidiary undertaking or branch shall issue a statement indicating that the third-country undertaking did not make the necessary assurance opinion available.

4.
Member States may inform the Commission on an annual basis of the subsidiary undertakings or branches of third-country undertakings that fulfilled the publication requirement laid down in Article 40d and of the cases where a report was published but where the subsidiary undertaking or branch has acted in accordance with the fourth subparagraph of paragraph 2 of this Article. The Commission shall make publicly available on its website a list of the third-country undertakings that publish a sustainability report.

Article 40b

Sustainability reporting standards for third-country undertakings

The Commission shall adopt by 30 June 2024 a delegated act in accordance with Article 49 supplementing this Directive to provide for sustainability reporting standards for third-country undertakings that specify the information that is to be included in the sustainability reports referred to in Article 40a.

Article 40c

Responsibility for drawing up, publishing and making accessible sustainability reports concerning third-country undertakings

Member States shall provide that the branches of third-country undertakings are responsible for ensuring, to the best of their knowledge and ability, that their sustainability report is drawn up in accordance with Article 40a, and that that report is published and made accessible in accordance with Article 40d.

Member States shall provide that the members of the administrative, management and supervisory bodies of the subsidiary undertakings referred to in Article 40a have collective responsibility for ensuring, to the best of their knowledge and ability, that their sustainability report is drawn up in accordance with Article 40a, and that that report is published and made accessible in accordance with Article 40d.

Article 40d

Publication

1.
The subsidiary undertakings and branches referred to in Article 40a(1) of this Directive shall publish their sustainability report, together with the assurance opinion and, where applicable, the statement mentioned in the fourth subparagraph of Article 40a(2) of this Directive, within 12 months of the balance sheet date of the financial year for which the report is drawn up, as provided for by each Member State, in accordance with Articles 14 to 28 of Directive (EU) 2017/1132 and, where relevant, in accordance with Article 36 of that Directive.

2.
Where the sustainability report together with the assurance opinion and, where applicable, with the statement published in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Article, are not made accessible, free of charge, to the public on the website of the register referred to in Article 16 of Directive (EU) 2017/1132, Member States shall ensure that the sustainability report together with the assurance opinion and, where applicable, with the statement published by the undertakings in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Article, are made accessible to the public in at least one of the official languages of the Union, free of charge, no later than 12 months after the balance sheet date of the financial year for which the report is drawn up, on the website of the subsidiary undertaking or the branch as referred to in Article 40a(1) of this Directive.’;

(15)

the title of Chapter 11 is replaced by the following:

‘CHAPTER 11

TRANSITIONAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS ’;

(16)

The following article is inserted:

‘Article 48i

Transitional provisions

Until 6 January 2030, Member States shall permit the consolidated sustainability reporting referred to in the first subparagraph of this paragraph to include the disclosures laid down in Article 8 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, covering the activities carried out by all Union subsidiary undertakings of the parent undertaking referred to in the first subparagraph of this paragraph that are subject to Article 19a or 29a of this Directive.

2.
The Union subsidiary undertaking referred to in paragraph 1 shall be one of the Union subsidiary undertakings of the group that generated the greatest turnover in the Union in at least one of the preceding five financial years, on a consolidated basis where applicable.

3.
The consolidated sustainability reporting referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall be published in accordance with Article 30.

4.
For the purpose of the exemption laid down in Article 19a(9) and Article 29a(8), reporting in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Article shall be considered to be reporting by a parent undertaking at group level with respect to the undertakings included in the consolidation. Reporting in accordance with the second subparagraph of paragraph 1 of this Article shall be considered to fulfil the conditions referred to in point (c) of the second subparagraph of Article 19a(9) and point (c) of the second subparagraph of Article 29a(8), respectively.’;

(17)

Article 49 is amended as follows:

(a)

paragraphs 2 and 3 are replaced by the following:

‘2.
The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in Article 1(2), Article 3(13), Articles 29b, 29c and 40b, and Article 46(2) shall be conferred on the Commission for a period of 5 years from 5 January 2023. The Commission shall draw up a report in respect of the delegation of power not later than nine months before the end of the 5-year period. The delegation of power shall be tacitly extended for periods of an identical duration, unless the European Parliament or the Council opposes such extension not later than three months before the end of each period.

(b)

the following paragraph is inserted:

‘3b.

When adopting delegated acts pursuant to Articles 29b and 29c, the Commission shall take into consideration technical advice from EFRAG, provided that:

(a)

such advice has been developed with proper due process, public oversight and transparency, with the expertise and balanced participation of relevant stakeholders, and with sufficient public funding to ensure its independence, and on the basis of a work programme on which the Commission has been consulted;

(b)

such advice is accompanied by cost-benefit analyses that include analyses of the impacts of the technical advice on sustainability matters;

(c)

such advice is accompanied by an explanation of how it takes account of the elements listed in Article 29b(5);

(d)

participation in EFRAG’s work at technical level is based on expertise in sustainability reporting and is not conditional on a financial contribution.

Points (a) and (d) are without prejudice to the participation of public bodies and national standard-setting organisations in the technical work of EFRAG.

The accompanying documents for the EFRAG technical advice shall be submitted together with that technical advice.

The Commission shall consult jointly the Member State Expert Group on Sustainable Finance, referred to in Article 24 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, and the Accounting Regulatory Committee, referred to in Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 1606/2002, on the draft delegated acts prior to their adoption as referred to in Articles 29b and 29c of this Directive.

The Commission shall request the opinion of the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the European Banking Authority (EBA) and the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) on the technical advice provided by EFRAG, in particular with regard to its consistency with Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 and the delegated acts adopted pursuant to that Regulation. ESMA, EBA and EIOPA shall provide their opinions within two months of the date of receipt of the request from the Commission.

The Commission shall also consult the European Environment Agency, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, the European Central Bank, the Committee of European Auditing Oversight Bodies and the Platform on Sustainable Finance established pursuant to Article 20 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852 on the technical advice provided by EFRAG prior to the adoption of delegated acts referred to in Articles 29b and 29c of this Directive. If any of those bodies decide to submit an opinion, they shall do so within two months of the date of being consulted by the Commission.’;

(c)

paragraph 5 is replaced by the following:

‘5.
A delegated act adopted pursuant to Article 1(2), Article 3(13), Articles 29b, 29c or 40b, or Article 46(2) shall enter into force only if no objection has been expressed either by the European Parliament or the Council within a period of two months of notification of that act to the European Parliament and the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission that they will not object. That period shall be extended by two months at the initiative of the European Parliament or the Council.’.

Article 2

Amendments to Directive 2004/109/EC

Directive 2004/109/EC is amended as follows:

(1)

in Article 2(1) the following point is added:

‘(r)

“sustainability reporting” means sustainability reporting as defined in point (18) of Article 2 of Directive 2013/34/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council (*23).

(2)

Article 4 is amended as follows:

(a)

in paragraph 2, point (c) is replaced by the following:

‘(c)

statements made by the persons responsible within the issuer, whose names and functions shall be clearly indicated, to the effect that, to the best of their knowledge, the financial statements prepared in accordance with the applicable set of accounting standards give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of the issuer and the undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a whole and that the management report includes a fair review of the development and performance of the business and the position of the issuer and the undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a whole, together with a description of the principal risks and uncertainties that they face and, where appropriate, that it is prepared in accordance with sustainability reporting standards referred to in Article 29b of Directive 2013/34/EU and with the specifications adopted pursuant to Article 8(4) of Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council (*24).

(b)

paragraphs 4 and 5 are replaced by the following:

‘4.
The financial statements shall be audited in accordance with the first subparagraph of Article 34(1) and Article 34(2) of Directive 2013/34/EU.

The statutory auditor shall deliver the opinion and statement on the management report referred to in points (a) and (b) of the second subparagraph of Article 34(1) and in Article 34(2) of Directive 2013/34/EU.

The audit report, referred to in Article 28 of Directive 2006/43/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (*25), signed by the person or persons responsible for carrying out the work set out in Article 34(1) and (2) of Directive 2013/34/EU shall be disclosed in full to the public together with the annual financial report.

Where applicable, an assurance opinion on sustainability reporting shall be provided in accordance with point (aa) of the second subparagraph of Article 34(1) and Article 34(2) to (5) of Directive 2013/34/EU.

The assurance report on sustainability reporting referred to in Article 28a of Directive 2006/43/EC shall be disclosed in full to the public together with the annual financial report.

(3)

Article 23(4) is amended as follows:

(a)

the third and fourth subparagraphs are replaced by the following:

‘The Commission shall, in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 27(2) of this Directive, take the necessary decisions on the equivalence of accounting standards under the conditions set out in Article 30(3) of this Directive and on the equivalence of sustainability reporting standards as referred to in Article 29b of Directive 2013/34/EU which are used by third-country issuers. If the Commission decides that the accounting standards or the sustainability reporting standards of a third country are not equivalent, it may allow the issuers concerned to continue using such standards during an appropriate transitional period.

(b)

the following subparagraph is added:

‘The criteria that the Commission shall use when assessing the equivalence of sustainability reporting standards used by third-country issuers referred to in the third subparagraph shall at least ensure the following:

(a)

that the sustainability reporting standards require undertakings to disclose information on environmental, social and governance factors;

(b)

that the sustainability reporting standards require undertakings to disclose information necessary to understand their impacts on sustainability matters, and information necessary to understand how sustainability matters affect their development, performance and position.’;

(4)

the following Article is inserted:

‘Article 28d

ESMA guidelines

After consulting the European Environment Agency and the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, ESMA shall issue guidelines in accordance with Article 16 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010 on the supervision of sustainability reporting by national competent authorities.’.

Article 3

Amendments to Directive 2006/43/EC

Directive 2006/43/EC is amended as follows:

(1)

Article 1 is replaced by the following:

‘Article 1

Subject matter

This Directive establishes rules concerning the statutory audit of annual and consolidated accounts and the assurance of annual and consolidated sustainability reporting.’;

(2)

Article 2 is amended as follows:

(a)

points 2 to 6 are replaced by the following:

‘2.

“statutory auditor” means a natural person who is approved in accordance with this Directive by the competent authorities of a Member State to carry out statutory audits and, where applicable, the assurance of sustainability reporting;

“audit firm” means a legal person or any other entity, regardless of its legal form, that is approved in accordance with this Directive by the competent authorities of a Member State to carry out statutory audits and, where applicable, the assurance of sustainability reporting;

“third-country audit entity” means an entity, regardless of its legal form, which carries out audits of the annual or consolidated financial statements, or, where applicable, the assurance of sustainability reporting of a company incorporated in a third country, other than an entity which is registered as an audit firm in any Member State as a consequence of approval in accordance with Article 3;

“third-country auditor” means a natural person who carries out audits of the annual or consolidated financial statements or, where applicable, the assurance of sustainability reporting of a company incorporated in a third country, other than a person who is registered as a statutory auditor in any Member State as a consequence of approval in accordance with Articles 3 and 44;

“group auditor” means the statutory auditor(s) or audit firm(s) carrying out the statutory audit of the consolidated accounts or, where applicable, the assurance of consolidated sustainability reporting;’;

(b)

the following point is inserted:

‘16a.

“key sustainability partner(s)” means:

(a)

the statutory auditor(s) designated by an audit firm for a particular assurance engagement concerning sustainability reporting as being primarily responsible for carrying out the assurance of sustainability reporting on behalf of the audit firm; or

(b)

in the case of the assurance of consolidated sustainability reporting at least the statutory auditor(s) designated by an audit firm as being primarily responsible for carrying out the assurance of sustainability reporting at the level of the group and the statutory auditor(s) designated as being primarily responsible at the level of material subsidiaries; or

(c)

the statutory auditor(s) who sign(s) the assurance report on sustainability reporting referred to in Article 28a;’;

(c)

the following points are added:

‘21.

“sustainability reporting” means sustainability reporting as defined in point (18) of Article 2 of Directive 2013/34/EU;

22.

“assurance of sustainability reporting” means the performance of procedures resulting in the opinion expressed by the statutory auditor or audit firm in accordance with point (aa) of the second subparagraph of Article 34(1) and Article 34(2) of Directive 2013/34/EU;

23.

“independent assurance services provider” means a conformity assessment body accredited in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council (*26) for the specific conformity assessment activity referred to in point (aa) of the second subparagraph of Article 34(1) of Directive 2013/34/EU.

(3)

Article 6 is replaced by the following:

‘Article 6

Educational qualifications

1.
Without prejudice to Article 11, a natural person may be approved to carry out a statutory audit only after having attained university entrance or equivalent level, then completed a course of theoretical instruction, undergone practical training and passed an examination of professional competence of university final or equivalent examination level, organised or recognised by the Member State concerned.

2.
A natural person may, in addition to the approval to carry out statutory audits provided for in paragraph 1 of this Article, be approved to carry out the assurance of sustainability reporting when the additional specific requirements of Article 7(2), Article 8(3), the second subparagraph of Article 10(1) and the fourth subparagraph of Article 14(2) of this Directive are met.

3.
The competent authorities referred to in Article 32 shall cooperate with each other with a view to achieving a convergence of the requirements set out in this Article. When engaging in such cooperation, those competent authorities shall take into account developments in auditing and in the audit profession and, in particular, convergence that has already been achieved by the profession. They shall cooperate with the Committee of European Auditing Oversight Bodies (CEAOB) and the competent authorities referred to in Article 20 of Regulation (EU) No 537/2014 in so far as such convergence relates to the statutory audit and assurance of sustainability reporting of public-interest entities.’;

(4)

Article 7 is replaced by the following:

‘Article 7

Examination of professional competence

1.
The examination of professional competence referred to in Article 6 shall guarantee the necessary level of theoretical knowledge of subjects relevant to statutory audit and the ability to apply such knowledge in practice. At least part of that examination shall be written.

2.
In order for the statutory auditor to also be approved to carry out the assurance of sustainability reporting, the examination of professional competence referred to in Article 6 shall guarantee the necessary level of theoretical knowledge of subjects relevant to the assurance of sustainability reporting and the ability to apply such knowledge in practice. At least part of that examination shall be written.’;

(5)

in Article 8, the following paragraph is added:

‘3.

(a)

legal requirements and standards relating to the preparation of annual and consolidated sustainability reporting;

(b)

sustainability analysis;

(c)

due diligence processes with regard to sustainability matters;

(d)

legal requirements and assurance standards for the sustainability reporting referred to in Article 26a.’;

(6)

in Article 10(1), the following subparagraph is added:

‘In order for the statutory auditor or the trainee to also be approved to carry out the assurance of sustainability reporting, at least eight months of the practical training referred to in the first subparagraph shall be on the assurance of annual and consolidated sustainability reporting or on other sustainability-related services.’;

(7)

Article 12 is replaced by the following:

‘Article 12

Combination of practical training and theoretical instruction

1.
Member States may provide that periods of theoretical instruction in the subjects referred to in Article 8(1) and (2) shall count towards the periods of professional activity referred to in Article 11, provided that such instruction is attested by an examination recognised by the Member State. Such instruction shall not last less than one year, nor may it reduce the period of professional activity by more than four years.

2.
The period of professional activity and practical training shall not be shorter than the course of theoretical instruction together with the practical training required under the first subparagraph of Article 10(1).’;

(8)

in Article 14(2), the following subparagraph is added:

‘In order for the statutory auditor to also be approved to carry out the assurance of sustainability reporting, the aptitude test referred to in the first subparagraph shall cover the statutory auditor’s adequate knowledge of the laws and regulations of the host Member State in so far as it is relevant to the assurance of sustainability reporting.’;

(9)

the following Article is inserted:

‘Article 14a

Statutory auditors approved or recognised before 1 January 2024 and persons undergoing the approval process for statutory auditors on 1 January 2024

Member States shall ensure that statutory auditors that are approved or recognised to carry out statutory audits before 1 January 2024 are not subject to the requirements of Article 7(2), Article 8(3), the second subparagraph of Article 10(1) and the fourth subparagraph of Article 14(2).

Member States shall ensure that persons that on 1 January 2024 are undergoing the approval process provided for in Articles 6 to 14 are not subject to the requirements of Article 7(2), Article 8(3), the second subparagraph of Article 10(1) and the fourth subparagraph of Article 14(2), provided they complete that process by 1 January 2026.

Member States shall ensure that statutory auditors approved before 1 January 2026 who wish to carry out the assurance of sustainability reporting acquire the necessary knowledge of sustainability reporting and the assurance of sustainability reporting, including of the subjects listed in Article 8(3), via the continuing education referred to in Article 13.’;

(10)

Article 16 is amended as follows:

(a)

paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:

‘1.

As regards statutory auditors, the public register shall contain at least the following information:

(a)

name, address and registration number;

(b)

if applicable, the name, address, website address and registration number of the audit firm(s) by which the statutory auditor is employed, or with whom he or she is associated as a partner or otherwise;

(c)

whether the statutory auditor is also approved for carrying out the assurance of sustainability reporting;

(d)

all other registration(s) as statutory auditor with the competent authorities of other Member States and as auditor with third countries, including the name(s) of the registration authority(ies), and, if applicable, the registration number(s), and an indication of whether the registration concerns the statutory audit, the assurance of sustainability reporting, or both.’;

(b)

in paragraph 2, the following subparagraph is added:

‘The register shall indicate whether third-country auditors as referred to in the first subparagraph are registered for carrying out the statutory audit, the assurance of sustainability reporting, or both.’;

(11)

Article 17 is amended as follows:

(a)

in paragraph 1, point (e) is replaced by the following:

‘(e)

name and registration number of all statutory auditors employed by, or associated as partners or otherwise with, the audit firm, and an indication of whether they are also approved for carrying out the assurance of sustainability reporting;’;

(b)

in paragraph 1, point (i) is replaced by the following:

‘(i)

all other registration(s) as audit firm with the competent authorities of other Member States and as audit entity with third countries, including the name(s) of the registration authority(ies), and, if applicable, the registration number(s), and an indication of whether the registration concerns the statutory audit, the assurance of sustainability reporting, or both.’;

(c)

in paragraph 2, the following subparagraph is added:

‘The register shall indicate whether third-country audit entities as referred to in the first subparagraph are registered for carrying out the statutory audit, the assurance of sustainability reporting, or both.’;

(12)

Article 24b is amended as follows:

(a)

paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:

‘1.
Member States shall ensure that, when the statutory audit is carried out by an audit firm, that audit firm designates at least one key audit partner. The audit firm shall provide the key audit partner(s) with sufficient resources and with personnel that have the necessary competence and capabilities to carry out his, her or its duties appropriately.

Member States shall ensure that, when the assurance of sustainability reporting is carried out by an audit firm, that audit firm designates at least one key sustainability partner, who may be (one of) the key audit partner(s). The audit firm shall provide the key sustainability partner(s) with sufficient resources and with personnel that have the necessary competence and capabilities to carry out his, her or its duties appropriately.

Securing audit and assurance quality, independence and competence shall be the main criteria when the audit firm selects the key audit partner(s) and, where applicable, the key sustainability partner(s) to be designated.

The key audit partner(s) shall be actively involved in the carrying-out of the statutory audit. The key sustainability partner shall be actively involved in the carrying-out of the assurance of sustainability reporting.’;

(b)

the following paragraph is inserted:

‘2a.
When carrying out the assurance of sustainability reporting, the statutory auditor shall devote sufficient time to the engagement and shall assign sufficient resources to enable him or her to carry out his or her duties appropriately.’;

(c)

in paragraph 4, points (b) and (c) are replaced by the following:

‘(b)

in the case of an audit firm, the name(s) of the key audit partner(s) and, where applicable, the name(s) of the key sustainability partner(s);

(c)

the fees charged for the statutory audit, the fees charged for the assurance of sustainability reporting and the fees charged for other services in any financial year.’;

(d)

the following paragraph is inserted:

‘5a.
A statutory auditor or an audit firm shall create an assurance file for each assurance engagement concerning sustainability reporting.

The statutory auditor or the audit firm shall document at least the data recorded pursuant to Article 22b as regards the assurance of sustainability reporting.

The statutory auditor or the audit firm shall retain any other data and documents that are of importance in support of the assurance report on sustainability reporting referred to in Article 28a and for monitoring compliance with this Directive and other applicable legal requirements as regards the assurance of sustainability reporting.

The assurance file shall be closed no later than 60 days after the date of signature of the assurance report on sustainability reporting referred to in Article 28a.

Where the same statutory auditor carries out the statutory audit of annual financial statements and the assurance of sustainability reporting, the assurance file may be included in the audit file.’;

(e)

paragraph 6 is replaced by the following:

‘The statutory auditor or the audit firm shall keep records of any complaints made in writing about the performance of the statutory audits carried out and about the performance of assurance engagements concerning sustainability reporting carried out.’;

(13)

Article 25 is replaced by the following:

‘Article 25

Audit and assurance fees

Member States shall ensure that adequate rules are in place which provide that fees for statutory audits and the assurance of sustainability reporting:

(a)

are not influenced or determined by the provision of additional services to the entity that is the subject of the statutory audit or the assurance of sustainability reporting; and

(b)

cannot be based on any form of contingency.’;

(14)

the following Articles are inserted:

‘Article 25b

Professional ethics, independence, objectivity, confidentiality and professional secrecy as regards the assurance of sustainability reporting

The requirements in Articles 21 to 24a as regards the statutory audit of financial statements shall apply mutatis mutandis to the assurance of sustainability reporting.

Article 25c

Prohibited non-audit services in cases where the statutory auditor carries out the assurance of sustainability reporting of a public-interest entity

(a)

the period between the beginning of the period subject to the assurance of sustainability reporting and the issuing of the assurance report on sustainability reporting; and

(b)

the financial year immediately preceding the period referred to in point (a) of this paragraph in relation to the services referred to in point (e) of the second subparagraph of Article 5(1) of Regulation (EU) No 537/2014.

2.
A statutory auditor or an audit firm carrying out the assurance of sustainability reporting of public-interest entities and, where the statutory auditor or the audit firm belongs to a network, any member of such network, may provide to the public-interest entity that is the subject of the assurance of sustainability reporting, to its parent undertaking or to its controlled undertakings non-audit services other than the prohibited non-audit services referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, or if applicable, the prohibited non-audit services referred to in the second subparagraph of Article 5(1) of Regulation (EU) No 537/2014 or services considered by Member States to represent a threat to independence as referred to in Article 5(2) of that Regulation, subject to the approval of the audit committee after it has properly assessed threats to independence and the safeguards applied in accordance with Article 22b of this Directive.

If his, her or its independence is affected, the statutory auditor or the audit firm shall apply safeguards in order to mitigate the threats caused by the provision of prohibited non-audit services referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article in a third country. The statutory auditor or the audit firm may continue to carry out the assurance of sustainability reporting of the public-interest entity only if he, she or it can justify, in accordance with Article 22b, that the provision of such services does not affect his, her or its professional judgement and the assurance report on sustainability reporting.

Article 25d

Irregularities

Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No 537/2014 shall apply mutatis mutandis to a statutory auditor or an audit firm carrying out the assurance of sustainability reporting of a public-interest entity.’;

(15)

the following Article is inserted:

‘Article 26a

Assurance standards for sustainability reporting

1.
Member States shall require statutory auditors and audit firms to carry out the assurance of sustainability reporting in compliance with the assurance standards adopted by the Commission in accordance with paragraph 3.

2.
Member States may apply national assurance standards, procedures or requirements as long as the Commission has not adopted an assurance standard covering the same subject matter.

Member States shall communicate the national assurance standards, procedures or requirements to the Commission at least three months before their entry into force.

The Commission shall, no later than 1 October 2028, adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 48a in order to supplement this Directive in order to provide for reasonable assurance standards, following an assessment to determine if reasonable assurance is feasible for auditors and for undertakings. Taking into account the results of that assessment and if therefore appropriate, those delegated acts shall specify the date from which the opinion referred to in point (aa) of the second subparagraph of Article 34(1) is to be based on a reasonable assurance engagement that is based on those reasonable assurance standards.

The Commission may adopt the assurance standards referred to in the first and second subparagraphs only if they:

(a)

have been developed with proper due process, public oversight and transparency;

(b)

contribute a high level of credibility and quality to the annual or consolidated sustainability reporting; and

(c)

are conducive to the Union public good.’;

(16)

the following Article is inserted:

‘Article 27a

Assurance of consolidated sustainability reporting

Member States shall ensure that in the case of assurance engagements concerning the consolidated sustainability reporting of a group of undertakings:

(a)

in relation to the consolidated sustainability reporting, the group auditor bears the full responsibility for the assurance report on sustainability reporting referred to in Article 28a;

(b)

the group auditor evaluates the assurance work performed by any independent assurance services provider(s), third-country auditor(s), statutory auditor(s), third-country audit entity(ies) or audit firm(s) for the purpose of the assurance of consolidated sustainability reporting and documents the nature, timing and extent of the work performed by those auditors, including, where applicable, the group auditor’s review of relevant parts of those auditors’ assurance documentation; and

(c)

the group auditor reviews the assurance work performed by independent assurance services provider(s), third-country auditor(s), statutory auditor(s), third-country audit entity(ies) or audit firm(s) for the purpose of the assurance of consolidated sustainability reporting and documents it.

The documentation retained by the group auditor shall be such as to enable the relevant competent authority to review the work of the group auditor.

For the purposes of point (c) of the first subparagraph of this paragraph, the group auditor shall request the agreement of the independent assurance services provider(s), third-country auditor(s), statutory auditor(s), third-country audit entity(ies) or audit firm(s) concerned to the transfer of relevant documentation during the conduct of the assurance of consolidated sustainability reporting, as a condition of the reliance by the group auditor on the work of those independent assurance services provider(s), third-country auditor(s), statutory auditor(s), third-country audit entity(ies) or audit firm(s).

2.
Where the group auditor is unable to comply with point (c) of the first subparagraph of paragraph 1, he, she or it shall take appropriate measures and inform the relevant competent authority.

Such measures shall, where appropriate, include carrying out additional assurance work, either directly or by outsourcing such tasks, in the relevant subsidiary.

The competent authority may request additional documentation on the assurance work performed by any statutory auditor(s) or audit firm(s) for the purpose of the assurance of consolidated sustainability reporting from the relevant competent authorities pursuant to Article 36.

Where the assurance of sustainability reporting of a parent undertaking or a subsidiary undertaking of a group of undertakings is carried out by any auditor(s) or audit entity(ies) from a third country, the competent authority may request additional documentation on the assurance work performed by any third-country auditor(s) or third-country audit entity(ies) from the relevant competent authorities from third countries through working arrangements.

By way of derogation from the third subparagraph, where any independent assurance services provider(s), third-country auditor(s) or audit entity(ies) that have no working arrangements carried out the assurance of sustainability reporting of a parent undertaking or a subsidiary undertaking of a group of undertakings, the group auditor shall, when requested, also be responsible for ensuring proper delivery of the additional documentation on the assurance work performed by such independent assurance services provider(s), third-country auditor(s) or audit entity(ies), including the working papers relevant to the assurance of consolidated sustainability reporting. In order to ensure such delivery, the group auditor shall retain a copy of such documentation, or alternatively agree with the independent assurance services provider(s), third-country auditor(s) or audit entity(ies) that he, she or it is to be given unrestricted access to such documentation upon request, or take any other appropriate action. Where assurance working papers cannot, for legal or other reasons, be passed from a third country to the group auditor, the documentation retained by the group auditor shall include evidence that he, she or it has undertaken the appropriate procedures in order to gain access to the assurance documentation, and in the case of impediments other than legal ones arising from the legislation of the third country concerned, evidence supporting the existence of such impediments.’;

(17)

in Article 28(2), point (e) is replaced by the following:

‘(e)

include an opinion and a statement, both of which shall be based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit, pursuant to points (a) and (b) of the second subparagraph of Article 34(1) of Directive 2013/34/EU;’;

(18)

the following Article is inserted:

‘Article 28a

Assurance report on sustainability reporting

1.
The statutory auditor(s) or the audit firm(s) shall present the results of the assurance of sustainability reporting in an assurance report on sustainability reporting. That report shall be prepared in accordance with the requirements of assurance standards adopted by the Commission by means of the delegated acts adopted pursuant to Article 26a(3), or, pending adoption by the Commission of those assurance standards, in accordance with national assurance standards, as referred to in Article 26a(2).

The assurance report on sustainability reporting shall be in writing and shall:

(a)

identify the entity whose annual or consolidated sustainability reporting is the subject of the assurance engagement; specify the annual or consolidated sustainability reporting and the date and period it covers; and identify the sustainability reporting framework that has been applied in its preparation;

(b)

include a description of the scope of the assurance of sustainability reporting which shall, as a minimum, identify the assurance standards in accordance with which the assurance of sustainability reporting was conducted;

(c)

include the opinion referred to in point (aa) of the second subparagraph of Article 34(1) of Directive 2013/34/EU.

3.
Where the assurance of sustainability reporting was carried out by more than one statutory auditor or audit firm, the statutory auditor(s) or the audit firm(s) shall agree on the results of the assurance of sustainability reporting and submit a joint report and opinion. In the case of disagreement, each statutory auditor or audit firm shall submit his, her or its opinion in a separate paragraph of the assurance report on sustainability reporting and shall state the reason for the disagreement.

4.
The assurance report on sustainability reporting shall be signed and dated by the statutory auditor carrying out the assurance of sustainability reporting. Where an audit firm carries out the assurance of sustainability reporting, the assurance report on sustainability reporting shall bear the signature of at least the statutory auditor(s) carrying out the assurance of sustainability reporting on behalf of the audit firm. Where more than one statutory auditor or audit firm have been simultaneously engaged, the assurance report on sustainability reporting shall be signed by all statutory auditors or at least by the statutory auditors carrying out the assurance of sustainability reporting on behalf of every audit firm. In exceptional circumstances, Member States may provide that such signature(s) need not be disclosed to the public if such disclosure could lead to an imminent and significant threat to the personal security of any person.

In any event, the name(s) of the person(s) involved shall be known to the relevant competent authorities.

5.
Member States may require that, where the same statutory auditor carries out the statutory audit of annual financial statements and the assurance of sustainability reporting, the assurance report on sustainability reporting may be included as a separate section of the audit report.

6.
The report of the statutory auditor or the audit firm on the consolidated sustainability reporting shall comply with the requirements set out in paragraphs 1 to 5.’;

(19)

Article 29 is amended as follows:

(a)

in paragraph 1, point (d) is replaced by the following:

‘(d)

the persons who carry out quality assurance reviews shall have appropriate professional education and relevant experience in statutory audit and financial reporting and, where applicable, in sustainability reporting and in the assurance of sustainability reporting or in other sustainability-related services, combined with specific training on quality assurance reviews;’;

(b)

in paragraph 1, point (f) is replaced by the following:

‘(f)

the scope of the quality assurance review, supported by adequate testing of selected audit files and, where applicable, assurance files, shall include an assessment of compliance with applicable auditing standards and independence requirements and, where applicable, with assurance standards, and an assessment of the quantity and quality of resources spent, of the audit fees and fees charged for the assurance of sustainability reporting, and of the internal quality control system of the audit firm;’;

(c)

in paragraph 1, point (h) is replaced by the following:

‘(h)

quality assurance reviews shall take place on the basis of an analysis of the risk and, in the case of statutory auditors and audit firms carrying out statutory audits as defined in point (a) of point 1 of Article 2 and, where applicable, carrying out assurance of sustainability reporting, at least every six years;’;

(d)

in paragraph 2, point (a) is replaced by the following:

‘(a)

reviewers shall have appropriate professional education and relevant experience in statutory audit and financial reporting and, where applicable, in sustainability reporting and in the assurance of sustainability reporting or in other sustainability-related services, combined with specific training on quality assurance reviews;’;

(e)

the following paragraph is inserted:

‘2a.
Member States may exempt, until 31 December 2025, persons who carry out quality assurance reviews relating to the assurance of sustainability reporting from the requirement to have relevant experience in sustainability reporting and in the assurance of sustainability reporting or in other sustainability-related services.’;

(20)

in Article 30, paragraphs 1 and 2 are replaced by the following:

‘1.
Member States shall ensure that there are effective systems of investigations and sanctions to detect, correct and prevent inadequate execution of the statutory audit and the assurance of sustainability reporting.

Member States may decide not to lay down rules for administrative sanctions for infringements which are already subject to national criminal law. In that event, they shall communicate to the Commission the relevant criminal law provisions.’;

(21)

in Article 30a(1), the following point is inserted:

‘(ca)

a temporary prohibition, of up to three years’ duration, banning the statutory auditor, the audit firm or the key sustainability partner from carrying out the assurance of sustainability reporting and/or signing assurance reports on sustainability reporting;’;

(22)

in Article 30a(1), the following point is inserted:

‘(da)

a declaration that the assurance report on sustainability reporting does not meet the requirements of Article 28a of this Directive;’;

(23)

Article 32 is amended as follows:

(a)

in paragraph 3, the first subparagraph is replaced by the following:

‘3.
The competent authority shall be governed by non-practitioners who are knowledgeable in the areas relevant to statutory audit and, where applicable, to the assurance of sustainability reporting. They shall be selected in accordance with an independent and transparent nomination procedure.’;

(b)

in paragraph 4, point (b) is replaced by the following:

‘(b)

the adoption of standards on professional ethics, internal quality control of audit firms, auditing and the assurance of sustainability reporting, except where those standards are adopted or approved by other Member State authorities;’;

(24)

the following Article is inserted:

‘Article 36a

Regulatory arrangements between Member States as regards the assurance of sustainability reporting

The requirements of Articles 34 and 36 as regards the statutory audit of financial statements shall apply mutatis mutandis to the assurance of sustainability reporting.’;

(25)

Article 37 is amended as follows:

(a)

in paragraph 1, the following subparagraph is added:

‘The first subparagraph shall apply to the appointment of the statutory auditor or audit firm for the purpose of the assurance of sustainability reporting.’;

(b)

in paragraph 2, the following subparagraph is added:

‘The first subparagraph shall apply to the appointment of the statutory auditor or audit firm for the purpose of the assurance of sustainability reporting.’;

(c)

paragraph 3 is replaced by the following:

‘3.
Any contractual clause restricting the choice by the general meeting of shareholders or members of the audited entity pursuant to paragraph 1 to certain categories or lists of statutory auditors or audit firms as regards the appointment of a particular statutory auditor or audit firm to carry out the statutory audit and, where applicable, the assurance of sustainability reporting of that entity shall be prohibited. Any such existing clauses shall be null and void.

Member States shall ensure that shareholders or members of large undertakings subject to Articles 19a and 29a of Directive 2013/34/EU, except undertakings referred to in point (a) of point (1) of Article 2 of that Directive, and which represent more than 5 % of the voting rights or 5 % of the capital of the undertaking, acting individually or collectively, have the right to table a draft resolution to be adopted in the general meeting of shareholders or members, requiring that an accredited third party that does not belong to the same audit firm or network as the statutory auditor or audit firm carrying out the statutory audit prepare a report on certain elements of the sustainability reporting and that such report be made available to the general meeting of shareholders or members.’;

(26)

Article 38 is amended as follows:

(a)

paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:

‘1.
Member States shall ensure that statutory auditors or audit firms may be dismissed only where there are proper grounds. Divergence of opinions on accounting treatments, audit procedures or, where applicable, on sustainability reporting or assurance procedures shall not be proper grounds for dismissal.’;

(b)

in paragraph 2, the following subparagraph is added:

‘The obligation to inform provided for in the first subparagraph shall also apply to the assurance of sustainability reporting.’;

(c)

in paragraph 3, the following subparagraph is added:

‘The first subparagraph shall also apply to the assurance of sustainability reporting.’;

(27)

Article 39 is amended as follows:

(a)

the following paragraph is inserted:

‘4a.
Member States may allow the functions assigned to the audit committee relating to sustainability reporting and relating to the assurance of sustainability reporting to be performed by the administrative or supervisory body as a whole or by a dedicated body established by the administrative or supervisory body.’;

(b)

in paragraph 6, points (a) to (e) are replaced by the following:

‘(a)

inform the administrative or supervisory body of the audited entity of the outcome of the statutory audit and, where applicable, of the outcome of the assurance of sustainability reporting and explain how the statutory audit and the assurance of sustainability reporting contributed to the integrity of financial reporting and sustainability reporting respectively, and what the role of the audit committee was in that process;

(b)

monitor the financial and, where applicable, sustainability reporting process, including the electronic reporting process as referred to in Article 29d of Directive 2013/34/EU and the process carried out by the undertaking to identify the information reported in accordance with the sustainability reporting standards adopted pursuant to Article 29b of that Directive, and submit recommendations or proposals to ensure their integrity;

(c)

monitor the effectiveness of the undertaking’s internal quality control and risk management systems and, where applicable, its internal audit, regarding the financial reporting and, where applicable, sustainability reporting of the undertaking, including its electronic reporting process as referred to in Article 29d of Directive 2013/34/EU, without breaching its independence;

(d)

monitor the statutory audit of the annual and consolidated financial statements and, where applicable, the assurance of the annual and consolidated sustainability reporting, in particular its performance, taking into account any findings and conclusions by the competent authority pursuant to Article 26(6) of Regulation (EU) No 537/2014;

(e)

review and monitor the independence of the statutory auditors or the audit firms in accordance with Articles 22, 22a, 22b, 24a, 24b, 25b, 25c and 25d of this Directive and with Article 6 of Regulation (EU) No 537/2014, and in particular the appropriateness of the provision of non-audit services to the audited entity in accordance with Article 5 of that Regulation;’;

(28)

Article 45 is amended as follows:

(a)

paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:

‘1.

(a)

such securities have been admitted to trading on a regulated market in a Member State, defined in point (21) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU prior to 31 December 2010 and the denomination per unit of which is, at the date of issue, at least EUR 50 000 or, in the case of debt securities denominated in another currency, equivalent, at the date of issue, to at least EUR 50 000 ;

(b)

such securities are admitted to trading on a regulated market in a Member State, defined in point (21) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU from 31 December 2010 and the denomination per unit of which is, at the date of issue, at least EUR 100 000 or, in case of debt securities denominated in another currency, equivalent, at the date of issue, to at least EUR 100 000 .

(b)

paragraphs 4 to 6 are replaced by the following:

‘4.
Without prejudice to Article 46, audit reports concerning annual accounts or consolidated accounts or, where applicable, the assurance reports concerning annual or consolidated sustainability reporting referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article issued by third-country auditors or audit entities that are not registered in the Member State shall have no legal effect in that Member State.

A Member State may register a third-country audit entity for the purpose of the audit of financial statements only if:

(a)

the majority of the members of the administrative or management body of the third-country audit entity meet requirements which are equivalent to those laid down in Articles 4 to 10, with the exception of Article 7(2), Article 8(3) and the second subparagraph of Article 10(1);

(b)

the third-country auditor carrying out the audit on behalf of the third-country audit entity meets requirements which are equivalent to those laid down in Articles 4 to 10, with the exception of Article 7(2), Article 8(3) and the second subparagraph of Article 10(1);

(c)

the audits of the annual or consolidated financial statements referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article are carried out in accordance with international auditing standards as referred to in Article 26, as well as the requirements laid down in Articles 22, 22b and 25, or with equivalent standards and requirements;

(d)

the third-country audit entity publishes on its website an annual transparency report which includes the information referred to in Article 13 of Regulation (EU) No 537/2014 or it complies with equivalent disclosure requirements.

A Member State may register a third-country audit entity for the purpose of the assurance of sustainability reporting only if:

(a)

the majority of the members of the administrative or management body of the third-country audit entity meet requirements which are equivalent to those laid down in Articles 4 to 10;

(b)

the third-country auditor carrying out the assurance on behalf of the third-country audit entity meets requirements which are equivalent to those laid down in Articles 4 to 10;

(c)

the assurance of the annual or consolidated sustainability reporting referred to in paragraph 1 is carried out in accordance with the assurance standards referred to in Article 26a, as well as the requirements laid down in Articles 22, 22b, 25 and 25b, or with equivalent standards and requirements;

(d)

5a.
A Member State may register a third-country auditor for the purpose of the audit of financial statements only if he or she meets the requirements set out in points (b), (c) and (d) of the first subparagraph of paragraph 5 of this Article.

A Member State may register a third-country auditor for the purpose of the assurance for sustainability reporting only if he or she meets the requirements set out in points (b), (c) and (d) of the second subparagraph of paragraph 5 of this Article.

Member States may assess the equivalence referred to point (c) of the first subparagraph of paragraph 5 and point (c) of the second subparagraph of paragraph 5 of this Article, as long as the Commission has not taken any such decision.

The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 48a supplementing this Directive for the purpose of establishing the general equivalence criteria to be used in assessing whether the audits of the financial statements and, where applicable, the assurance of sustainability reporting referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article are carried out in accordance with international auditing standards as defined in Article 26 and with assurance standards for sustainability reporting referred to in Article 26a, respectively, and with the requirements laid down in Articles 22, 24 and 25. Such criteria, which are applicable to all third countries, shall be used by Member States when assessing equivalence at national level.’;

(29)

Article 48a is amended as follows:

(a)

in paragraph 2, the following subparagraph is added:

‘The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in Article 26a(2) shall be conferred on the Commission for an indeterminate period of time.’;

(b)

paragraph 3 is replaced by the following:

‘3.
The delegation of power referred to in Article 26(3), Article 26a(3), Article 45(6), Article 46(2) and Article 47(3) may be revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision to revoke shall put an end to the delegation of the power specified in that decision. It shall take effect the day following the publication of the decision in the Official Journal of the European Union or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated acts already in force.’;

(c)

paragraph 5 is replaced by the following:

‘5.
A delegated act adopted pursuant to Article 26(3), Article 26a(3), Article 45(6), Article 46(2) or Article 47(3) shall enter into force only if no objection has been expressed either by the European Parliament or the Council within a period of four months of notification of that act to the European Parliament and the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission that they will not object. That period shall be extended by two months at the initiative of the European Parliament or of the Council.’.

Article 4

Amendments to Regulation (EU) No 537/2014

Regulation (EU) No 537/2014 is amended as follows:

(1)

in Article 4(2), the second subparagraph is replaced by the following:

‘For the purposes of the limits specified in the first subparagraph of this paragraph, the assurance of sustainability reporting, and non-audit services other than those referred to in Article 5(1), required by Union or national legislation, shall be excluded.’;

(2)

Article 5 is amended as follows:

(a)

in paragraph 1, second subparagraph, point (c) is replaced by the following:

‘(c)

bookkeeping and preparing accounting records and financial statements as well as preparing sustainability reporting;’;

(b)

in paragraph 4, the following subparagraph is inserted after the first subparagraph:

‘The approval of the audit committee referred to in the first subparagraph shall not be needed for the provision of assurance of sustainability reporting.’.

Article 5

Transposition

1.
Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with Articles 1 to 3 of this Directive by 6 July 2024. They shall immediately communicate the text of those measures to the Commission.

Member States shall apply the measures necessary to comply with Article 1, with the exception of point (14):

(a)

►M2 for financial years starting between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2026: ◄

(i)

to large undertakings within the meaning of Article 3(4) of Directive 2013/34/EU which are public-interest entities as defined in point (1) of Article 2 of that Directive exceeding on their balance sheet dates the average number of 500 employees during the financial year;

(ii)

to public-interest entities as defined in point (1) of Article 2 of Directive 2013/34/EU which are parent undertakings of a large group within the meaning of Article 3(7) of that Directive exceeding on its balance sheet dates, on a consolidated basis, the average number of 500 employees during the financial year;

(b)

►M1 for financial years starting on or after 1 January 2027: ◄

▼M2

(i)

to undertakings which, on their balance sheet dates, exceed a net turnover of EUR 450 000 000 and an average number of 1 000 employees during the financial year;

(ii)

to parent undertakings of a group which, on its balance sheet dates, exceeds, on a consolidated basis, a net turnover of EUR 450 000 000 and an average number of 1 000 employees during the financial year.

▼M2 —————

▼B

Member States shall apply the measures necessary to comply with point (14) of Article 1 for financial years starting on or after 1 January 2028.

Member States shall apply the measures necessary to comply with Article 2:

(a)

►M2 for financial years starting between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2026: ◄

(i)

to issuers as defined in point (d) of Article 2(1) of Directive 2004/109/EC which are large undertakings within the meaning of Article 3(4) of Directive 2013/34/EU exceeding on their balance sheet dates the average number of 500 employees during the financial year;

(ii)

to issuers as defined in point (d) of Article 2(1) of Directive 2004/109/EC which are parent undertakings of a large group within the meaning of Article 3(7) of Directive 2013/34/EU exceeding on its balance sheet dates, on a consolidated basis, the average number of 500 employees during the financial year;

(b)

►M1 for financial years starting on or after 1 January 2027: ◄

▼M2

(i)

to issuers as defined in point (d) of Article 2(1) of Directive 2004/109/EC which are undertakings which, on their balance sheet dates, exceed a net turnover of EUR 450 000 000 and an average number of 1 000 employees during the financial year;

(ii)

to issuers as defined in point (d) of Article 2(1) of Directive 2004/109/EC which are parent undertakings of a group which, on its balance sheet dates, exceeds, on a consolidated basis, a net turnover of EUR 450 000 000 and an average number of 1 000 employees during the financial year.

▼M2 —————

▼B

Member States shall apply the measures necessary to comply with Article 3 for financial years starting on or after 1 January 2024.

▼M2

By way of derogation from point (a) of the first subparagraph and point (a) of the third subparagraph, Member States may exempt undertakings or issuers which do not exceed a net turnover of EUR 450 000 000 or an average number of 1 000 employees during the financial year, on a consolidated basis where applicable, from complying with the measures necessary to comply with Article 1, with the exception of point (14), and with Article 2, for the financial years starting between 1 January 2025 and 31 December 2026.

▼B

3.
When Member States adopt the measures referred to in paragraph 1, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.

4.
Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.

Article 6

Review and reporting

The Commission shall submit a report to the European Parliament and to the Council on the implementation of this amending Directive, including, inter alia:

(a)

an assessment of the achievement of the goals of this amending Directive, including the convergence of reporting practices between Member States;

▼M2

(b)

an assessment of the number of undertakings voluntarily using the sustainability reporting standards referred to in Article 29ca of Directive 2013/34/EU;

(c)

an assessment of whether and how the scope of the provisions amended by this amending Directive should be extended, in particular in relation to large undertakings with a net turnover not exceeding EUR 450 000 000 and an average number of employees not exceeding 1 000 during the financial year, as well as to third-country undertakings operating directly on the Union internal market without a subsidiary or a branch on the territory of the Union;

▼B

(d)

an assessment of the implementation of the reporting requirements on subsidiaries and branches of third-country undertakings introduced by this amending Directive, including an assessment of the number of third-country undertakings which have a subsidiary undertaking or a branch reporting in accordance with Article 40a of Directive 2013/34/EU; an assessment of the enforcement mechanism and of the thresholds set out in that Article;

(e)

an assessment of whether and how to ensure the accessibility for persons with disabilities to the sustainability reports published by undertakings falling under the scope of this amending Directive.

▼M2

▼B

2.
By 31 December 2028, the Commission shall review and report on the level of concentration of the sustainability assurance market. That review shall take into account the national regimes applicable to independent assurance services providers and assess whether and to what extent those national regimes contribute to opening up the assurance market.

By 31 December 2028, the Commission shall assess possible legal measures to ensure sufficient diversification of the sustainability assurance market and appropriate sustainability reporting quality. The Commission shall review the measures provided for in Article 34 of Directive 2013/34/EU and assess the need to extend them to other large undertakings.

The report shall be transmitted to the European Parliament and the Council by 31 December 2028 and shall be accompanied, if appropriate, by legislative proposals.

Article 7

Entry into force and application

This Directive shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Article 4 of this Directive shall apply from 1 January 2024 for financial years starting on or after 1 January 2024.

Article 8

Addressees

This Directive is addressed to the Member States.

Article 4 shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

(*1) Council Directive 91/674/EEC of 19 December 1991 on the annual accounts and consolidated accounts of insurance undertakings (OJ L 374, 31.12.1991, p. 7).

(*2) Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on prudential requirements for credit institutions and amending Regulation (EU) No 648/2012 (OJ L 176, 27.6.2013, p. 1).

(*3) Directive 2013/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on access to the activity of credit institutions and the prudential supervision of credit institutions, amending Directive 2002/87/EC and repealing Directives 2006/48/EC and 2006/49/EC (OJ L 176, 27.6.2013, p. 338).

(*4) Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 November 2019 on sustainability-related disclosures in the financial services sector (OJ L 317, 9.12.2019, p. 1).’;

(*5) Council Directive 91/674/EEC of 19 December 1991 on the annual accounts and consolidated accounts of insurance undertakings (OJ L 374, 31.12.1991, p. 7).

(*6) Council Directive 86/635/EEC of 8 December 1986 on the annual accounts and consolidated accounts of banks and other financial institutions (OJ L 372, 31.12.1986, p. 1).’;

(*7) Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 July 2008 setting out the requirements for accreditation and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 339/93 (OJ L 218, 13.8.2008, p. 30).’;

(*8) Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 June 2021 establishing the framework for achieving climate neutrality and amending Regulations (EC) No 401/2009 and (EU) 2018/1999 (‘European Climate Law’) (OJ L 243, 9.7.2021, p. 1).

(*9) Directive (EU) 2022/2464 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 December 2022 amending Regulation (EU) No 537/2014, Directive 2004/109/EC, Directive 2006/43/EC and Directive 2013/34/EU, as regards corporate sustainability reporting (OL L 322, 16.12.2022, p. 15).

(*10) Directive 2009/138/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 on the taking-up and pursuit of the business of Insurance and Reinsurance (Solvency II) (OJ L 335, 17.12.2009, p. 1).

(*11) Directive 2004/109/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 December 2004 on the harmonisation of transparency requirements in relation to information about issuers whose securities are admitted to trading on a regulated market and amending Directive 2001/34/EC (OJ L 390, 31.12.2004, p. 38).

(*12) Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2020 on the establishment of a framework to facilitate sustainable investment, and amending Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 (OJ L 198, 22.6.2020, p. 13).’;

(*13) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/1816 of 17 July 2020 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1011 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the explanation in the benchmark statement of how environmental, social and governance factors are reflected in each benchmark provided and published (OJ L 406, 3.12.2020, p. 1).

(*14) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/1817 of 17 July 2020 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1011 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the minimum content of the explanation on how environmental, social and governance factors are reflected in the benchmark methodology (OJ L 406, 3.12.2020, p. 12).

(*15) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/1818 of 17 July 2020 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1011 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards minimum standards for EU Climate Transition Benchmarks and EU Paris-aligned Benchmarks (OJ L 406, 3.12.2020, p. 17).

(*16) Commission Recommendation 2013/179/EU of 9 April 2013 on the use of common methods to measure and communicate the life cycle environmental performance of products and organisations (OJ L 124, 4.5.2013, p. 1).

(*17) Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 2003 establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community and amending Council Directive 96/61/EC (OJ L 275, 25.10.2003, p. 32).

(*18) Regulation (EC) No 1221/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 on the voluntary participation by organisations in a Community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS), repealing Regulation (EC) No 761/2001 and Commission Decisions 2001/681/EC and 2006/193/EC (OJ L 342, 22.12.2009, p. 1).

(*19) Directive (EU) 2019/1937 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2019 on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law (OJ L 305, 26.11.2019, p. 17).’;

(*20) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/815 of 17 December 2018 supplementing Directive 2004/109/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to regulatory technical standards on the specification of a single electronic reporting format (OJ L 143, 29.5.2019, p. 1).’;

(*21) Directive (EU) 2017/1132 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2017 relating to certain aspects of company law (OJ L 169, 30.6.2017, p. 46).’;

(*22) Directive 2006/43/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2006 on statutory audits of annual accounts and consolidated accounts, amending Council Directives 78/660/EEC and 83/349/EEC and repealing Council Directive 84/253/EEC (OJ L 157, 9.6.2006, p. 87).’;

(*23) Directive 2013/34/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on the annual financial statements, consolidated financial statements and related reports of certain types of undertakings, amending Directive 2006/43/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Council Directives 78/660/EEC and 83/349/EEC (OJ L 182, 29.6.2013, p. 19).’;

(*24) Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2020 on the establishment of a framework to facilitate sustainable investment, and amending Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 (OJ L 198, 22.6.2020, p. 13).’;

(*25) Directive 2006/43/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2006 on statutory audits of annual accounts and consolidated accounts, amending Council Directives 78/660/EEC and 83/349/EEC and repealing Council Directive 84/253/EEC (OJ L 157, 9.6.2006, p. 87).’;

(*26) Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 July 2008 setting out the requirements for accreditation and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 339/93 (OJ L 218, 13.8.2008, p. 30).’;

(*27) Directive 2014/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 on markets in financial instruments and amending Directive 2002/92/EC and Directive 2011/61/EU (OJ L 173, 12.6.2014, p. 349).’;

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