EU ministers move to rein in IASB powers

EU ministers move to rein in IASB powers

IASB under pressure as French finance minister calls for a formal limit on the term of its chairman

european flags

Political pressure on the international accounting standard setter has
intensified, with demands led by the French finance minister calling for a
formal limit on the term of its chairman and improvements to transparency and
accountability if it wants to secure funding.

The IASB receives
£3.6m of its £16m budget from Europe. The Council of European Finance Ministers
met in Brussels on Tuesday to debate reforms of the
International Accounting
Standards Board
.

Ecofin, chaired by French finance minister Christine Lagarde, has told the
IASB to improve the transparency and legitimacy of standard-setting and
agenda-setting processes; consider changing the terms of IASB members, including
a ‘possible term limitation’ for the chairman of the IASB if the EU’s budget
contribution is to be maintained.

The proposals also suggest a desire to see the
International
Accounting Standards Committee Foundation,
which oversees the IASB, become
more involved in the work agenda of the board, something currently regarded as
sacrosanct.

Bournemouth University professor in accounting, Stella Fearnley, said:
‘Ecofin is reflecting concern expressed to it from various quarters in Europe.
One of the problems is the IASB’s consultation process. The politicians wouldn’t
step in if things were going smoothly,’ she said.

The current chairman, Sir David Tweedie, has headed the IASB since 2001 after
being appointed by the trustees, who decide the length of service for board
members.

Fearnley criticised the failure to address off-balance-sheet issues. ‘What
have they been doing for the last six years ­ concentrating on the convergence
agenda, and so they’ve missed the big picture of what’s going on around them,’
she said.

Financial Reporting Council chief executive Paul Boyle said Ecofin’s points
concerned funding.

‘They’re obviously thinking about whether the European Union should spend
public money in contributing to the IASCF and the significance of their points
is that they are effectively conditions which have to be met before funding has
to be given,’ said Boyle.

The IASB refused to comment.

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