European Contact Group
Budget
€400 — €0
EP Access
0
accredited persons
Staff
7
1.6 FTE
EU Grants
None
Mission & Goals
The European Contact Group (ECG) brings together the six largest professional services networks in Europe: BDO, Deloitte, EY, Grant Thornton, KPMG and PwC. Firms in the ECG networks collectively employ around 330.000 people in EU Member States and are present with 1.600 office locations in over 340 European cities. The ECG's mission is to maintain confidence in the profession and large networks in Europe, and to contribute constructively in shaping EU legislation in a way that safeguards public interest. The purpose of the ECG is to build a sustainable business environment in Europe through: - Activities which strengthen public trust in the professional services networks' capabilities and their commitment to act in the public interest; - Supporting effective regulation and oversight of the professional services networks as an important building block of public trust; and - European perspectives on the development of effective international reporting and assurance standards.
EU Legislative Interests
In recent years the interest representational activities of the ECG have largely focused on the effective and consistent implementation of the EU legislation impacting the professional services networks, such as the EU audit legislation, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, and the European Sustainability Reporting Standards. In addition, the ECG is currently following a broad range of policies impacting the profession, including developments on the possible initiative on the three pillars of high-quality and reliable corporate reporting, the adoption of EU sustainability assurance standards, the draft ESMA Guidelines on Enforcement of Sustainability Information, the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, EU Tax Policies, the Digital Services Act, and the Digital Markets Act. The ECG has several working groups, including on Assurance, Corporate Reporting, Tax, Technology, Corporate Governance, and Regulatory Compliance and Oversight Bodies.
Communication Activities
On 5 June 2024, ECG published ECG Manifesto for the upcoming European legislative term On 14 June 2024, 25 October 2024, and 4 April 2025, ECG hosted jointly with Accountancy Europe roundtables on CSRD readiness and views on CSRD implementation. On 3 July, 2024 ECG published illustrative assurance report for the Digital Services Act (DSA) On 2 September 2024, ECG published a paper on potential impact of EC investigations on DSA audits (https://www.europeancontactgroup.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ECG-paper-on-potential-impact-of-EC-investigations-on-DSA-audits.docx-1.pdf) On 18 December 2024, ECG responded to MEP Axel Voss’ call for input on bureaucratic hurdles, reporting and overlaps On 28 January 2025, ECG published non-binding examples of limited assurance reports on sustainability statements for EU/EEA-listed entities, prepared in accordance with the CSRD. On 14 February 2025, ECG published a series of recommendations regarding the Omnibus Package proposal. On 6 May 2025, ECG shared its written input to EFRAG’s Call for Input on ESRS Set 1 Revision. On 12 June 2025, ECG shared its response on the ESMA consultation on Technical Standards on the European Green Bond Regulation Details of the publications and consultation responses can be found on the website https://www.europeancontactgroup.eu/news/
Interests Represented
Promotes their own interests or the collective interests of their members
Member Of
Each of the six accounting networks that make up the ECG will be members of a wide range of think tanks and trade and business associations. In addition, partners and professional employees of the six accounting networks that make up the ECG membership will be members of their respective professional bodies at national level in each EU Member State. In that capacity, some of these individuals will also participate in the activities of Accountancy Europe.
Organisation Members
www.kpmg.com www.pwc.com www.ey.com www.deloitte.com www.bdo.global www.grantthornton.global
Additional Information
The ECG cost estimate is reached by calculating an approximate cash equivalent of the time spent by ECG Lead partners, as well as their support staff, into activities related to the ECG and falling under the scope of the Register. In addition, the estimate includes logistical costs, such as meeting venues, travels, dinners, as well as scientific studies and consultancy services' costs (which our providers also disclose in the Register, as per guideline 5.1.8)
Commissioner Meetings
No recorded meetings with EU commissioners.