ACCA shares the European Commission’s view that there is no single measure to deliver a well-functioning CMU, but a range of steps to remove obstacles and bridge the gap between investors and businesses, especially the small ones, both locally and globally.  We thus need to make sure that the measures aimed to bring them to life will be designed –and at a later stage implemented- in such a way that they will  bring the expected benefits. 

 

 

For instance on the priority area 'Providing more funding choices for EU businesses and SMEs , ACCA recalls that small businesses will need guidance. While much of the discussion on long-term financing rightly focuses on the supply side and its limitations, it is also based on the assumptions that individuals and organisations are fully aware of their financial needs and can plan these in the long term, are able to navigate a changing landscape of financing opportunities, and are able to make their case convincingly to finance providers.'

 

Rosana Mirkovic, head of SMEs Affairs at ACCA says: 'The role of other stakeholders, such as SME advisers, should have a stronger emphasis in the Commission’s plans. Not all demand for finance manifests itself through applications for bank credit, and this should be carefully considered in future proposals.'

 

ACCA shares the European Commission’s cautious approach to regulating the crowd funding market and acknowledging the need for careful balance between the need to facilitate innovation and competition, without restricting access to such platforms on either the supply or the demand side. The experience in other Member States such as the UK, where alternative finance market is most advanced in Europe, we see that, barring few exceptions, the alternative funders’ efforts are still broadly focused on serving essentially mainstream SME customers with mainstream needs. Moreover, they are not yet making serious inroads into the financing gap for UK SMEs. While a pan European development of alternative finance platforms needs to be supported, the majority of SME financing is still likely to depend on the mainstream finance providers and greater acknowledgment of this fact is needed.

 

 

 

On the action 'Making it easier for companies to enter and raise capital on public markets', ACCA strongly commends the Commission proposal to work with the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) on an accounting solution for companies on SME Growth Markets.

 

 

'We are also pleased to see that the Commission indicates that the priority actions entailed in the Action Plan will be subject to an impact assessment. ACCA is looking forward to participate in the process and will respond to the consultations falling within its scope of action. For longer term and more sensitive issues such tax matters or insolvency, ACCA urges member States to allow for an honest and constructive debate', Chas Roy Chowdhury, ACCA’s head of Taxation concludes. 

 

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ACCA supports its 178,000 members and 455,000 students in 181 countries, helping them to develop successful careers in accounting and business, with the skills required by employers. ACCA works through a network of 95 offices and centres and more than 7,110 Approved Employers worldwide, who provide high standards of employee learning and development. Through its public interest remit, ACCA promotes appropriate regulation of accounting and conducts relevant research to ensure accountancy continues to grow in reputation and influence.