At our Green Recovery Counts online event, speakers and participants gathered to debate on how to build a sustainable economic environment and achieve a green recovery from COVID-19. The discussions revolved around 3 key topics that focused on SMEs, corporate governance and public sector. This event is a part of Accountancy Europe’s initiative Because Green Recovery Counts. Find out more about our key messages in the video below!
MEP Heidi Hautala (Vice-President of the EP, Greens–European Free Alliance, Finland) opened the discussion and emphasised the accountancy profession’s crucial role in the green transition. She also pointed the need for measurements and transparency with regards to the CSRD and how the public sector must lead by example.
Our first panel focused on SMEs’ business sustainability and sustainability reporting. Burçak Inel (EBF), Aleksandra Palinska (Finance Watch) and Luc Hendrickx (SMEUnited) shared thoughts on SMEs’ role in the sustainable transition and the support they need to achieve this in a time of struggle with the COVID crisis. The lively debate was moderated was Johan Barros (Accountancy Europe).
“#SMEs are fully supportive to the sustainable transition. They also have to invest in their resilience.” – Luc Hendrickx from @SMEunited during our #GreenRecoveryCounts webinar.#SMEsCountOnUs
🔴 Live: https://t.co/7FvmkFEmgz pic.twitter.com/CqTh9HsKeu
— Accountancy Europe (@AccountancyEU) January 27, 2022
The debate moved on to corporate governance. This panel was moderate by Jens Poll (Accountancy Europe Corporate Governance Policy Group Chair). Panelists, MEP Saskia Bricmont (Greens–European Free Alliance, Belgium), Julia Otten (Frank Bold), Anne-Helene Monsellato (ecoDA) and Burkhard Eckes (Accountancy Europe Banks Working Party Chair) discussed corporate governance’s role as a driver to a sustainable economy. We also covered the highly expected EC proposals on sustainable corporate governance and how they can help harmonise the EU regulatory framework on sustainability
“A third of companies in private sector do not provide evidence of mitigating the forced labour risk”, notes MEP @saskiabricmont during our #GreenRecoveryCounts webinar.@Europarl_EN
🔴 Join us after the break: https://t.co/QRQzvsZcvu pic.twitter.com/IHqSfZNPVq
— Accountancy Europe (@AccountancyEU) January 27, 2022
In this session, Maria Rosa Aldea Busquets (EC, Deputy Director-General, DG BUDGET) and Dr. Marie Le Mouel, (Bruegel) discussed the public sector’s role in the sustainable transition with Paul Gisby (Accountancy Europe). We covered the EC Next Generation initiative EU, the urgent need for a global approach with fair policies and the importance for governments to raise awareness and improve communications with citizens.
“#NextGenerationEU is meant to prepare us for the future & be more resilient”, states @rosaaldea1. “Objective: 37% of investments needs to go to #GreenTransition. #GreenBonds are a key instrument to achieve this objective.”@EU_Budget @ecfin #GreenRecoveryCounts pic.twitter.com/UVVSZgi5wz
— Accountancy Europe (@AccountancyEU) January 27, 2022
Olivier Boutellis -Taft (Accountancy Europe CEO) closed the event with key takeaways from the discussions. He added “ultimately, we need a fundamental shift in our civilisation to find other sources of profit and fulfilment than mass consumption. The climate crisis isn’t only an issue for future generations, it is an issue for our generation too.”
You’ve missed the event? Watch the recording below:
10:00 - 10:15
Heidi Hautala, Member of the European Parliament
10:15 - 11:15
The panel will discuss whether SMEs should start thinking about their business sustainability and possible sustainability reporting, and what support they might need to achieve this in a time where many SMEs still struggle with the ongoing COVID crisis.
Moderated by: Johan Barros, Manager, Advocacy, Accountancy Europe
Burçak Inel, EBF, Director for Financing Sustainable and Inclusive Growth
Aleksandra Palinska, Finance Watch, Senior Research and Advocacy officer
Luc Hendrickx, SME United, Director
11:15 - 11:20
19:09 - 12:20
This panel will focus on how corporate governance is instrumental to change how businesses are run and how it can be a main driver of a sustainable economy. The upcoming proposals on sustainable corporate governance will also be discussed and their role in harmonizing the EU regulatory framework on sustainability.
Moderated by: Jens Poll, Chair of Corporate Governance Policy Group, Accountancy Europe
Saskia Bricmont, Member of the European Parliament
Julia Otten, Frank Bold, Policy Advisor on corporate accountability in global supply chains
Anne-Helene Monsellato, ecoDA, Independent director
Burkhard Eckes, PwC Germany, Leader Banking & Capital Markets PwC EMEA
12:20 - 12:25
12:25 - 13:15
Paul Gisby, Accountancy Europe, Senior Manager
Maria Rosa Aldea Busquets, European Commission, Deputy Director-General DG BUDGET
Dr. Marie Le Mouel, Bruegel, Affiliate Fellow
13:15 - 13:30
Olivier Boutellis – Taft, CEO, Accountancy Europe