The European Union is advancing efforts to establish sustainability reporting standards for non-EU companies under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). Expected to go into effect in 2028, these new standards will require companies with substantial EU operations to disclose greenhouse gas emissions and climate-related strategies, aligning with EU goals on ESG and a carbon neutral strategy. 

The CSRD, introduced in April 2021, significantly broadens the scope of sustainability reporting, replacing the Non-Financial Reporting Directive. This directive requires companies operating within the EU, including non-EU entities with an EU branch and over EUR 150 million in annual turnover within the region, to include environmental, social, and governance (ESG) details in their reports. However, acknowledging the challenges for non-EU entities, the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG)—the independent body responsible for drafting these standards—has expressed plans to tailor these requirements specifically for non-EU firms. 

Originally, the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) were established for EU-based companies, with the first set adopted by the European Commission in July 2023 and slated for enforcement in 2024 for reports due in 2025. However, the timeline for non-EU standards has seen multiple delays due to EU Council and European Parliament interventions, especially as the EU prepares for the directive’s broader impact. 

EFRAG is scheduled to release its first draft of reporting standards for non-EU companies in early 2025. These standards will emphasize climate-related disclosures and aim to create a consistent ESG framework, reinforcing the EU’s commitment to a global carbon-neutral economy while promoting transparency for companies with significant business operations within the EU. 

Sources:  

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonmcgowan/2024/10/30/eu-moves-forward-with-drafting-sustainability-reporting-standards-for-non-eu-companies/ 

https://www.esgdive.com/news/eu-adopts-csrd-reporting-delay-gives-non-eu-companies-until-2026-to-comply/715023/ 

https://finance.ec.europa.eu/capital-markets-union-and-financial-markets/company-reporting-and-auditing/company-reporting/corporate-sustainability-reporting_en 

https://trustnet.trade/en/blogs/the-implications-of-csrd-for-non-eu-companies