#101 Patrick de Cambourg: EU Sustainability Standards – the Inside Story
Wed Jan 28 2026
As the European Commission now prepares a Delegated Act for the new European Sustainability Reporting Standards, how should we reflect back on the entire simplification process conducted by the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG)?
In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Richard Howitt was joined by Patrick de Cambourg, the outgoing chair of EFRAG and former president of the French accounting standard-setting public authority ANC.
Together they reflected upon the early preparations for the European sustainability reporting standards, as well as the behind-the-scenes of the simplification exercise conducted last year. You’ll also hear about:
Whether the Brussels effect is still alive
The biggest disagreements within EFRAG during the simplification process, and how they were overcome
The variation between the new ESRS and the International Sustainability Standards Board global standards
Patrick’s vision for how sustainability reporting will develop in the future
His parting message to EFRAG
Listen in and follow us on LinkedIn and Youtube!
More
As the European Commission now prepares a Delegated Act for the new European Sustainability Reporting Standards, how should we reflect back on the entire simplification process conducted by the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG)? In this episode of Frankly Speaking, Richard Howitt was joined by Patrick de Cambourg, the outgoing chair of EFRAG and former president of the French accounting standard-setting public authority ANC. Together they reflected upon the early preparations for the European sustainability reporting standards, as well as the behind-the-scenes of the simplification exercise conducted last year. You’ll also hear about: Whether the Brussels effect is still alive The biggest disagreements within EFRAG during the simplification process, and how they were overcome The variation between the new ESRS and the International Sustainability Standards Board global standards Patrick’s vision for how sustainability reporting will develop in the future His parting message to EFRAG Listen in and follow us on LinkedIn and Youtube!