The European Commission will begin an assessment of whether the new international lease accounting standard, IFRS 16, will be conducive to the European public good.

The commission set out the scope of the review of IFRS 16 in a letter to the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG), which was discussed with Erik Noteboom, the Commission’s acting director for Investment and Company Reporting, at EFRAG’s board meeting on June 16.

The review will consider the effects of IFRS 16 on both lessees and lessors in Europe. It will look at whether IFRS 16 is overly complex, how it will impact the way companies use leases, potential effects on competitiveness of European companies and potential effects on financial stability and the cost of capital and credit.

The commission has placed particular emphasis on small and medium-sized businesses and has asked EFRAG whether IFRS 16 is appropriate for SMEs. More than 99% of European companies – including nearly all SMEs and most users of equipment and vehicle leasing – use national rather than international accounting rules. Most national accounting standards are closely aligned with the international equivalents.

Leaseurope has highlighted to the commission the problem that once new international rules are in place there is always an argument that national standards should change to achieve consistency. Leaseurope called for early analysis of the effects of IFRS on SMEs, even if most SMEs will be outside of scope until at least 2023.

According to Mark Venus of BNP Paribas, chairman of Leaseurope’s Accounting Committee, “It is important that the full effects of IFRS 16 are considered before the new standard is accepted for use in Europe. The immediate impacts may be limited to mostly the largest companies who will usually have the accounting resources and expertise to cope, but it is still vital to establish from the outset whether this new way of accounting for leases is likely to be appropriate for SMEs.”

Leon Dhaene, director general of Leaseurope, added: “We are pleased that the commission by voice of Erik Noteboom, has made clear that it requires independent and objective advice from EFRAG, and advice that is focused on the needs of European businesses. It is important that the costs to SMEs are proportional to the benefits. Whilst the new IFRS 16 standard might be fit for large international groups, Leaseurope fails to see the additional benefit for European SMEs and for their clients and owners.”