Conditions for the acceptance of third country accounting standards for a limited period
Article 1
Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1569/2007 is replaced by the following: ‘Article 4 Conditions for the acceptance of third country accounting standards for a limited period 1. Third country issuers may be permitted to use financial statements drawn up in accordance with the accounting standards of a third country in order to comply with obligations under Directive 2004/109/EC and, by derogation from Article 35(5) of Regulation (EC) No 809/2004, to provide historical financial information under that Regulation for a period commencing any time after 31 December 2008 and expiring no later than 31 December 2014 in the following cases: (a) the third country authority responsible for the national accounting standards concerned has made a public commitment to converge these standards with International Financial Reporting Standards at the latest by 31 December 2014 and both the following conditions are met: (i) the third country authority responsible for the national accounting standards concerned has established a convergence programme that is comprehensive and capable of being completed before 31 December 2014; (ii) the convergence programme is effectively implemented, without delay, and the resources necessary for its completion are allocated to its implementation; (b) the third country authority responsible for the national accounting standards concerned has made a public commitment to adopt International Financial Reporting Standards before 31 December 2014 and effective measures are taken in the third country to secure their timely and complete implementation by that date. 2. Any decision under paragraph 1 to permit the continued acceptance of financial statements drawn up in accordance with the accounting standards of a third country shall be made in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24 of Directive 2003/71/EC and Article 27(2) of Directive 2004/109/EC. 3. Where the Commission permits the continued acceptance of financial statements drawn up in accordance with the accounting standards of a third country in accordance with paragraph 1, it shall review regularly whether the conditions specified in point (a) or (b) (as the case may be) continue to be met, and shall report accordingly to the European Parliament. 4. If the conditions in point (a) or (b) of paragraph 1 are no longer met, the Commission shall take a decision in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 24 of Directive 2003/71/EC and Article 27(2) of Directive 2004/109/EC amending its decision under paragraph 1 in respect of these accounting standards. 5. When complying with this Article, the Commission shall first consult ESMA on the convergence programme or the progress towards adoption of IFRS, as the case may be.’