EU CSRD: EFRAG launched consultation on its 2027–2029 sustainability reporting agenda

On 16 October 2026, EFRAG has launched a public consultation on what it should focus on over the next three years. The consultation is open until 15 February 2027. 

EFRAG is the technical adviser to the European Commission on the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). Given that the revised ESRS and Voluntary Standard have been adopted, EFRAG is reassessing what the next phase of its work should look like.  

Workplan with no new standards

EFRAG expects no new standard-setting work between 2027 and 2029 once ESRS-40a (for certain non-EU undertakings) is finalised at the start of 2027. Post-implementation reviews are not due before 2030 for the revised ESRS and 2031 for the Voluntary Standard.

EFRAG proposes to split its remaining capacity roughly 50% implementation support, 15% digitalisation and the ESRS Knowledge Hub, 15% research on emerging trends, and 15% influencing international developments, with scope to reallocate if unexpected standard-setting work arises.

Existing guidance

EFRAG does not plan to revise the 2024 implementation guidance on double materiality (IG1), the value chain (IG2) or the compilations of Q&A explanations. These will remain on the ESRS Knowledge Hub as support for the 2023 ESRS. Questions left unanswered under the old Q&A process will not be reopened.

The list of datapoints (formerly IG3) for the revised ESRS will be finalised in 2026 (the Draft List was released by EFRAG for a fatal-flaw review, open until 23 October 2026). EFRAG also confirms that in 2026 it will deliver an updated version of the ESRS XBRL taxonomy to reflect amendments from the revised ESRS (consultation is open until 11 November 2026). For more information on the XBRL Taxonomy and the list of datapoints, see our previous blog post.  

New Implementation Support System

Instead of the old Q&A mechanism, EFRAG is proposing a new Implementation Support System (ISS). The ISS will include four steps: EFRAG listens for needs, decides which ones to take up, develops a response, and publishes it.

Needs are picked up through a “Monitoring System” which substituted the old Q&A process. It will include Platform to submit requests regarding the ESRS, in the Knowledge Hub (KH) and meetings with some key stakeholders once a year. For the Voluntary Standard, the SME Forum and Community remain the main input channel.

EFRAG makes clear it will be 'in listening mode' and does not promise an answer to every question. It will triage incoming needs against four criteria: the nature of the issue and who it affects, how widespread it is, EFRAG's ability to respond, and alignment with the ISS objectives. 

Issues end up as one of four outputs, depending on whether the question is about 'what' the standard requires or 'how' to apply it, and whether it can be solved within the current text: standard-setting notices, clarifications, implementation resources and tools and educational material.

All ISS deliverables are non-mandatory. In relation to the publications, EFRAG commits to avoid finalising time-sensitive material between October and February, when preparers are closing their reports.

ESRS and ESRS-40a reporting issues

For the mandatory ESRS, EFRAG is seeking feedback on a shortlist of reporting issues that could be added to its workplan for 2027-2029 for implementation support provided that there is clear demand from the stakeholders. They ask stakeholders to score each as high, medium or low priority. The list includes fair presentation in the context of double materiality, how the ESRS 1 "undue cost or effort" and other reliefs interact, top-down double materiality assessment, disclosure of the use of AI in preparing the report, the interplay between the ESRS and other EU rules, cross-topic nexus issues, methodological guidance on social metrics, and cybersecurity.

Anticipated financial effects and ESRS-40a support are also mentioned as areas EFRAG expects to work on, provided stakeholders confirm the demand.

Voluntary reporting

The SME Ecosystem continues, and EFRAG may extend tailored support to non-SME companies that fall outside the revised CSRD scope. This includes a map between the Voluntary Standard and the revised ESRS planned for Q1 2027.

EFRAG is also considering a hub that would let companies share their Voluntary Standard reports directly with banks and business partners through the Knowledge Hub. EFRAG's working assumption is to run this hub only as a repository unless additional funding becomes available.

Next steps

EFRAG expects to discuss the feedback during the first half of 2027 and to issue its final 2027–2029 workplan in Q2 2027, following approval of its Sustainability Reporting Board.

For more information on the CSRD and ESRS, see our CSRD Demystified materials.