The revised European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) have now been published in the Official Journal of the European Union: Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/1563).
This publication confirms the final text of the 2026 Delegated Act – the most significant simplification of EU sustainability reporting since the CSRD was adopted.
⭕ It is available here in all EU languages: Delegated regulation – EU – 2026/1563 – EN – EUR-Lex
⭕The Delegated Act reshapes ESRS in four major ways:
▪️ Fewer mandatory datapoints
▪️ Clearer, more practical materiality rules
▪️ Stronger interoperability
▪️ New reliefs and phase‑ins to reduce cost and complexity
This means: Substantial reporting cost savings. Shorter reports. Fewer tables. Clearer expectations. More decision‑useful information. And a framework that is simplified, more proportionate and better aligned with global standards.
⭕ Application timeline
▪️ 2026: Optional early adoption
▪️ 2027: Mandatory application for all undertakings in scope
⭕ Important timeline clarification
The publication of the Delegated Act does not trigger immediate entry into force in the Member States.
Under Article 29b of the Accounting Directive, the Delegated Act will enter into force on 10 November 2026 (four months after adoption on 3 July 2026).
It will be mandatory for financial years beginning on or after 1 January 2027.
For FY2026, undertakings may choose between:
▪️ the previous ESRS Set 1 (2023/2772 as amended),
▪️ the revised ESRS (2026/1563), or
▪️ the previous ESRS with selected new reliefs, provided they clearly state which version they apply.
⭕ In simplified ESRS, IRO management has taken center stage
The objective of an ESRS sustainability statement, taken as whole, is to present fairly all the company’s material sustainability-related impacts, risks and opportunities (IROs) and how it manages them. The reported information shall be decision-useful.
Companies should clearly show how each material IRO (or group of IROs) identified through the materiality assessment is managed through policies, actions, targets and metrics.
Too often, these elements are reported separately, making it difficult for readers to understand how the company’s responses address the material sustainability topics.
Integrating this IRO‑to‑response logic throughout the sustainability statement strengthens coherence, reduces duplication and ensures a well-structured decision-useful sustainability statement.
👉 If your first ESRS statement is due for FY2027, now is the moment to start. First wave reporters will already be several cycles ahead.
