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Extent of IFRS applicationStatusAdditional Information
IFRS Accounting Standards are required for domestic public companies All domestic companies whose securities trade in a regulated market are required to use IFRS Standards as adopted by the EU in their consolidated financial statements.
IFRS Accounting Standards are permitted but not required for domestic public companies
IFRS Accounting Standards are required or permitted for listings by foreign companies IFRS Standards as adopted by the EU are required in their consolidated financial statements except that a foreign company whose home jurisdiction’s standards are deemed by the EU to be equivalent to IFRS Standards may use its home standards.
The IFRS for SMEs Accounting Standard is required or permitted No.
The IFRS for SMEs Accounting Standard is under consideration No.

Profile last updated: 16 June 2016

RELEVANT JURISDICTIONAL AUTHORITY

Organisation

National Accounting Council (ESYL)

Soma Orkoton Elegton Logiston (SOEL) Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Greece

Role of the organisation

Greek Accounting Standards are prescribed by the Greek General Chart of Accounts (as set forth by Presidential Decree 1123/1980) and the provisions of the Codified Company Law 2190/1920, and are amended from time to time by the National Accounting Council (ESYL) and Accounting Standardisation Board (SLOT).

SOEL is national professional organisation of Certified Public Accountants in Greece.

Website

ESYL: www.elte.org.gr

SOEL: www.soel.gr/

Email contact

ESYL: info@elte.org.gr

SOEL: iad@soel.gr and info@soel.gr

COMMITMENT TO GLOBAL FINANCIAL REPORTING STANDARDS

Has the jurisdiction made a public commitment in support of moving towards a single set of high quality global accounting standards?

Yes.

Refer to EU 1606/2002 Regulation on the application of international accounting standards (IAS).

Has the jurisdiction made a public commitment towards IFRS Accounting Standards as that single set of high quality global accounting standards?

Yes.

Refer to EU 1606/2002 Regulation on the application of international accounting standards (IAS).

What is the jurisdiction’s status of adoption?
Greece has already adopted IFRS Standards for the consolidated financial statements of all companies whose securities trade in a regulated market.
Additional comments provided on the adoption status?

As a member state of the European Union, Greece is subject to EU 1606/2002 Regulation on the application of international accounting standards (IAS).

The EU IAS Regulation requires application of IFRS Standards as adopted by the EU for the consolidated financial statements of European companies whose securities trade in a regulated securities market starting in 2005. The EU IAS Regulation gives member states the option to require or permit IFRS Standards as adopted by the EU in separate company financial statements (statutory accounts) and/or in the financial statements of companies whose securities do not trade on a regulated securities market. See the Profile for the European Union for more detailed information about the EU IAS Regulation.

Regulated markets in Greece are:

  • Athens Exchange Securities Market.
  • Athens Exchange Derivatives Market.
  • Electronic Secondary Securities Market.

Greece used the option under the IAS Regulation as follows:

Companies whose securities trade in a regulated market

  • Application of IFRS Standards as adopted by the EU is required for the separate company financial statements of companies whose securities trade in a regulated market.

Companies whose securities do not trade in a regulated market

  • Application of IFRS Standards as adopted by the EU is required for both the consolidated and separate financial statements of banks and other financial institutions (as defined in articles 2.11 and 11 of Law 3601/2007) whose securities do not trade in a regulated market.
  • Application of IFRS Standards as adopted by the EU is required for subsidiaries of listed entities and financial institutions that, in total, represent more than 5% of the consolidated turnover or the consolidated assets or the consolidated results.
  • Application of IFRS Standards as adopted by the EU is permitted for both the consolidated and separate financial statements of all other companies whose securities do not trade in a regulated market provided that they have an independent audit by a Certified Public Accountant.
If the jurisdiction has NOT made a public statement supporting the move towards a single set of accounting standards and/or towards IFRS Accounting Standards as that set of standards, explain the jurisdiction's general position towards the adoption of IFRS Accounting Standards in the jurisdiction.
Not applicable.

EXTENT OF IFRS APPLICATION

For DOMESTIC companies whose debt or equity securities trade in a public market in the jurisdiction:

Are all or some domestic companies whose securities trade in a public market either required or permitted to use IFRS Accounting Standards in their consolidated financial statements?
Yes.
If YES, are IFRS Accounting Standards REQUIRED or PERMITTED?
In accordance with the EU Accounting Regulation, IFRS Standards as adopted by the EU are required for the consolidated financial statements of all European companies whose debt or equity securities trade in a regulated market in Greece.
Does that apply to ALL domestic companies whose securities trade in a public market, or only SOME? If some, which ones?
All.
Are IFRS Accounting Standards also required or permitted for more than the consolidated financial statements of companies whose securities trade in a public market?
Yes.
For instance, are IFRS Accounting Standards required or permitted in separate company financial statements of companies whose securities trade in a public market?
Required for the separate financial statements of companies whose debt or equity securities trade in a regulated market.
For instance, are IFRS Accounting Standards required or permitted for companies whose securities do not trade in a public market?
  • Required for both the consolidated and separate financial statements of banks and other financial institutions (as defined in articles 2.11 and 11 of Law 3601/2007) whose securities do not trade in a regulated market.
  • Required for subsidiaries of listed entities and financial institutions that, in total, represent more than 5% of the consolidated turnover or the consolidated assets or the consolidated results.
  • Permitted for both the consolidated and separate financial statements of all other companies whose securities do not trade in a regulated market provided that they have an independent audit by a Certified Public Accountant.
If the jurisdiction currently does NOT require or permit the use of IFRS Accounting Standards for domestic companies whose securities trade in a public market, are there any plans to permit or require IFRS Accounting Standards for such companies in the future?
Not applicable.

For FOREIGN companies whose debt or equity securities trade in a public market in the jurisdiction:

Are all or some foreign companies whose securities trade in a public market either REQUIRED or PERMITTED to use IFRS Accounting Standards in their consolidated financial statements?
Yes.
If YES, are IFRS Accounting Standards REQUIRED or PERMITTED in such cases?

Required for some and permitted for others. Foreign companies whose securities trade in a regulated market in Greece (and generally in the EU) are required to report under IFRS Standards for their consolidated financial statements unless the European Commission has deemed their local accounting standards to be equivalent to IFRS Standards, in which case they may use their local standards. This is laid out on the ‘Financial Reporting’ page of the European Commission’s website.

Does that apply to ALL foreign companies whose securities trade in a public market, or only SOME? If some, which ones?
All.

IFRS ENDORSEMENT

Which IFRS Accounting Standards are required or permitted for domestic companies?
IFRS Standards as adopted by the European Union, which are IFRS as issued by the IASB Board with some limited modifications such as the temporary ‘carve-out’ from IAS 39. However, the resulting financial statements of the majority of companies can still be in full compliance with IFRS Standards.
The auditor’s report and/or the basis of presentation footnote states that financial statements have been prepared in conformity with:
IFRS Standards as adopted by the European Union.
Does the auditor's report and/or the basis of preparation footnote allow for ‘dual reporting’ (conformity with both IFRS Accounting Standards and the jurisdiction’s GAAP)?
No.
Are IFRS Accounting Standards incorporated into law or regulations?
Yes.
If yes, how does that process work?
The process is described in the IFRS jurisdiction profile of the European Union.
If no, how do IFRS Accounting Standards become a requirement in the jurisdiction?
Not applicable.
Does the jurisdiction have a formal process for the 'endorsement' or 'adoption' of new or amended IFRS Accounting Standards (including Interpretations) in place?
Yes.
If yes, what is the process?
The process is described in the IFRS jurisdiction profile of the European Union.
If no, how do new or amended IFRS Accounting Standards become a requirement in the jurisdiction?
Not applicable.
Has the jurisdiction eliminated any accounting policy options permitted by IFRS Accounting Standards and/or made any modifications to any IFRS Accounting Standards?
Yes.
If yes, what are the changes?
Details are given in the IFRS jurisdiction profile of the European Union.
Other comments regarding the use of IFRS Accounting Standards in the jurisdiction?
None.

TRANSLATION OF IFRS ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

Are IFRS Accounting Standards translated into the local language?

Yes.

The European Union has 24 official and working languages. They are: Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Irish, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovene, Spanish and Swedish. Before they are published in the Official Journal of the European Union, and therefore become binding under EU law, individual IFRS Standards must be translated into all of those languages (other than English and Irish).

If they are translated, what is the translation process? In particular, does this process ensure an ongoing translation of the latest updates to IFRS Accounting Standards?

Pursuant to a copyright waiver agreement with the Directorate-General for Translation of the European Commission, the Commission takes care of the translation into the official languages according to their own translation process. The translation only covers the standards and mandatory guidance, which is then published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

In addition, some countries (usually the standard setter or institute) have a translation contract with the IFRS Foundation to produce an ‘official translation’ for publication of a bound volume of IFRS Standards (usually the ‘Red Book’) and publication, in some cases, of individual standards and exposure drafts.

APPLICATION OF THE IFRS FOR SMEs ACCOUNTING STANDARD

Has the jurisdiction adopted the IFRS for SMEs Accounting Standard for at least some SMEs?
No.
If no, is the adoption of the IFRS for SMEs Accounting Standard under consideration?
No.
Did the jurisdiction make any modifications to the IFRS for SMEs Accounting Standard?
Not applicable.
If the jurisdiction has made any modifications, what are those modifications?
Not applicable.
Which SMEs use the IFRS for SMEs Accounting Standard in the jurisdiction, and are they required or permitted to do so?
Not applicable.
For those SMEs that are not required to use the IFRS for SMEs Accounting Standard, what other accounting framework do they use?

SMEs are permitted to use full IFRS Standards as adopted by the EU provided that they have an independent audit by a certified auditor. All other SMEs must use Greek Accounting Standards.

Other comments regarding use of the IFRS for SMEs Accounting Standard?
None.