EFRAG publishes simplified draft ESRS and opens public consultation

EFRAG has published the revised drafts of the European Sustainability Reporting Standards ( ESRS ), launching a 60-day public consultation to gather views and comments from across the European corporate reporting ecosystem. The new regulatory package responds to the formal request made by the European Commission in March 2025, as part of the Omnibus initiative, to make the standards more manageable and accessible without compromising their reporting effectiveness and alignment with the objectives of the Green Deal.

"The Exposure Drafts we are releasing for consultation today are the result of an intensive period of input and internal discussions. Thanks to the extensive dialogue we have had over the past few months with all interested stakeholders, we have been able to base the simplification of the ESRS on the lessons learned from their implementation. We have focused our efforts, in the short time available, on the most pressing issues. We now look forward to continuing this dialogue and receiving our stakeholders' comments on our proposals," commented Chiara Del Prete , Chair of EFRAG's Technical Expert Group on Sustainability Reporting.

The new set of drafts marks a significant change, with a 57% reduction in the disclosure requirements deemed relevant and a 68% cut in the total disclosures , including voluntary disclosures. The overall length of the standards has also been reduced by over 55% . The changes aimed to improve the usability of the ESRS, especially in light of the expanded scope of the CSRD, which will affect many more companies starting in the coming financial years.

The revision was based on a detailed analysis of over 800 submissions from entities already engaged in reporting and those preparing to do so. The work combined a top-down approach, simplifying structures and requirements, and a bottom-up approach, reviewing the data item by item. This included simplifying the dual assessment of materiality, reducing overlaps between standards, clarifying language and structure, and eliminating all voluntary disclosures. Finally, exemption mechanisms were introduced in the event of disproportionate costs or efforts.

The consultation will remain open until September 29, 2025 , and will involve editors, auditors, investors, civil society, and national authorities. To participate, simply complete a survey containing approximately 30 questions regarding the main simplifications, the requirements still subject to reservations by the Sustainability Reporting Board, and general feedback on each standard.

To support the consultation, a number of materials have been published: the 12 revised ESRS drafts, an updated glossary, a basis for conclusions outlining the rationale for the amendments, standard-by-standard amendment records, an optional explanatory guide, a summary document, and a FAQ section.

EFRAG, for its part, will now move in two directions. On the one hand, between September and October it will organize and co-organize a series of events and workshops to facilitate dialogue and gather further feedback from stakeholders, in preparation for the final technical opinion that will be submitted to the European Commission by November 30. On the other hand, it is conducting a cost-benefit analysis and targeted field tests , also open to stakeholder participation.

According to Patrick de Cambourg , Chair of EFRAG's Sustainability Reporting Committee, these changes represent a concrete response to the needs of European companies: "a more focused and accessible sustainability reporting system that remains ambitious but does not overburden companies. Building on practical experience, the aim is to make the ESRS a more workable reality, so that sustainability reporting supports, rather than hinders, resilience, investment, and long-term value creation."

Here you can read in detail the new drafts and changes made to the ESRS.