Navigating the revised Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)

Practical guidance on the simplified EU sustainability reporting requirements for organisations within and outside the European Union.

The European Union (EU) has adjusted its approach to sustainability reporting. Following several months of political negotiations, EU institutions agreed in December 2025 on the adoption of the “Content” Directive, which was subsequently published in the Official Journal of the EU on 26 February 2026. This marked exactly one year since the European Commission initiated the revision process aimed at simplifying both the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) as part of the “Omnibus I” initiative.

These simplification measures are intended to enhance the EU competitiveness by rationalising regulatory requirements and easing the administrative burden. As part of this effort, the CSRD thresholds have been increased so that they only apply to the largest companies operating in the Union. As a consequence, many companies that were initially expected to be covered by the Directive are no longer subject to mandatory reporting obligations. While the principle of including non-EU groups with activities in the EU has been maintained, applicable thresholds for these groups have also been revised upward compared to the original CSRD.

Against this backdrop, our guides offer practical insights to support both EU and non-EU organisations in assessing whether they fall within the revised scope of the CSRD and which sustainability reporting frameworks are relevant to them. In addition, they help organisations in understanding when they are subject to these requirements and in addressing the key challenges associated with implementation.

Key questions addressed in our guides:

Why was the CSRD revised?

The CSRD was revised to reduce administrative burden and strengthen the EU’s competitiveness, while continuing to ensure the availability of sustainability information from major economic players in the single market.

How has the original scope of the CSRD changed?

Only EU companies (and non-EU issuers) with net turnovers exceeding €450m and average workforces of more than 1,000 employees remain within scope. Listed SMEs and other large companies have been excluded. Non-EU groups operating in the Union are still covered but only if higher thresholds are met.

What are the other key changes introduced by the revised CSRD?

Notable changes include an expansion of exemption scenarios, a reinforcement of the value chain cap, the elimination of sector-specific standards and the removal of the transition towards reasonable assurance.

When does the revised CSRD take effect?

Companies newly falling within scope will report for the 2027 financial year (publications in 2028). Non-EU groups will be required to report for the 2028 financial year (publications in 2029).

How does the revised CSRD affect companies outside the EU?

Non-EU companies listed in the EU are subject to the same requirements as EU-based companies. Non-EU groups with significant operations in the EU must comply with specific reporting requirements.

To learn more about how the revised CSRD affects organisations located both within and outside the Union, download our guides below.

Documents

Forvis Mazars – Navigating the revised CSRD

Download pdf 691.29KB

Forvis Mazars – Navigating the revised CSRD Non EU-focus

Download pdf 1.67MB

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