Press Release: Ownership rules for audit firms: Commission services publish independent study on the impact on the audit market

The Internal Market Directorate General has published an independent study on the ownership rules that apply to audit firms and their consequences on audit market concentration. The study analyses whether changes to the ownership rules of audit firms might help increase the number of international players in the audit market. At present, the European Statutory Audit Directive requires that auditors hold a majority of the voting rights in an audit firm and control the management board. The study will contribute to DG Internal Market's work on how to improve competition in the audit market.