Activities of Klaus-Heiner LEHNE related to 2011/2037(INI)
Legal basis opinions (0)
Amendments (11)
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Welcomes the fundamental issue raised in the Green Paper, namely that of how auditing could be improved, even though in the past there has been no serious evidence to suggest that auditing has not been carried out in accordance with the relevant rules and requirements;
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Takes the view that the debate on the role of the auditor should take place alongside a reviewstrengthening of the role of the audit committee – now largely ineffective – and of the financial and risk reporting that companies are required to carry out;
Amendment 9 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Takes the view that the auditor should be appointed by the audit committee and not by the board of the company to be audited;
Amendment 10 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. RSees as yet no sufficient basis for a final assessment, and therefore reminds the Commission that a wide- ranging, in- depth impact assessment is needed, looking at the various political options and, focusing on practical issues in line with the principles of ‘better lawmaking’ and addressing the importance of accounting in providing accurate information about the sustainable economic development of companies;
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Takes the view that audit reports should be brief, with clear, concise conclusions, and that they should include an annex containing; considers that the auditor should provide the audit committee with additional explanations on general issues such as the methodology used in drawing up the balance sheet, and specific issues such as, for example, key indicators, materiality figures, assessments additional explanations on general issues such as the methodology used, and specific issues such as key indicators, materiality figures, assessments of the risk involved in the material accounting estimates or materiality judgements made, and any particular problems encountered whilst carrying out the audit;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Believes that, in order to guaranteeRegards external rotation as a means of strengthening the independence of auditors, auditing contracts should run for no longer than eight years; takes the view that an initial contract should be concluded for four years, renewable only once for a further period of four years, followed by a period of at least four years – eight years for public interest entities – during which the audit firm concerned cannot audit the same company again; considers that there would be a need, at the end of the initial four-year period, for a new team to be appointed from within the audit firmbut reiterates its view that it is not external rotation but rather regular changes in internal auditors which represents the best regulatory solution, as confirmed by Directive 2006/43/EC;
Amendment 64 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Takes the view that there should be a ban onclear demarcation between the auditing services and services other than auditing beingthat an audit firm provideds to the audited company, as this would pose a risk to the auditor’s independence; takes the view, furthermore, thaa customer, with a view to avoiding conflicts of interest uander no circumstances should internal and external auditing services be provided simultaneously in accordance with codes of auditing practice; points out that this wcould restrict ‘lowballing’, the practice of offering cut- price auditing with a view to obtaining compensation by charging for additional services; therefore takes the view that the bademarcation must apply to all firms and their clients, particularly where major audit firms are concerned;
Amendment 76 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Takes the view that the rules guaranteeing the independence of auditors and audit quality must undergo a detailed review by a supervisory body entirely independent of the profession;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Considers that there is a need to create, or encourage the creation of, a voluntary code of ethics for the Big Four firms, encouraging them to restrict their own growth in the area of statutory auditing, thereby protecting the development of medium-sized audit firms, which would ultimately also be beneficial for the survival of the major firms themselves;
Amendment 107 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Calls on the Commission to bring in a system of compulsory tendering on a periodic basis for public interest entities, under which at least one non-Big Four company would have to be included, in connection with tendering by public interest entities, to stipulate that at least two further firms must be involved alongside the Big Four companies; takes the view that the audit committee must be given a key role in this process, in which shareholders must also take part;
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Urges the CommissionTakes the view that auditing is crucial to the process of revitalising the internal market; calls on the Commission to examine to what extent measures to facilitate the cross-border provision of auditing services might serve to eliminate barriers to market access and capacity bottlenecks; calls on the Commission to examine to what extent a European market for auditing services might serve to reduce procedural complexity and costs for all market participants, in particular small and medium-sized auditing firms; urges the Commission to take all appropriate steps to incorporate into EU law and enforce international auditing standards which can help to establish genuinely equal competitive conditions for auditing firms; reminds the Commission of its recommendations concerning auditor liability; calls on the Commission, against this background, to come forward with proposals aiming to enhance harmonisation as a way of creating a European passport for auditors;