*The author(s) would like to thankJohn Verrinder of Eurostat for hiscomments and suggestions and Maximilien Queyranne forIMF Working PaperFiscal Affairs DepartmentAccounting and Fiscal Reporting in EU CountriesSagéde Clerck, Joe Cavanagh, Mariano D’Amore*Authorized for distribution byCarolina RenteriaApril 2025IMF Working Papersdescribe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicitcomments and to encourage debate.The views expressed in IMF Working Papers are those of theauthor(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF, its Executive Board, or IMF management.ABSTRACT:ThisWorking Paperexplores the relationship between the uptake of accrual basis of accountingin government and the use of the resultant accrual information in fiscal statistics, using the European Union(EU) as a case study. The Paper looks at the current state of accounting practices in the general governmentsector (GGS) of the 27 EU member states. The studyof accounting practiceis based primarily on two sourcesthat provided a comprehensive picture of government accounting in all the 27 member states, namely thePwC/Eurostat survey of Accounting Maturities of EU Governments and the International Federation ofAccountants and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (IFAC/CIPFA) International PublicSector Financial Accountability Index. The analysis thenuses data compiled by Eurostat, the EU statisticaloffice, toexplore theextent to which the accrual information is being used in the separate statistical reporting ofEU member state public finances. The study draws out some general observations which may be of relevanceto all countries during accounting and fiscal reportingreforms.RECOMMENDED CITATION:Sagé de Clerck, Joe Cavanagh, and Mariano D’Amore. 2025. “Accounting andFiscal Reporting in EU Countries”, IMF Working Paper No. 2025/148.H10, H30, H50, H60, H70, H83, O52accrual accounting, accounting reforms, fiscal reporting, fiscalstatistics, reconciliationSdeClerck@imf.org;joe.cavanagh1@gmail.com;mariano.damore@uniparthenope.it JEL Classification Numbers: his guidance.Keywords: [Type Here]Author’s E-Mail Address: Accounting and Fiscal Reportingin EU CountriesPrepared bySagé de Clerck, Joe Cavanagh,andMariano D’Amore11The author(s) would like to thankJohn Verrinder of Eurostat for hiscomments and suggestions and Maximilien Queyranne for hisguidance. INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUNDContentsGlossary...............................................................................................................................................................4I.INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................................5A.Focus of the Study..............................................................................................................................5B.Institutional Background......................................................................................................................5OVERVIEW OF ACCOUNTING PRACTICE IN EUROPE...................................................................................6A.Comparison of PwC/Eurostat and IFAC/CIPFA Surveys....................................................................6B.Cluster Analysis–Suggested Groupings...........................................................................................8ACCRUAL ACCOUNTING AND FISCAL STATISTICS......................................................................................9A.Using Accrual Data in Fiscal Statistics................................................................................................9Statistical reporting by EU member states..............................................................................................9EU fiscal statistics–source data...........................................................................................................11Adjustments needed to convert cash source data to accrual fiscal statistics........................................14B.Reporting on EU Member State Balance Sheets..............................................................................17Coverage of stocks and flows in EU fiscal statistics..............................................................................17Assembling balance sheets for EU member states...............................................................................21Balance sheet analysis–international experience................................................................................23C.How Can Accrual Accounting Reforms Help in the Future?.............................................................24D.CONCLUSIONS....................................................................................................................................28Appendix I. Accounting Maturities....................................................................................................