PwC has a locally-owned firm in each of the 27 member states of the European Union, operating from over 200 locations across the EU, in capital cities, regional centres, and smaller towns. We support 34,000 organisations, including SMEs, NGOs and governments, as well as 93% of the Europe S&P 350.
The work our people in the EU undertake is varied and far-reaching. From helping to drive the green transition, to upskilling European youth, to supporting economic development, we are contributing towards a stronger, more successful Europe.
Each PwC firm is owned and run by partners in the region so decisions are made locally, rather than by a head office who may be removed from the regional opportunities and challenges. This enables local client needs to be met and communities to prosper, all while the firms adhere to common standards of quality and behaviour.
1 February 2024
PwC has updated its entry for the Pact for Skills (viewable here). The Pact is one of the flagship actions of the European Skills Agenda, and aims to support public and private organisations with upskilling and reskilling people in the EU so they can thrive through the green and digital transitions. Building on PwC’s work with clients, we are working with other organisations to improve digital skills in communities where the need is the greatest (see more information here).
30 November 2023
In an ever changing world, companies are being asked to disclose more and more information - from digital risks to sustainability performance. Given this challenge, what should happen to encourage straightforward, transparent and consistent corporate reporting that meets investors' needs? This blog considers how rule makers could identify ways to reduce the corporate reporting burden and highlights the importance of regular review and continuous dialogue with key stakeholders across the ecosystem.
[3 October 2023 / Brussels]
As EU member states continue the implementation of the new public country by country reporting directive on tax disclosures, PwC and The European Confederation of Directors' Associations (ecoDa) recorded a webinar on what company directors should know about the new legislation. Edwin Visser, Deputy Global Tax Policy leader, and Keetie van der Torren, Tax Director at PwC, explained what companies the directive will apply to and the challenges their directors may face due to the disclosure of tax information to a mainstream audience, not just tax authorities
[4 July / 2-5pm CET / European Parliament]
As the EU starts to look ahead towards a new legislative term, what would it take to establish a truly inclusive tax system by 2030? PwC Director Jacomien van den Hurk hosted a podcast conversation with guest speakers from the European Parliament, European Commission, and more, to discuss the key features of the tax system that can be designed to help reduce gender inequality. They delved into what policymakers and tax administrations need to do in the next EU legislative period to build a tax system that is gender equal, green, digital and competitive, and the lessons that can be learnt from international best practice.
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We are committed to achieving Net Zero by 2030 and to supporting our stakeholders as they seek to decarbonise organisations and economies.
PwC supports the implementation of EU environmental regulation, including the Green Deal and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, both inside the EU and - through our global network - among international companies with European operations. We help clients understand reporting requirements and provide the robust transparency the EU expects.
Our PwC firms in the EU are strongly placed to help the EU strengthen its leading role in the Net Zero transition. For example:
We help businesses measure their carbon footprint using technology developed in Europe. PwC France’s Carbon Cockpit app calculates an organisation’s digital carbon footprint, while PwC Netherlands' Environmental Footprint Insights app provides a CO2 dashboard to encourage sustainable business travel behaviour.
PwC Germany has a specialist group for Green Hydrogen who work with several of the EU’s most important users and producers of energy to support the roll-out of hydrogen tech to help deliver the transition.
Our other important initiatives support the development of Sustainable Aviation FuelsOpens in a new window, build the case for carbon pricing and emissions trading, and help financial audits properly reflect climate risk.
PwC is a training focused organisation. We are committed to upskilling people throughout their careers at PwC. We are also proud that many people begin their careers with us, acquiring qualifications in accounting and financial management, which they then take into their professional lives in the public, private and tertiary sectors.
Across the EU, in 2020-21, we:
Coached 19,593 people in data and analytics
Provided specialist environmental, social, and governance (ESG) training to 25,469 people
We are a major recruiter, hiring over 13,000 graduates across the EU in 2020-21. We provide people with the opportunity to travel across the EU for work and our 218 EU locations also mean people have the option of a career close to home if they so choose.
Our New World. New Skills programme, which we deliver in partnership with UNICEF and Generation Unlimited, provides upskilling to underserved communities - including in the EU. For example, PwC Cyprus works with the Youth Board of Cyprus to provide digital education, while PwC Hungary and PwC Romania’s staff teach school children about cybersecurity.
A fair digital transformation has the potential to boost innovation and productivity in the EU and build a more resilient economy. We support clients and governments to achieve these objectives, building innovation hubs - and not just in capital cities.
PwC firms across the EU help clients develop their digital capabilities. For example:
Cybersecurity. Our Frankfurt-based Cybersecurity Experience Centre allows visitors to learn about the risks for industrial IT and OT networks and experience the impacts of cyber attacks, in real time. We helped the Irish health system understand and respond to a major cyber attack and build resilience for the future.
Fraud prevention. PwC Poland’s Tax Fraud Prevention Platform helps EU clients combat VAT fraud.
Sustainable innovation. PwC Germany’s Sustainable Innovation team helps clients create digital strategies that align to sustainability goals.
Beyond our client work, we also support the EU SME Strategy and European Skills Agendas by working on a number of projects which boost competitiveness through innovation and collaboration with academia. PwC Greece contributes to the Elevate Greece programme, which aims to help develop the Greek innovation ecosystem with mentoring and upskilling in start-ups, while PwC Cyprus is collaborating with the Research centre on Interactive media, Smart systems and Emerging Technologies (RISE) - the island’s biggest applied research and innovation project.
We use our expertise and experience to help inform the policy process, including by engaging in public consultations organised by the European Commission.
Gilly Lord
Global Leader, Public Policy & Regulation, PwC United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)20 7804 8123
PwC Global Leader European Union Institutions (EU), PwC EU Services EEIG General Manager, PwC Luxembourg
Tel: +352 49 48 48 4313
Grant Waterfall
Partner, EMEA and Germany Cybersecurity & Privacy Leader, PwC Germany
Tel: +49 170 1553647
Jacomien van den Hurk
EU Public Policy & Regulatory Affairs, Director, PwC Belgium
Tel: +32 (0)2 5880492
