AI Strategies for a Competitive Europe: Empowering the Finance and Accounting Professions
Date
Thu, 03/19/2026 - 09:30 to 11:00
Event Type
S - Workshop, course
Organiser type
Federations / Associations
Event Location
Online
Event Description
ACCA, the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Cyprus (ICPAC), and the University of Cyprus are delighted to invite you to the high-level online conference, AI Strategies for a Competitive Europe: Empowering the Finance and Accounting Professions, organised under the patronage of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU, on 19 March 2026 (9:30-11:00 CET).
Overview
As the EU shifts from legislating to implementing its digital agenda — from the AI Act to the Union of Skills, digital infrastructure, and targeted support for SMEs — the Cyprus EU Presidency has placed skills, competitiveness, and responsible innovation at the heart of Europe’s economic future.
In this context, ACCA, in partnership with ICPAC and the University of Cyprus, is hosting AI Strategies for a Competitive Europe: Empowering the Finance and Accounting Professions, an online high‑level conference taking place on 19 March 2026 under the patronage of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU.
Finance and accounting professionals are essential to delivering the EU competitiveness agenda. Their expertise in governance, assurance, transparency, and ethical oversight positions them as key actors in ensuring that AI strengthens — rather than undermines — trust in markets, public institutions, and the wider economy.
This conference will explore how AI can reinforce Europe’s competitiveness through innovation‑driven growth, stronger accountability mechanisms, a fair digital and climate‑neutral transition, and deeper cross‑border cooperation. Speakers from EU institutions, academia, business, and the profession will examine how Europe can close its capability gaps, accelerate upskilling, and ensure that the AI Act is implemented in a way that supports both economic resilience and societal trust.
Cyprus’s role as a bridge between EU innovation and regional development will feature prominently, with national case studies highlighting the implications of AI for SMEs, public interest entities, and the broader financial ecosystem.
The conference will culminate in the publication of a White Paper outlining ten concrete calls to action emerging from the discussions. These recommendations will support policymakers, regulators, professional bodies, and employers in advancing a skills‑driven, trustworthy, and competitive AI ecosystem across Europe.
More information about the programme on the registrations page here.
