Recommendation (EU) 2025/1710
Commission Recommendation on the Voluntary SME Standard. Official adoption by the EU.
EUR-Lex →Resources
A curated list of sources
All the essential official sources for understanding or verifying a VSME engagement. Updated periodically.
EU legislation
The regulations and directives that shape VSME and the wider ESG ecosystem.
CSRD Directive (EU) 2022/2464
Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive. Sets the framework in which VSME acts as a "mirror" for SMEs.
EUR-Lex →CSDDD Directive (EU) 2024/1760
Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive. Feeds back into C5–C7 of the VSME Comprehensive module.
EUR-Lex →Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 — European Climate Law
Target of −55% emissions by 2030, climate neutrality by 2050. Defines the goal that C3 transition plans serve.
EUR-Lex →Regulation (EU) 2024/573 — F-gases
The new regulation on fluorinated greenhouse gases. Relevant to B4 (hotel / industrial refrigeration systems).
EUR-Lex →Directive 2019/904 — Single-Use Plastics
Relevant to B7 (circular economy) in food service / hospitality / retail.
EUR-Lex →Regulation (EU) 2016/679 — GDPR
Protection of personal data. Relevant to data handling in the engagement and to whistleblowing channels.
EUR-Lex →Regulation (EU) 2020/852 — EU Taxonomy
Classification of economic activities against environmental criteria. Relevant to green finance.
EUR-Lex →Greek legislation
The Greek transposition laws and related institutional frameworks.
Law 4936/2022 — National Climate Law
Emission-reduction targets (−55% by 2030, climate neutrality by 2050) and obligations for large companies.
Gov. Gazette 105/A/27.5.2022 →Law 4990/2022 — Whistleblowing
Transposes Directive (EU) 2019/1937 on the protection of persons who report breaches. Relevant to VSME B11 / C7.
Gov. Gazette 210/A/11.11.2022 →Law 4624/2019 — GDPR Implementation
National implementation of the GDPR (Reg. (EU) 2016/679).
Gov. Gazette 137/A/29.8.2019 →Law 4736/2020 — SUP transposition
Transposes Directive 2019/904 on single-use plastics. Relevant to B7 in food service / tourism.
Gov. Gazette 200/A/20.10.2020 →Law 4412/2016 — Public Procurement
The framework for public-sector tenders, with ESG / environmental evaluation criteria.
Gov. Gazette 147/A/8.8.2016 →Law 4093/2012 — Minimum wage
The legal framework for the minimum wage. Relevant to VSME B10 (minimum-wage compliance).
Gov. Gazette 222/A/12.11.2012 →Law 4640/2019 — Mediation
Mandatory mediation in civil disputes. The dispute-resolution framework in engagement contracts.
Gov. Gazette 190/A/30.11.2019 →Civil Code — Articles 332, 333, 388
Limitations of liability, contractual obligations, and unforeseen change of circumstances. The legal basis for the engagement-letter clauses.
Civil Code →Standards & methodology
The official sources for the standards and calculation factors.
EFRAG VSME Standard (Final, Dec 2024)
The official final text of the Voluntary SME Standard, B1–B11 + C1–C9.
EFRAG → VSME Standard PDFEFRAG Q&A Platform
The official compliance helpdesk for VSME and ESRS.
efrag.org →GHG Protocol Corporate Standard
The global standard for corporate GHG inventory (Scope 1, 2, 3). Revised 2004 + Scope 2 Guidance 2015.
ghgprotocol.org →IPCC AR6 (2021)
Sixth Assessment Report — the standard emission factors for direct fuel combustion.
ipcc.ch →AIB European Residual Mix
Annual market-based factors for Scope 2 electricity. Published each May/June. Greece 2024: 367.07 g CO₂/kWh.
aib-net.org →UN Guiding Principles (2011)
UNGPs — the framework for business and human rights. The basis for VSME C6.
ohchr.org →OECD Guidelines (rev. 2023)
OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises — due-diligence methodology.
oecd.org →TCFD Recommendations
Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures. The basis for VSME C4 (climate risk).
fsb-tcfd.org →Sector frameworks & Greek bodies
Sources used by sector, and Greek professional bodies.
SEV (Hellenic Federation of Enterprises) — ESG Lab
ESG publications, guides, and tools for Greek businesses.
sev.org.gr →SETE — Greek Tourism Confederation
Documents and initiatives for sustainability in Greek hospitality.
sete.gr →SEVT — Federation of Hellenic Food Industries
Sector-specific ESG and sustainability frameworks for the F&B sector.
sevt.gr →YPEN — Ministry of Environment & Energy
Greek environmental legislation, guidance, and data.
ypen.gov.gr →Hellenic Bank Association
Principles of responsible banking, ESG data, and credit-risk strategies.
hba.gr →ELSTAT — Hellenic Statistical Authority
Energy balance sheets, trade statistics, and GHG emissions by sector.
statistics.gr →Ministry of Development
Information on ESPA 2021–2027, the Recovery Fund, and tender opportunities with ESG criteria.
mindev.gov.gr →Greek National Recovery & Resilience Plan
Greece 2.0 — green-transition projects and ESG-aligned funding opportunities.
greece20.gov.gr →Note: All the links above point to official or widely recognized sources. VSME Hellas is not responsible for the content of external websites. The categorization reflects the professional judgment of Dr. Dimosthenis Chatzinikolaou regarding the value of each source for a typical VSME engagement.