Empirical research identifies whistleblowing as one of the most effective internal antifraud controls. Very recently, Directive 1937/2019 became effective in the EU, aiming to deal with the defragmentation of whistleblowing legislation among the member states and provide common minimum accepted standards. The present article aims to provide a verified, weighted comparative maturity model. The suggested model has been constructed based on the methodology for constructing comparative maturity models and validated based on the Delphi method. The weights on each validated component have been calculated based on the summing of votes method. The study resulted in eight main components «scope», «corporate governance», «reporting mechanisms», «protection», «tone at the top», «organizational and human resource practices», «investigations» and «monitor and review» divided further into 18 elements. The suggested maturity model may provide a pathway for organizations to develop and maintain a robust whistleblowing maturity framework that will benefit both the organizations and the public welfare.

Directive 1937/2019 on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law became effective very recently. However, Directive 1937/2019 lacks sufficient guidance on the implementation or governance of whistleblowing frameworks. In addition, the existing literature lacks a definition of whistleblowing and whistleblowing frameworks that is appropriate for internal audit and fraud prevention. The purpose of this paper is to address the lack of a definition of whistleblowing and whistleblowing framework appropriate for internal auditing and to guide the roles and responsibilities within an organization to apply and maintain a robust whistleblowing framework. To this effect, the Three Lines Model is used, one of the most recognized theoretical models in effective risk governance and internal audit.

Audit Quality Indicators (AQIs) have become vital tools for assessing and improving audit performance. This study examines how AQIs are defined, implemented, and interpreted across jurisdictions, with a particular focus on their integration into ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) assurance. Through a cross-jurisdictional comparison covering the EU, UK, US, and Canada, we analyze regulatory diversity and explore how different oversight models influence AQI adoption. Our findings reveal that AQIs play an increasingly important role not only in enhancing audit transparency but also in reinforcing the credibility of sustainability reporting under evolving frameworks like the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). However, implementation remains fragmented, and standardization challenges persist. The study offers empirical insights from a large-scale survey of audit professionals, highlighting how perceptions of audit quality vary by country, experience, and organizational context. We conclude that the harmonization of AQI frameworks, especially with ESG-focused metrics, is essential to foster public trust and ensure the accountability of sustainability assurance.

This paper investigates how monetary and ESG-related risks—especially those stemming from asymmetric policy transmission across Eurozone economies—have evolved over time, with a focus on the post-COVID-19 era. Using a mixed-method bibliometric analysis of 216 peer-reviewed articles (1996–2025), it maps thematic developments in monetary governance and sustainability discourse. Findings reveal a post-2020 surge in scholarly engagement, marked by a decisive shift: ESG risks, once peripheral, are now central to discussions of macro-financial stability and institutional resilience. This thematic realignment aligns with major EU regulatory milestones (e.g., SFDR, EU Taxonomy, CSRD), signaling a structural transformation in EU governance. The study concludes that the convergence of monetary asymmetry and ESG integration represents a new frontier in economic policy and academic inquiry, raising critical questions about institutional convergence, regulatory capacity, and sustainability-informed monetary frameworks in post-crisis Europe.

The study examines the impact of mergers on stock market and performance of companies which were involved at mergers in Greece. Thus, the study, by using a sample of twenty-three listed companies which executed at least one merger (as acquirers) during the period of economic crisis, analyses nine stock market measures and ratios using simultaneously accounting measures extracted from corresponding financial statements. More specifically, we test a company’s performance by comparing a two-year span period before and after of all the merger events that took place within the period 2011-2015 (with data analysis from 2009 to 2017). The results of the study indicated that there is no statistically significant improvement or worsening for none of the examined variables in the post-merger period. In addition, we examined further merger characteristics, such as the method of payment and industry relatedness (qualitative variables). We observed statistically significant changes of a variable, in relation with the payment method, and in particular improvement of a variable when the exchange of shares is used as a payment method of a merger, instead of cash exchange.

Rapid developments in technological, scientific, and economic levels impose the need for the modernization of Greek companies regarding their accounting information systems (AIS) to ensure robust financial governance. The implementation of the Greek Accounting Standards (GAS) in 2015 brought significant changes in accounting operations (Stamatopoulos et al., 2021) because it introduced an automated accounting system, modernizing the existing accounting standardization framework. These reforms resulted in the quick adaptation of Greek companies to the new provisions, which are critical for enhancing corporate governance by improving transparency and quality of financial reporting (Koufodontis et al., 2021). The purpose of this paper is to examine how the effectiveness of financial governance mechanisms — specifically the implementation of GAS — depends on the degree of use of new technologies, while also evaluating the role of the state in this transition. A quantitative research design was employed using a survey of 93 accountants and financial executives. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation to test the relationship between the variables. The results of the research showed that there is a significant correlation between the successful application of GAS and digital maturity, suggesting that technology is a prerequisite for effective financial governance. These insights are relevant for policymakers and practitioners aiming towards corporate transparency and reporting quality in the digital era.