Legal Certainty, European-ness and Realpolitik

The stimulus for this paper is an article published in 2005 by Wustemann and Kierzek together with a critical comment thereon by Nobes in 2006. The original paper discusses the IFRS proposals, and the philosophy they represent, concerning revenue recognition. Nobes, in terms which this author broadly supports, criticises their revenue recognition proposals in some detail, together, again rightly, with some of their assumptions. This paper, rather than reopening these specific issues, considers the explicit statement, for example, p.71, and elsewhere, that there is a 'requirement of legal certainty in the European Union', a statement which is given neither logical justification nor supporting references. IAS, EU requirements and GoB as a national concept are all argued to be flexible, judgemental and, necessarily and permanently, devoid of 'legal certainty'. Implications of this analysis for regulation, harmonisation and for educational programmes in today's global environment are considered.