Press releases

The European Banking Authority (EBA) launched today a consultation on two draft Guidelines on (i) the triggers for using early intervention measures (triggers for early intervention) and on (ii) the circumstances under which an institution shall be considered as ‘failing or likely to fail’ (triggers for resolution). Both Guidelines ensure continuum between the on-going supervision conducted by national authorities in line with the CRD, and the Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive (BRRD). They aim at promoting convergence of supervisory and resolution practices in relation to how resolution should be triggered and how to apply early intervention measures. The consultations run until 22 December 2014.

The European Banking Authority (EBA) published today an Opinion on how to improve the well- functioning of the securitisation market. The Opinion is based on a detailed report, which assesses compliance by Competent Authorities with securitisation risk retention, due diligence and disclosure requirements. While expressing support for the provisions laid down in the Capital Requirements Regulation (CRR), the EBA is making a series of recommendations to ensure increased transparency, legal certainty of compliance with the retention rules as well as prevention of any potential regulatory arbitrage. The report also assesses the application and effectiveness of such requirements in light of the international developments.

The Joint Committee of the three European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs - EBA, ESMA and EIOPA) published today the Joint Guidelines on the convergence of practices aimed at ensuring consistency of supervisory coordination arrangements for financial conglomerates. The first Guidelines developed jointly by the three ESAs in relation to the FICOD (Financial Conglomerates Directive) aim to clarify and enhance cooperation between national competent authorities on cross-border groups that have been identified as financial conglomerates.

The Joint Committee of the three European Supervisory Authorities (EBA, EIOPA and ESMA) published today a consultation paper on draft Guidelines for regulating cross-selling practices in the financial sector across the EU. These guidelines establish a coherent and effective approach in supervising firms that offer cross-selling options, so as to enhancing protection of EU customers. The consultation will run until 22 March 2015.

The European Banking Authority (EBA) published today its sixth semi-annual report on risks and vulnerabilities of the EU banking sector. The report highlights that throughout 2014, European banks have continued to take advantage of favourable market conditions to raise capital in preparation for the asset quality reviews (AQR) and the 2014 EU-wide stress test. The average common equity tier 1 (CET1) ratio for the largest European banks reached 11.8 % in June 2014, the highest level since 2009 and broadly in line with the largest US banks. The report informs that market sentiment and confidence is improving. However, it also warns that the signs of recovery remain modest and fragile and that weak macroeconomic conditions can further affect credit quality. The heavy debt overhang, the potential impact of conduct-related issues, and the sustainability of business models and profitability remain sources of concerns.

The EBA has published its final draft Regulatory Technical Standards (RTS) and Implementing Technical Standards (ITS) on the functioning of the colleges of supervisors in the EU. These technical standards on colleges detail the conditions for the establishment and functioning of colleges of supervisors, and assist the interaction and cooperation between the consolidating supervisor and the relevant competent authorities. They also detail how colleges' supervisory activities should be planned and performed in both going concern and emergency situations.

The European Banking Authority (EBA) published today its final Guidelines for common procedures and methodologies for the supervisory review and evaluation process (SREP). These Guidelines represent a major step forward in forging a consistent supervisory culture across the Single Market and provide a common framework for the work of supervisors in the assessment of risks to banks' business models, their solvency and liquidity. These Guidelines will be a key component of the EU Single Rulebook, which aims at improving the functioning of the internal market, including a sound, effective and consistent level of regulation and supervision in the banking sector.

The European Banking Authority (EBA) published today an Opinion addressed to the Danish FSA following its proposal of a partial waiver from the application of Article 129 (1)(c) of the Capital Requirements Regulation (CRR), which specifies the conditions for the eligibility of covered bonds in relation to risk weight preferential treatment. The EBA is of the opinion that given the significant potential concentration problems in Denmark, the application of a partial waiver is adequately justified.

The European Banking Authority (EBA) published its final Guidelines on the security of internet payments, which set the minimum security requirements that Payment Services Providers in the EU will be expected to implement by 1 August 2015. Concerned about the increase in frauds related to internet payments, the EBA decided that the implementation of a more secure framework for internet payments across the EU was needed.

The European Banking Authority (EBA) published today its final Guidelines on the security of internet payments, which set the minimum security requirements that Payment Services Providers in the EU will be expected to implement by 1 August 2015. Concerned about the increase in frauds related to internet payments, the EBA decided that the implementation of a more secure framework for internet payments across the EU was needed. These Guidelines are based on the technical work carried out by the European Forum on the Security of Retail Payments (SecuRe Pay).

The EBA published today final draft Regulatory Technical Standards (RTS) on resolution planning and final Guidelines on measures to reduce or remove impediments to resolvability. These are part of the EBA's work to promote a consistent and coherent approach to bank resolution across the European Union (EU) and specify contents of resolution plans for EU institutions, as well as the criteria for the resolvability assessment. Common EU standards in these areas are essential to facilitate effective cooperation and joint decisions between resolution authorities.

The EBA published today its final draft Implementing Technical Standards (ITS) on joint decisions related to the approval of internal models. The objective of these standards is to facilitate the interaction and cooperation between competent authorities and to strengthen supervision of cross-border banking groups across the EU. These ITS will be part of the Single Rulebook aimed at enhancing regulatory harmonisation in the banking sector at EU level.

The European Banking Authority (EBA) launched today a consultation on its draft Regulatory Technical Standards (RTS) specifying the operational functioning of the resolution colleges that are to be established for those banking groups that operate on a cross-border basis within the European Economic Area (EEA). These standards are based on specific requirements laid down in the Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive (BRRD), which provides a common resolution regime across the EU aimed at allowing home and host authorities to deal with failing institutions and cooperate in the process of resolution planning. The consultation will run until 18 March 2015.

Following a decision by the EBA's Board of Supervisors on 15 December 2014, the EBA Recommendation from July 2013 on the preservation of Core Tier 1 capital of EU banks during the transition to the Capital Requirements Directive/Capital Requirements Regulation framework (EBA/REC/2013/03) has been repealed and therefore is no longer into force.

The European Banking Authority (EBA) issued today a revised list of validation rules in its Implementing Technical Standards (ITS) on supervisory reporting, highlighting those which have been deactivated either for incorrectness or for triggering IT problems. National authorities throughout the EU are informed that data submitted in accordance with these ITS should not be validated against the set of deactivated rules.