EU moves to strengthen banks' resilience
Dombrovskis - McGuinness - Photo EC
(BRUSSELS) - The European Commission said Wednesday its review of EU banking rules will ensure EU banks become more resilient to potential future economic shocks, and contribute to Europe's recovery post-COVID.
The EU executive's adoption of the Capital Requirements Regulation and the Capital Requirements Directive finalises implementation of the Basel III agreement in the EU. This agreement was reached by the EU and its G20 partners in the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision to make banks more resilient to possible economic shocks.
The review consists of the following legislative elements:
- a legislative proposal to amend the Capital Requirements Directive (Directive 2013/36/EU);
- a legislative proposal to amend the Capital Requirements Regulation (Regulation 2013/575/EU);
- a separate legislative proposal to amend the Capital Requirements Regulation in the area of resolution (the so-called "daisy chain" proposal).
The package is comprised of:
- Implementing Basel III – strengthening resilience to economic shocks
Today's package faithfully implements the international Basel III agreement, while taking into account the specific features of the EU's banking sector, for example when it comes to low-risk mortgages. Specifically, today's proposal aims to ensure that "internal models" used by banks to calculate their capital requirements do not underestimate risks, thereby ensuring that the capital required to cover those risks is sufficient. In turn, this will make it easier to compare risk-based capital ratios across banks, restoring confidence in those ratios and the soundness of the sector overall.
The proposal aims to strengthen resilience, without resulting in significant increases in capital requirements. It limits the overall impact on capital requirements to what is necessary, which will maintain the competitiveness of the EU banking sector. The package also further reduces compliance costs, in particular for smaller banks, without loosening prudential standards.
- Sustainability – contributing to the green transition
Strengthening the resilience of the banking sector to environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks is a key area of the Commission's Sustainable Finance Strategy. Improving the way banks measure and manage these risks is essential, as is ensuring that markets can monitor what banks are doing. Prudential regulation has a crucial role to play in this respect.
The Commission's proposal will require banks to systematically identify, disclose and manage ESG risks as part of their risk management. This includes regular climate stress testing by both supervisors and banks. Supervisors will need to assess ESG risks as part of regular supervisory reviews. All banks will also have to disclose the degree to which they are exposed to ESG risks. To avoid undue administrative burdens for smaller banks, disclosure rules will be proportionate.
The proposed measures will not only make the banking sector more resilient, but also ensure that banks take into account sustainability considerations.
- Stronger supervision – ensuring sound management of EU banks and better protecting financial stability
The Commission says the package provides stronger tools for supervisors overseeing EU banks. It establishes a clear, robust and balanced "fit-and-proper" set of rules, where supervisors assess whether senior staff have the requisite skills and knowledge for managing a bank.
Moreover, as a response to the WireCard scandal, supervisors will now be equipped with better tools to oversee fintech groups, including bank subsidiaries. This enhanced toolkit will ensure the sound and prudent management of EU banks.
The Commisison review also addresses – in a proportionate manner – the issue of the establishment of branches of third-country banks in the EU. At present, these branches are mainly subject to national legislation, harmonised only to a very limited extent. The package harmonises EU rules in this area, which will allow supervisors to better manage risks related to these entities, which have significantly increased their activity in the EU over recent years.