At the end of each month, the SAFE Regulatory Radar highlights a selection of important news and developments on financial regulation at the national and EU level.
Supervisory reporting: EBA presents a new regulatory framework for investment firms
On 5 March 2021, the European Banking Authority (EBA) presented a final draft Implementing Technical Standards (ITS) on the supervisory reporting and disclosures of investment firms under the Investment Firm Regulation (IFR). The ITS strive to guarantee a consistent prudential system for investment firms by integrating supervisory reporting and disclosure requirements as much as possible, considering different types of activity, size, and complexity of investment firms.
In particular, the ITS cover rules regarding the calculation of own funds, liquidity requirements, concentration risk, levels of minimum capital, as well as activity thresholds in respect of small and non-interconnected investment firms. To enhance consistency between reporting and disclosures requirements, the standards include a broad set of uniform templates and instructions for different types of institutions in accordance with the Capital Requirements Regulation (CRR).
After the formal adoption by the European Commission, the standards will be directly applicable from 26 June 2021 in all member states. The first reporting dates foreseen in the ITS are September 2021 for quarterly reports and December 2021 for annual reports.
Sustainable finance: ESMA sets out new rules for non-financial disclosures and the EU prospectus regime
On 1 March 2021, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) issued its Final Report containing advice on environmentally sustainable disclosures under the Taxonomy Regulation requested by the European Commission. This report clarifies the content and presentation of information to be disclosed by non-financial undertakings and asset managers to comply with their obligations under the Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD).
In detail, the report specifies Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and the underlying calculation methodology, on turnover, capital, and operational expenditures related to environmentally sustainable activities. Regarding the disclosure requirements for asset managers, the recommendations define relevant KPIs and propose the use of standardized tables for disclosures. The European Commission will use this non-binding report as a basis for a delegated act to supplement the Taxonomy Regulation.
On 4 March 2021, ESMA also updated its guidelines on disclosure requirements under the EU Prospectus Regulation. The guidelines advise issuers to involve financial reporting experts when issuing a prospectus. National competent authorities (NCAs) are recommended to comply with the guidelines to establish efficient supervisory practices across the EU.
Banking supervision: Basel III monitoring exercise becomes mandatory
On 16 March 2021, EBA adopted a decision that makes Basel III monitoring exercise mandatory. As of 31 December 2021, the affected credit institutions are obliged to submit the necessary data to the NCAs, including the information regarding credit, operational, and market risks.
Assessing the impact of the Basel III framework, the EBA indicated a need to expand the current regime to more credit institutions and jurisdictions to establish a sound legal framework in the EU. The decision has also changed the frequency of reporting from a semi-annual to an annual basis. Aiming to avoid undue burdens to credit institutions, the decision set up a clear selection criterion for participating banks. Accordingly, only Global and other Systemically Important Institutions(G-SIIs and O-SIIs)and some categories ofO-SIIs with risk-weighted coverage under 80 percent fall within the scope of the now mandatory exercise.
Current Public consultations:
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Anastasia Kotovskaia is Research Assistant at the SAFE Policy Center and currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Law at Goethe University.
