Directive 2014/51 - Amendment of Directives 2003/71/EC and 2009/138/EC and Regulations (EC) No 1060/2009, (EU) No 1094/2010 and (EU) No 1095/2010 in respect of the powers of the European Supervisory Authority (European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority) and the European Supervisory Authority (European Securities and Markets Authority) - Main contents

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 153/1

The financial crisis in 2007 and 2008 exposed important shortcomings in financial supervision, both in particular cases and in relation to the financial system as a whole. Nationally based supervisory models have lagged behind financial globalisation and the integrated and interconnected reality of European financial markets, in which many financial institutions operate across borders. The crisis exposed shortcomings in the areas of cooperation, coordination, consistent application of Union law and trust between national competent authorities.

In a number of resolutions adopted before and during the financial crisis, the European Parliament called for a move towards more integrated European supervision in order to ensure a truly level playing field for all actors at Union level, and for such supervision to reflect the increasing integration of financial markets in the Union, in particular in its resolutions of 13 April 2000 on the Commission communication on implementing the framework for financial markets: Action Plan, of 21 November 2002 on prudential supervision rules in the European Union, of 11 July 2007 on financial services policy (2005-2010) — White Paper, of 23 September 2008 with recommendations to the Commission on hedge funds and private equity, of 9 October 2008 with recommendations to the Commission on Lamfalussy follow-up: future structure of supervision, and in its positions of 22 April 2009 on the amended proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the taking-up and pursuit of the business of Insurance and Reinsurance (Solvency II), and of 23 April 2009 on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on Credit Rating Agencies.

In November 2008 the Commission instructed a High-Level Group chaired by Jacques de Larosière to make recommendations on how to strengthen European supervisory arrangements with a view to better protecting Union citizens and rebuilding trust in the financial system. In its final report presented on 25 February 2009 (the ‘de Larosière Report’), the High-Level Group recommended that the supervisory framework be strengthened to reduce the risk and severity of future financial crises. It recommended far-reaching reforms to the supervisory structure of the financial sector within the Union. The de Larosière Report also recommended that a European system of financial supervision be created, comprising three European supervisory authorities — one for each of the banking, the securities and the insurance and the occupational pensions sectors — and a European systemic risk council.

Financial stability is a prerequisite for the real economy to provide jobs, credit and growth. The financial crisis has revealed serious shortcomings in financial supervision, which has failed to anticipate...