EBF WEEKLY + FINANCIAL REGULATION AGENDA for the week starting Monday 14 February 2022 An overview of the main financial regulation and banking stories this week and a look ahead to key events for the upcoming week, brought to you by the European Banking Federation Recommend the EBF newsletters to a colleague. Click here to sign up! |
|
Registration open! Report launch: Practical approaches to applying the EU taxonomy to bank lending |
|
| On 15 February 2022, the European Banking Federation, together with the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) will host an online event to launch a joint report on the application of the EU Taxonomy to lending products. During the event, speakers will discuss the usability of the EU Taxonomy for climate change mitigation and adaptation for banks and their clients, in the context of the latest regulatory and business developments. The discussion will also explore options for customers' engagements to finance transition and considerations for further leveraging the EU Taxonomy in the legislative and regulatory framework. Register now |
|
FINANCIAL REGULATION AGENDA for next week Monday 14 February Tuesday 15 February -
-
-
Council Budget Committee -
Council Horizontal Working Party on Cyber Issues -
-
-
-
Bank Association of Slovenia ‘Conference on Sustainable financing’ event
Wednesday 16 February Thursday 17 February Friday 18 February For a full-year overview of key financial regulation events: click here |
|
FROM THE MEDIA FT: ECB warns eurozone lenders over leveraged loan risk The European Central Bank (ECB) has warned banks it will raise capital requirements unless they reduce their exposure to risky loans to private equity acquisitions and other highly indebted borrowers. As reported by the Financial Times (FT), non-performing loans declined last year and banks maintained “solid” capital and liquidity positions. But there is still uncertainty about other risks, including cyberattacks, climate change, downward pressure on profitability, and disruption from rising interest rates. Read more Bloomberg: European banks to prepare for fallout from Russia tensions Europe’s top banking regulator urged lenders to prepare for potential fallout from the strained relations between the West and Russia over Ukraine. Andrea Enria, who leads the European Central Bank (ECB)’s supervisory board told Bloomberg that “the concerns are more in potential sanctions and the role banks might have in ensuring that these sanctions are enforced and in possible broader turbulence in financial markets.” Read more Finextra: EU legislation for full EU-wide coverage of instant payments The European Commission is set to introduce legislation covering a digital euro and full EU-wide coverage of instant payments through Sepa Instant early next year, Finextra reports. On instant payments, the proposed legislative changes are intended to address the fragmented market for cross-border real-time payments and provide a spur to Open Banking initiatives across the Union. Read more |
|
FROM EBF MEMBERS ABBL: Digital Onboarding and Electronic Signatures Survey In the context of unprecedented operational and organizational challenges linked to the pandemic, the financial sector has been forced to accelerate its digital transformation. To evaluate the Luxembourg situation in this field, the Luxembourg Bankers' Association (ABBL), in cooperation with Deloitte, conducted a market study with its members, who provided valuable information on the level of knowledge, ongoing projects, and status of adoption of digital improvements for day-to-day business. Read more NVB: Sustainable Product-as-a-Service (PaaS) financing Sustainable installations in and on buildings can be part of banks' sustainability ambitions. Private law professor Frank Verstijlen and his colleagues conducted research on sustainable Product-as-a-Service (PaaS) financing on behalf of the Dutch Banking Association (NVB). These installations are intended to operate for a long time and can be sold as a 'service' so that the operator remains the owner. Read more (NL) SBA: An in-depth look at a highly symbiotic financial center The Swiss Bankers Association (SBA)'s new online publication "Swiss Banking Trends" provides a clear overview of developments in the Swiss banks' business areas. The publication covers the entire banking spectrum, from Wealth Management to Retail Banking, Investment Management, Corporate Banking, and Capital Market products. Read more (FR) |
|
FROM THE INSTITUTIONS ESMA: High level of divergence in disclosure of ESG factors in credit ratings The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) published an article assessing the implementation of ESMA’s Guidelines on the disclosure of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors in credit rating agency (CRA) press releases. ESMA finds that the overall level of disclosures has increased since the Guidelines' introduction, but a high level of divergence across CRAs means there is still room for further improvement. Read more ECB: Inflation outlook Inflation is likely to remain elevated for longer than previously expected, but to decline in the course of this year, says European Central Bank (ECB) Vice-President Luis de Guindos. That is the most likely situation, but there are upside risks to this outlook. Read more EU Commission: Winter 2022 Economic Forecast For the Winter 2022 Economic Forecast, the European Commission expects growth to regain traction after the winter slowdown. Following a notable expansion by 5.3% in 2021, the EU economy is projected to grow by 4.0% in 2022 and 2.8% in 2023. The EU as a whole reached its pre-pandemic level of GDP in the third quarter of 2021 and all Member States are projected to have passed this milestone by the end of 2022. Read more |
|
FROM THE EBF this week EBF launches a roundtable for sustainability leaders in banking In February, the European Banking Federation (EBF) brought together senior representatives from leading European banks to generate new insights and exchange ideas on sustainability and climate issues. The newly launched ‘Chief Sustainability Officers Roundtable’ will meet regularly to share best practices and explore collective action to enhance the banking sector’s contribution to the European Union’s sustainable transition. Read more EBF Vacancies: Work with us! Visit our Vacancies page to learn more about the opening positions at the EBF. Read more |
|
|
|
ABOUT THE EUROPEAN BANKING FEDERATION The European Banking Federation is the voice of the European banking sector, bringing together national banking associations from across Europe. The federation is committed to a thriving European economy that is underpinned by a stable, secure and inclusive financial ecosystem, and to a flourishing society where financing is available to fund the dreams of citizens, businesses and innovators everywhere. Website: www.ebf.eu |
|
This newsletter is published by the EBF Mediacentre. For questions or suggestions contact v[email protected] European Banking Federation Avenue des Arts 56, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium |
|
|
|