State Aid rules for banks in difficulty
The European Savings and Retail Banking Group (ESBG) welcomes the initiative of the European Commission to launch a targeted consultation aiming at reviewing the State Aid rules for banks in difficulty.
The potential revision will assess the fitness of the current rules regarding burden-sharing, market discipline, financial stability, and the protection of taxpayers among other things. The modernized framework should ensure that the State Aid rules are applied proportionally, are adapted to the crisis management and deposit insurance (CMDI) legislation and are specifically targeted at different kinds of bank crises.
ESBG argues that all DGS measures available under the CMDI framework applied in accordance with the rules established by the DGSD and the BRRD/SRMR, regardless of national specificities in the design, the governance, and the functioning of DGSs, should be exempted from the application of the regular State Aid control rules. It should be made clear that when DGS funds are used for support measures, State Aid rules should not be applicable and no notification to the Commission be required. Exempting the application of the State Aid rules on actions under the CMDI framework will allow the effective and undisturbed use of measures foreseen under DGSD/BRRD/SRMR.
Furthermore, and until such improvements are effectively achieved, ESBG finds it important to avoid any increase in contributions to the national DGS and to the Single Resolution Fund (SRF).
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ESBG calls for more feasible rules on the new corporate sustainability due diligence
In its response to the European Commission (EC)’s call for feedback on the proposal for a Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence, the ESBG suggests several changes to make the rules more feasible.
ESBG members support the goal to tackle environmental issues and human rights abuses as they commit to sustainable, responsible and future-oriented banking and support the creation of a coherent legal framework. Nevertheless, ESBG finds that the proposal foresees a role for financial entities that is too ambitious and could create legal uncertainty.
To avoid unfeasible implementation and monitoring costs, accompanied by uncertain legal consequences, we request further clarification on the role of financial entities in the context of the proposed Directive.Rules must be proportionate, feasible and should not restrict competition and innovation. The current environment might not be adequate for requirements that could hamper economic and financial recovery.
The ESBG feedback calls to limit the scope to companies with less than 1000 employees, and for a voluntary common due diligence framework of best practices for regulated financial undertakings that takes into account a specific connection to the provision of services by banks. It also calls for the introduction of a grandfathering provision for the identification of actual and potential adverse impacts and the creation of a uniform standard for the preparation of a Code of Conduct.
ESBG members underline that there is no need to establish new corporate directors’ duties and that existing liability regimes already provide appropriate rules. In consideration of the right to the presumption of innocence, businesses should not be held for damage in their supply chain if they did not directly cause it.
Additionally, several terms need to be further clarified and disproportionate provisions should be eliminated.
