EIOPA Announces Measures to Address the Impact of COVID-19
Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, EIOPA is re-prioritizing and alleviating the burden by extending the deadlines or delaying projects where input from national competent authorities and/or industry is foreseen. EIOPA is extending the comments deadline of certain consultations, delaying publication of comments of some discussion notes or papers, and postponing the data requests planned in the first and second quarters of the year. Additionally, EIOPA has published a statement on dividend distribution and variable remuneration policies of insurers in the context of COVID-19.
As the capacity of financial institutions to respond to EIOPA consultation papers or calls for evidence is supposed to be affected by the current situation, it is proposed that the consultation period be extended in relation to the consultations that are open to the market. Details of the new consultation period end-dates and delays in publication of comments are as follows:
- Review of technical implementation means for the package on Solvency II Supervisory Reporting and Public Disclosure—Comments deadline is extended by six weeks from April 20, 2020 to June 01, 2020
- Consultation on Pan-European Personal Pension Product (PEPP) Implementing Technical Standards—Comments deadline is extended by four weeks from May 20, 2020 to June 17, 2020
- Consultation on discussion paper on ongoing changes to the new benchmark rates (or IBOR transitions)—Comments deadline is extended by nine weeks from April 30 to June 30, 2020
- Market and Credit Risk Comparative Study—Information request deadline is extended by five weeks from May 31, 2020 to July 03, 2020
- Discussion Note on value-chain/Insurtech—Publication for comments delayed to a date to be determined.
- Second discussion paper on methodological principles of insurance stress testing—Publication for public comments delayed to a date to be determined.
EIOPA also presented the list of data requests that have been postponed:
- It was planned in an event not to carry out, this year, the long-term guarantees measures (LTG) review information request to undertakings. The information request to the national competent authorities will likely be postponed from the second quarter to the third quarter of the year.
- With respect to the climate-risk sensitivity analysis 2020, data request to complete data available for top-down element and qualitative survey to large insurers as agreed in the roadmap for the 2020 exercise on climate-related transition risks will be cancelled. The report will be performed with the available information.
- Data collection for the work on the impact of ultra low yields on insurers to complement the Solvency II data planned for first/second quarter will be launched later to also incorporate COVID-19 reflections, if necessary.
In its statement on dividends distribution and variable remuneration policies, EIOPA urges (re)insurers to temporarily suspend all discretionary dividend distributions and share buybacks aimed at remunerating shareholders. This prudent approach should also be applicable to the variable remuneration policies. Insurers and reinsurers are expected to review their current remuneration policies, practices, and rewards to ensure that they reflect prudent capital planning and are consistent with, and reflective of, the current economic situation. This statement builds on the EIOPA statement from March 17, 2020, which stressed the importance of insurers preserving their capital position in balance with the protection of the insured, following prudent dividend and other distribution policies, including variable remuneration.
Related Links
- Press Release on Extending Consultation Deadlines
- Press Release on Dividend Distribution
- Statement on Dividend Distribution and Remuneration Policies
Keywords: Europe, EU, Insurance, COVID-19, Deadline Extension, Reporting, Reinsurance, Solvency II, Disclosures, Insurtech, Market Risk, Credit Risk, IBOR Transition, Climate Change Risk, EIOPA
Featured Experts

María Cañamero
Skilled market researcher; growth strategist; successful go-to-market campaign developer

Nicolas Degruson
Works with financial institutions, regulatory experts, business analysts, product managers, and software engineers to drive regulatory solutions across the globe.

Victor Calanog, Ph.D.
Leading economist; commercial real estate; performance forecasting, econometric infrastructure; data modeling; credit risk modeling; portfolio assessment; custom commercial real estate analysis; thought leader.
Previous Article
PRA Outlines Approach to Reporting and Disclosures Amid COVID-19Next Article
ESMA Updates Risk Assessment in Light of COVID-19Related Articles
EBA Launches Stress Tests for Banks, Issues Other Updates
The European Banking Authority (EBA) launched the 2023 European Union (EU)-wide stress test, published annual reports on minimum requirement for own funds and eligible liabilities (MREL) and high earners with data as of December 2021.
EBA Proposes Standards for IRRBB Reporting Under Basel Framework
The European Banking Authority (EBA) proposed implementing technical standards on the interest rate risk in the banking book (IRRBB) reporting requirements, with the comment period ending on May 02, 2023.
FED Issues Further Details on Pilot Climate Scenario Analysis Exercise
The U.S. Federal Reserve Board (FED) set out details of the pilot climate scenario analysis exercise to be conducted among the six largest U.S. bank holding companies.
US Agencies Issue Several Regulatory and Reporting Updates
The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (FED) adopted the final rule on Adjustable Interest Rate (LIBOR) Act.
ECB Issues Multiple Reports and Regulatory Updates for Banks
The European Central Bank (ECB) published an updated list of supervised entities, a report on the supervision of less significant institutions (LSIs), a statement on macro-prudential policy.
HKMA Keeps List of D-SIBs Unchanged, Makes Other Announcements
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) published a circular on the prudential treatment of crypto-asset exposures, an update on the status of transition to new interest rate benchmarks.
EU Issues FAQs on Taxonomy Regulation, Rules Under CRD, FICOD and SFDR
The European Commission (EC) adopted the standards addressing supervisory reporting of risk concentrations and intra-group transactions, benchmarking of internal approaches, and authorization of credit institutions.
CBIRC Revises Measures on Corporate Governance Supervision
The China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC) issued rules to manage the risk of off-balance sheet business of commercial banks and rules on corporate governance of financial institutions.
HKMA Publications Address Sustainability Issues in Financial Sector
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) made announcements to address sustainability issues in the financial sector.
EBA Updates Address Basel and NPL Requirements for Banks
The European Banking Authority (EBA) published regulatory standards on identification of a group of connected clients (GCC) as well as updated the lists of identified financial conglomerates.