ESRB Assesses Systemic Risks and Mulls Policy Options at March Meeting
ESRB published its updated risk assessment via a risk dashboard for this quarter, along with a summary of the March 2021 meeting of the General Board of ESRB. At the meeting, the Board highlighted that full and timely implementation of Basel III remains a priority, discussed the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on financial stability in EU, and focused on ways to address the issues stemming from the pandemic. ESRB announced that it will publish, in Spring, a note highlighting the broad issues related to corporate insolvencies as well as a report summarizing ESRB analysis on macro-prudential policy issues. The General Board also noted that the evidence already gathered could be a starting point for a discussion on improving the macro-prudential buffer framework in the medium term, with a view to contributing to the EC review of the macro-prudential policy framework in 2022.
The following are the other key highlights of the discussions at the meeting:
- The General Board reiterated that the main source of systemic risk in EU originated from the impact of the pandemic and highlighted that, to help rebuild the economy, the current public support measures need to become more targeted as the crisis evolves. The Board saw merit in increasingly complementing liquidity support with equity support, possibly including quasi-equity and subsidies, for viable but overindebted firms, noting that success in containing solvency pressures in the non-financial corporate sector was crucial for minimizing the spillover effects of the COVID-19 crisis on the financial sector.
- The General Board supported the call by micro-prudential banking supervisors to proactively identify and provision for non-performing loans (NPLs) and enhance their organizational capacity for NPL resolution. Member states should identify a set of options to facilitate the process of assessment and, where warranted, restructuring of the debt of viable but overindebted firms to enhance firms’ debt repayment capacity.
- The General Board called on member states to review and, where necessary, improve insolvency and collateral enforcement procedures and strengthen the capacity of the judiciary in order to avoid bottlenecks.
- The General Board discussed macro-prudential policy issues and assessed risks related to broad-based risk-taking, the sustainability of business models, and structural changes in the financial system. It highlighted the four main areas of concern: the profitability and resilience of banks, the indebtedness and viability of borrowers, systemic liquidity risk, and the sustainability of the business models of insurers and pension funds offering longer-term return guarantees.
Related Links
Keywords: Europe, EU, Banking, COVID-19, NPLs, Basel, Regulatory Capital, Systemic Risk, Credit Risk, Risk Dashboard, Macro-Prudential Policy, ESRB
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.

Patrycja Oleksza
Applies proficiency and knowledge to regulatory capital and reporting analysis and coordinates business and product strategies in the banking technology area
Related Articles
ISSB Sustainability Standards Expected to Become Global Baseline
The finalization of the two sustainability disclosure standards—IFRS S1 and IFRS S2—is expected to be a significant step forward in the harmonization of sustainability disclosures worldwide.
IOSCO, BIS, and FSB to Intensify Focus on Decentralized Finance
Decentralized finance (DeFi) is expected to increase in prominence, finding traction in use cases such as lending, trading, and investing, without the intermediation of traditional financial institutions.
BCBS Assesses NSFR and Large Exposures Rules in US
The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) published reports that assessed the overall implementation of the net stable funding ratio (NSFR) and the large exposures rules in the U.S.
Global Agencies Focus on ESG Data, Climate Litigation and Nature Risks
At the global level, supervisory efforts are increasingly focused on addressing climate risks via better quality data and innovative use of technologies such as generative artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain.
ISSB Standards Shine Spotlight on Comparability of ESG Disclosures
The finalization of the IFRS sustainability disclosure standards in late June 2023 has brought to the forefront the themes of the harmonization of sustainability disclosures
EBA Issues Several Regulatory and Reporting Updates for Banks
The European Banking Authority (EBA) recently issued several regulatory publications impacting the banking sector.
BCBS Proposes to Revise Core Principles for Banking Supervision
The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) launched a consultation on revisions to the core principles for effective banking supervision, with the comment period ending on October 06, 2023.
US Proposes Final Basel Rules, Transition Period to Start in July 2025
The U.S. banking agencies (FDIC, FED, and OCC) recently proposed rules implementing the final Basel III reforms, also known as the Basel III Endgame.
FSB Report Outlines Next Steps for Climate Risk Roadmap
The Financial Stability Board (FSB) recently published the second annual progress report on the July 2021 roadmap to address climate-related financial risks.
EBA Plans on Ad-hoc ESG Data Collection and Climate Scenario Exercise
The recognition of climate change as a systemic risk to the global economy has further intensified regulatory and supervisory focus on monitoring of the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks.