EIOPA Launches Stress Test for Insurance Sector in EU
EIOPA launched the 2021 stress test for the insurance sector in EU. Along with the adverse scenario from ESRB, EIOPA has published several documents, including technical specifications, reporting templates, factsheet, and questions and answers on the stress testing exercise. The deadline for submission of results to the national competent authorities is August 10, 2021. The stress test results are planned to be published in December 2021.
The 2021 stress test, for the first time, will complement the assessment of the pre- and post-stress capital positions with the assessment of the pre- and post-stress liquidity positions of the participants over a 90 day-time horizon. The stress test will evaluate impact on the capital and the liquidity positions of the undertakings in scope. The capital assessment relies on the Solvency II framework, while the liquidity assessment is based on the estimation of the sustainability of the liquidity position. The two components are based on a common narrative, a common scenario, a common set of shocks but are clearly separated in terms of application of the shocks, data collection, assessment and disclosure. The 2021 stress test focuses on a prolonged COVID-19 scenario in a “lower for longer” interest rate environment. The scenario, developed in cooperation with ESRB, will assess the impact of economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, which affect confidence worldwide and prolong the economic contraction. The narrative is translated into a set of market and insurance specific shocks that generate a severe but plausible “double-hit” effect to the insurance industry.
Results will be collected through ad-hoc templates containing information to be used for analysis and validation purposes. The template for the capital component will rely to the maximum extent to the regular Quantitative Reporting Template, whereas templates for the liquidity component will be specifically developed. For the assessment of the capital position, as a general principle, the templates are be kept aligned to the regular Solvency II reporting where possible. For the liquidity component the information collected should cover the pre-and post-stress position. The information for analysis and validation purposes are kept to the minimum. The target sample defined in cooperation with the national competent Authorities encompasses 44 undertakings registered in 20 European jurisdictions and operating globally. The selected sample covers 75% of the EU-wide market based on total assets in the Solvency II.
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Keywords: Europe, EU, Insurance, Reinsurance, COVID-19, Solvency II, Stress Testing, ESRB, EIOPA
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