EBA Publishes Annual Report on Functioning of Resolution Colleges

The report reflects the views of EBA on the deliverables expected from resolution authorities in the 2019 cycle; these deliverables are with respect to resolution strategy, resolvability assessment, and minimum requirement of eligible liabilities and own funds (MREL). It states that the joint decision making process generally functioned well, with decisions being taken within the prescribed timelines in 2019. The focus of most colleges has been on operationalization of the preferred resolution strategy. Going forward, the areas that require attention include operationalization of the bail-in tool, determining and planning for liquidity and funding in resolution, operational continuity arrangements, maintenance of access to financial market infrastructures, and introduction of management information capabilities to support resolution. Additionally, ensuring that bail‐in of instruments can be swiftly and efficiently executed will be essential to stabilizing groups experiencing extreme stress.

The wide‐ranging effect of the COVID‐19 crisis has the potential to diminish the financial strength of EU banks. Against this heightened risk, the role of resolution colleges in planning for execution has grown even more important. The current college cycle provides an important opportunity to test the arrangements made to‐date and to move from scenario analysis to more focused planning, based on the situation that exists. Against this background, for the 2020 cycle, EBA intends to monitor college discussion and engagement on the following aspects:

• Credibility and feasibility of preferred resolution strategy in the current environment and the analysis of alternative resolution strategies. For instance, bail‐in strategies for banks materially impacted by the crisis, with a significant MREL shortfall and an inability to issue in the foreseeable future, would need to be reviewed and alternative strategies considered. Similarly, the global or systemic reach of the pandemic may warrant consideration of the effectiveness of current plans to understand the impact of concurrent resolution events occurring.
• The extent to which supervisory authorities, finance ministries, and administrators of deposit guarantee schemes are actively involved in consideration of their respective roles. For resolution to be successful, all members of the college should engage actively and outline the approach they would expect to take within their own particular spheres of competence.
• Analysis of Written Arrangements underpinning colleges and changes arising from revised working arrangements emanating from the pandemic, including updating contact arrangements. It is considered that each college should confirm that all essential elements including back‐up plans in the event of problems, are in place. A test to ensure that all college members are contactable within reasonable timelines is proposed.
• The extent to which colleges undertake reviews of “Business Reorganization Plans.” The aim is to assess if changes are required in response to the economic effects of COVID‐19. Colleges should debate, in conjunction with supervisory authority members, if the broad outline of the plans remain relevant or if work needs to commence to alter such plans.
• Completing a resolvability assessment template. All colleges will be requested to complete a resolvability assessment template to aid in the monitoring of overall progress of key aspects of the planning process.

Related Links

• Press Release
• Annual Report (PDF)

Keywords: Europe, EU, Banking, COVID-19, Resolution Framework, MREL, Resolution Planning, Resolution Colleges, Bail-In, EBA