Mr McCreevy noted in a recent speech to the EUROFI Conference in Nice, that discussions on the proposed Solvency II Framework Directive have been progressing at an impressive rate in both the European Council and Parliament. 


Read More EU/UK: Commissioner for Internal Markets, Charlie McCreevy, Updates the Market on Solvency II

CEIOPS has published an issues paper on the supervisory review process and undertakings’ reporting requirements under Solvency II. (See: Issues Paper) The issues paper covers some of the main components of Pillar II (concerning the way supervisors conduct their reviews) and Pillar III (supervisory reporting and public disclosure) elements of the Solvency II regime. 


Read More UK: The Committee of European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Supervisors (CEIOPS) Publishes an Issues Paper on the Supervisory Review Process and Undertakings’ Reporting Requirements Under Solvency II

On 10 June 2008, the CEA issued a press release stating that it believed that failure to adopt a risk-based approach to the calculation of the MCR would perpetuate the disadvantages of the current regulatory system, Solvency I. Michaela Koller, director general of the CEA, said that, “Approaches to calculating the MCR that are not consistent with the overall system could jeopardise the effectiveness of the whole Solvency II regime” and called for the MCR to be linked to the solvency capital (SCR) requirement so that both reflect the true risk profile of the insurer. The CEA suggested that the MCR should be calculated as a percentage of the SCR. 


Read More EU: Solvency II – Comité Européen des Assurances (CEA) Calls for Risk-Sensitive Approach to the Calculation of the Minimum Capital Requirement (MCR)

On 28 May the Committee of European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Supervisors (CEIOPS) published two Papers of final advice to the European Commission for the Solvency II project, entitled “Advice to the European Commission on aspects of the Framework Directive Proposal related to Insurance Groups” and “Advice to the European Commission on the Principle of Proportionality in the Solvency II Framework Directive Proposal”. 


Read More EU: CEIOPS Publishes Final Advice to the European Commission for the Framework Directive Proposal Related to Proportionality and Insurance Groups Supervision

On 13 May 2008 the European Commission and the United States issued a joint statement through the Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC), committing themselves to reaching the shared objective of economic integration. This followed a TEC forum on insurance issues such as US reinsurance collateral requirements, the EU’s Solvency II directive and the US Treasury Department’s recent recommendation of an optional federal charter system for the insurance industry. 


Read More EU and US Officials Pledge Level Insurance Playing-Field

A discussion paper on the UK’s proposals to reduce the administrative burden on insurance groups operating in the EU was launched on the 22 April 2008 by the Treasury and the FSA. (See: Discussion Paper) As has previously been discussed in a recent blog, the FSA has recognised the need for further development of the existing arrangements for regulatory cooperation and endorses the idea of cooperation among regulators and the creation of supervisor colleges. 


Read More UK: Regulatory: Treasury and Financial Services Authority (FSA) Launch Consultation on EU Insurance Sector

On 25 March Lloyd’s issued Market Bulletin Y4139 (the Bulletin) providing additional guidance for the preparation of the 2009 individual capital adequacy (ICA) submissions for run-off and specialist RITC syndicates. The guidance should be read in conjunction with Market Bulletin Y4128 (the Guidance), issued on 29 February, which sets out the general guidance for 2009 ICA submissions to Lloyd’s. 


Read More Lloyd’s Guidance for Run-off and RITC Syndicates