Abstract

EU banks are free to establish branches and provide services across the Union. This means that a banking failure in a member state can have spillover effects for the entire Union. The experience from the financial crisis and the Eurozone crisis has led to the realization that a common legal framework to regulate and supervise EU banks is necessary. The creation of the European Supervisory Authorities, as the first step towards “more Europe” was soon followed by a Single Rulebook, a Single Supervisory Handbook and a Single Supervisory Mechanism, with a common resolution rulebook and a Single Resolution Mechanism in the pipeline.

The lecture will examine this shift towards “more Europe” in bank regulation and supervision and assess whether the new emerging supra-national framework is well placed to safeguard financial stability in the EU.