The European Court of Auditors (ECA) has an obligation to report each year on any financial risk
arising, in particular from legal proceedings, relating to the Single Resolution Mechanism (SRM),
the EU system managing the orderly winding-up of failing banks within the Banking Union. For
the 2019 financial year, the Single Resolution Board (SRB) reported contingent liabilities relating
to ongoing legal challenges. However, the auditors draw attention to the possible financial
implications of certain subsequent legal judgments, as well as some arising from new judicial
challenges.
The SRM aims to manage the winding-up of a failing bank with minimal negative impact on the real
economy and on taxpayers. The SRB plays a central role in this mechanism, together with the
European Commission, the Council and the national resolution authorities. The legal framework
governing resolution is relatively new, and has created a complex and specific legal landscape for
which no precedents exist. There are currently a number of legal disputes pending before EU and
national courts in relation to the SRM Regulation.
Contingent liabilities and provisions reflect the financial risk to which an entity is exposed. For
2019, the SRB disclosed contingent liabilities amounting to €2 047 million, while the Commission
and the Council did not disclose any. The contingent liabilities reported by the SRB relate to legal
disputes against the contributions banks pay upfront (ex-ante) to finance the Single Resolution
Fund (SRF). However, no possible outflow of resources was identified in relation to actual
resolution decisions, because the SRB and the Commission considered this eventuality to be
remote. The auditors saw no evidence that would contradict that assessment.
“In 2019, the SRB’s disclosure of financial risk was appropriate,” said Rimantas Šadžius, the
member of the European Court of Auditors responsible for the report. “But a number of recent
judgments and new legal cases may pose additional financial risks. Anticipating such risks is a
principle of good and prudent administration of public money. This is why we recommend that the
SRB should carry out a thorough reassessment of its risks for the 2020 accounts”.
In the light of a number of recent judgments by EU courts, the auditors noted that the SRB will
have to reassess all pending and new judicial proceedings linked to the calculation of ex-ante
contributions to the SRF. In particular, the General Court found that the legal framework for the method used to make the calculation was unlawful in part. As some cases were notified to the SRB
only recently, those should also be considered for the 2020 accounts, the auditors say.
Most pending legal cases connected with bank resolution at EU and national level are related to
the resolution of Banco Popular Español in 2017. Applicants are seeking the annulment of the SRB’s
resolution scheme and the Commission’s endorsing decision. Additionally, there are three actions
before EU courts seeking the annulment of the SRB’s non-resolution decisions for two ABLV banks
and PNB Banka (all of them based in Latvia). Some applicants have brought pleas of illegality against
the underlying legal framework, and damages claims against the EU. Against this backdrop, the
auditors recommend that the SRB and the Commission consider all litigation cases for their final
accounts, as well as any information that could lead to an outflow of resources.
Background information
On 15 June 2020, there were 107 cases pending before EU courts related to resolution and nonresolution decisions, 7 cases related to the no-creditor-worse-off principle (i.e. the treatment of
creditors and shareholders under insolvency proceedings) and 23 cases against ex-ante
contributions to the Single Resolution Fund. Furthermore, 2 112 cases at the national level were
reported to the SRB.
This audit report deals exclusively with contingent liabilities arising as a result of the performance
by the SRB, the European Commission and the Council of their tasks under the SRM Regulation for
the 2019 financial year. It is available on the ECA website (eca.europa.eu) in 23 EU languages.
eca.europa.eu
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