On 9 January 2026, the European Banking Authority (EBA) issued a final report containing final draft Regulatory Technical Standards (RTS) on cooperation and colleges of supervisors for third country-branches.
Background
The Capital Requirements Directive VI (CRD VI), which amends the Capital Requirements Directive IV (CRD IV), introduces a new regime for branches of third-country credit institutions operating in the EU. The regime establishes a minimum harmonisation framework for authorisation, prudential requirements – including booking arrangements, capital endowment, liquidity, internal governance, common reporting requirements – and supervisory practices and cooperation.
RTS
The final draft RTS have been developed in accordance with Article 48p(7) of the CRD IV (as amended by the CRD VI) to specify the effective cooperation and exchange of information between Member State competent authorities supervising institutions and branches of the same third-country group and the conditions for the functioning of colleges of supervisors for class 1 third country branches.
The final draft RTS are structured around two main chapters:
- Establishment and functioning of colleges of supervisors.
- Requirements for cooperation and information exchange in cases where no college of supervisors needs to be established.
The first chapter contains four sections:
- Establishment of colleges of supervisors.
- Functioning of colleges of supervisors.
- Planning and coordination of supervisory activities in going concern situations.
- Planning and coordination of supervisory activities in preparation for and during emergency situations.
The second chapter covers requirements for general cooperation and information exchange in instances where no college of supervisors needs to be established.
Next steps
The draft RTS will be submitted to the European Commission for endorsement following which they will be subject to scrutiny by the European Parliament and the Council before being published in the Official Journal of the European Union.