Cooperation between financial supervisors in the European Union

Nowadays, the cooperation among the financial supervisors in the European Union is a visible necessity. The progressive harmonisation of the legislations of the Member states, the establishment of the European passport in order to facilitate the free movement of actors within the Union, the national competence based on the principle of the country of origin, as well as the mutual recognition of the authorisation procedure and of the controls made necessary the cooperation among financial supervisors in Europe. This necessity is a logical consequence of the financial integration.  First, the existence of common rules requires a coherent approach in their implementation thought the European Union. Second, the increasing number of cross-border activities, as well as the emergence of big financial institutions active in several business sectors requires a close relationship between financial supervisors. In a cross-border and intersectoral context the cooperation becomes the main tool of supervision of the financial authorities.

This process is in height transformation since the advent of the financial crisis. The cooperation is strengthened and centralised on European level since the establishment of the European Supervisory Authorities. In addition, the centralisation of the supervision in the banking sector at European level does not eliminate the necessity of cooperation, due in particular to the expertise of national authorities, to their knowledge of national, regional and local banking markets, their significant existing resources and to locational and language considerations.