On January 17, the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (“EIOPA“) published a call for evidence on the integration of sustainability risks and factors in the prudential assessment of assets and liabilities for insurers and (re)insurers under the Solvency II Directive (2009/138/EC). The Commission’s initiatives on sustainable finance form part of its broader initiative to establish the capital markets union (“CMU“).

The deadline for responses to the call for evidence is March 8, 2019. EIOPA plans to prepare a draft opinion for consultation during the second half of 2019 for submission to the European Commission in the third quarter of 2019.

The call for evidence relates to the European Commission’s call for advice from EIOPA and ESMA in July 2018, following which EIOPA launched a survey to help it build up a suitable evidence base on the sustainable finance legislative proposals.

EIOPA expects to collect market data to analyze how sustainability risks affect (re)insurers investments, with particular focus on climate change, as well as data on market practices on insurance underwriting. The Commission has asked EIOPA to assess whether Solvency II presents any inherent incentives or disincentives to sustainable investment, including but not limited to investments in unrated bonds and loans, unlisted equity and real estate. National competent authorities will collect information from individual undertakings within their jurisdiction to support EIOPA’s analysis.