European Banking Authority
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European Banking Authority: mission, values and structure

An authoritative overview of how the EBA Authority safeguards stability, transparency and consumer protection across the European Union financial system.

Introduction

The EBA Authority (European Banking Authority) is an independent European Union agency created in 2011 to strengthen financial stability and ensure a safer, more transparent and harmonised single banking market.

Headquartered in Paris, the EBA operates within the European System of Financial Supervision (ESFS), working with national authorities to guarantee consistent enforcement of the rules across all Member States.

Its mission is to make sure banks, intermediaries and financial institutions comply with common standards, protecting investors, consumers and the stability of the broader European economy.

Mission and values

The EBA’s mission is to foster a stable, integrated and resilient European financial system built on trust and transparency. To achieve this, the Authority focuses on:

Delivering the Single Rulebook

Designs binding technical standards for every EU financial institution, ensuring a level playing field and stronger user protection.

Assessing risks and vulnerabilities

Publishes regular reports, macroeconomic studies and EU-wide stress tests to monitor the soundness of the banking sector.

Driving supervisory convergence

Coordinates national authorities to align supervisory practices and support effective cooperation between European oversight bodies.

Protecting consumers and market integrity

Enforces transparency in financial products, tackles misconduct and oversees fraud prevention and conflict-of-interest policies.

Guiding digital transformation

Regulates crypto-assets and fintech innovations while providing a secure, up-to-date regulatory framework.

Institutional role

The EBA does not replace national supervisors; it coordinates and harmonises their work to guarantee uniform application of EU standards. Specifically, it can:

Draft binding technical standards

Issues RTS, ITS and guidelines that Member States must implement.

Oversee rule implementation

Monitors national authorities and can intervene directly when EU law is not enforced properly.

Track financial stability

Collects data, evaluates systemic risks and releases regular market analyses.

Mediate disputes

Resolves conflicts between national supervisors to secure consistent interpretations of the rules.

Structure and governance

The EBA is organised to preserve independence, transparency and institutional accountability. Its key bodies include:

Board of Supervisors (BoS)

The main decision-making body formed by representatives of the 27 national competent authorities.

Management Board

Oversees day-to-day operations, the budget and the implementation of BoS decisions.

Chairperson

Represents the EBA at European and international level and steers the Board’s work.

Executive Director

Coordinates internal resources, executes the approved strategy and ensures institutional accountability.

Areas of activity

  1. 01

    Banking and prudential regulation

    Defines capital requirements, liquidity standards and risk-management criteria for financial institutions.

  2. 02

    Systemic risk analysis

    Runs EU-wide stress tests to measure how banks would withstand adverse economic scenarios.

  3. 03

    Consumer protection

    Issues guidelines for transparent financial products and monitors compliance with fair business practices.

  4. 04

    Anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism

    Coordinates international efforts to prevent illicit financial flows and enforces AML/CFT regulations.

  5. 05

    Innovation and digital finance

    Tracks fintech, digital payments and crypto-assets, shaping shared technical standards.

EBA and digital finance

The MiCA regulation places the EBA at the centre of crypto-asset and digital asset supervision across the Union.

It oversees stablecoin issuers and crypto service providers, works with ESMA and other authorities, and balances technological innovation with regulatory safeguards.

  • Supervises stablecoin issuers and crypto service providers (CASP), enforcing transparency, capital and governance requirements.
  • Coordinates national authorities and ESMA to ensure consistent regulation and strong investor protection.
  • Promotes responsible digital-market growth within a robust, harmonised legal framework.