Source: European Parliament
The Commission does not comment on individual cases of potential take-overs on which it might be required to decide, based on its competences.
The banking sector in the EU has robust capital positions and ample liquidity. It has shown high profitability in recent years, in part due to the reforms carried out since the 2007 financial crisis, including the establishment of the Banking Union[1].
In this context, take-overs, mergers and other forms of consolidation can make banks more resilient to shocks, for example where they lead to greater asset or geographic diversification.
Bank consolidations may also allow European banks to increase the efficiency of their business models, to pursue growth strategies and to increase their investments in digitalisation.
At the same time, EU merger control ensures that banking consolidations with a EU dimension do not stifle competition and thereby harm consumers.
The Commission is in constant contact with Member States’ administrations and competition authorities and cover a wide range of subjects.
- [1] https://finance.ec.europa.eu/banking/banking-union/what-banking-union_en?prefLang=fr