EU

ECB Fines Crédit Agricole €7.5M for Climate Risk Identification Failures

The European Central Bank (ECB) has imposed periodic penalty payments of €7,551,050 on Crédit Agricole for failing to sufficiently assess its climate-related and environmental risks by the deadline of 31 May 2024. This enforcement action highlights the ECB's commitment to ensuring banks adequately identify and manage climate risks.

ECB Fines J.P. Morgan for Misreporting Capital Requirements

The European Central Bank (ECB) has imposed two penalties totaling €12.18 million on J.P. Morgan SE for misreporting capital requirements between 2019 and 2024. The bank incorrectly calculated risk-weighted assets due to misclassifications and exclusions in credit risk and credit valuation adjustment risk reporting.

ECB welcomes Frank Elderson's Vice-Chair term extension

The European Central Bank (ECB) announced the extension of Frank Elderson's term as Vice-Chair of the Supervisory Board until December 2028. This decision follows a proposal by the ECB Governing Council and approval from the European Parliament.

ECB Advances Climate and Nature Work

The European Central Bank (ECB) has concluded its 2024-2025 plan for integrating climate and nature-related risks into its core work. The ECB has refined its risk assessments, informed policy decisions, and improved supervision of banks, while also managing its own portfolios and operations.

ECB Appoints Thomas Broeng Jorgensen Director General Specialised Institutions

The European Central Bank (ECB) has appointed Thomas Broeng Jorgensen as Director General for Specialised Institutions and Less Significant Institutions, effective March 1, 2026. He will oversee the direct supervision of specialised banks and the oversight of less significant banks by national supervisors.

European Commission Competition Case Search Portal

The European Commission has launched a new competition case search portal, providing public access to information on competition cases. This portal aims to increase transparency regarding the Commission's enforcement activities in antitrust and merger control.

ECHA Risk Assessment Committee Adopts PFAS Restriction Opinion

The European Chemicals Agency's Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) has adopted its opinion on a proposal to restrict all per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) across the EU/EEA. This opinion is a key step in the regulatory process, with the Socio-Economic Analysis Committee (SEAC) expected to release its draft opinion soon.

ECHA Updates Annual Evaluation Statistics

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has updated its statistics on chemical evaluation progress, reporting on compliance checks conducted between 2009 and 2025. The agency checked the compliance of over 30% of substances registered before 2019 at volumes of at least 100 tonnes per year, aiming to ensure reliable hazard data and chemical safety.

Biocides Committee supports ethanol approval for disinfectants

ECHA's Biocidal Products Committee (BPC) has supported the approval of ethanol for use in human hygiene, general, and food/feed area disinfectants. The committee did not conclude on ethanol's carcinogenic or reprotoxic properties due to data limitations and the nature of existing evidence.

ECHA Biocidal Products Committee Opinions on Active Substances and Authorisations

The European Chemicals Agency's Biocidal Products Committee (BPC) adopted six opinions on active substances and two on Union authorisations in its February 2026 meeting. These opinions concern substances like ethanol, DMDMH, hydrochloric acid, C(M)IT/MIT, and peracetic acid, impacting various product types. The European Commission will make the final decisions.