Solvency II

Sometimes referred to as Basel for insurers, the Solvency II directive imposes capital reserve requirements on insurance companies. 

The directive is a consolidation of 13 separate directives affecting the insurance industry, updated in the light of the financial crisis.  Significant parts of it are uncontroversial.  Other parts, however, have been fiercely resisted and argued against by the industry. 

Much of the directive’s content is highly technical and it covers a wide range of topics and activity.

The start date for the directive was delayed on multiple occasions to make time for the political and technical arguments to be agreed and for an agreed text to be produced.

It came into force on 1 January 2016 in the UK.