On 22 November 2022, the European Commission (Commission) issued a call for advice to the European Banking Authority (EBA) on green loans and mortgages.
In its ‘Strategy on Financing the Transition to a Sustainable Economy’ (Strategy) of July 2021, the Commission outlined four policy areas in which further work is needed. One of the four policy areas is dedicated to a more inclusive sustainable finance framework, allowing households and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to access sustainable finance. In this respect the Strategy highlighted the need to develop measures to support the uptake of sustainable financing by households and SMEs, for instance through green loans and mortgages.
Henceforth, the Strategy announced the Commission’s intention to request advice from the EBA on green retail lending. The advice from the EBA should provide an overview of current market practices and the prevalence of green loans in the banking market, propose and consider measures to encourage the uptake or access to green finance by retail SME borrowers. The EBA’s advice will allow the Commission to consider measures to encourage the development of the green loans and mortgages market.
The EBA’s advice is to be delivered by 29 December 2023.
