ESA guidelines (comply or explain)

Roles that need it

• Regulatory Change Analyst
• Compliance Officer
• Regulatory Consultant (Banking)
• Operational Risk Analyst

Skills it belongs to

• Legal research and regulatory interpretation
• Regulatory change impact assessment

Related concepts

• European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs)The European Supervisory Authorities are the EBA (banking), ESMA (securities and markets) and EIOPA (insurance and pensions), created in 2011. They draft technical standards, issue guidelines and Q&As, coordinate national supervisors and, in some areas, supervise firms directly. Their Joint Committee handles cross-sector work.
• Q&A (ESA single rulebook Q&A)ESA Q&As are published answers by the EBA, ESMA or EIOPA to questions from firms, authorities and others on how to apply EU rules and technical standards. They are non-binding, but supervisors expect firms to follow them. Some legal interpretation questions are answered by the Commission.
• Level 1 and Level 2 legislation (Lamfalussy process)In EU financial regulation, Level 1 is the framework regulation or directive adopted by Parliament and Council. Level 2 is the detailed delegated and implementing acts, often regulatory and implementing technical standards drafted by the ESAs. Level 3 covers ESA guidelines and Q&As, and Level 4 enforcement (a model from the Lamfalussy report).
• Outsourcing (EBA Guidelines)Outsourcing is an arrangement in which a service provider performs a process, service or activity that the institution would otherwise perform itself. The EBA Guidelines on outsourcing arrangements (EBA/GL/2019/02) set governance, risk assessment, contract and register rules, with stricter terms for critical or important functions.

Sources

• Regulation (EU) No 1093/2010 establishing the European Banking Authority, EUR-Lex (external site) accessed 31 Oct 2026

Updated 31 Oct 2026.