European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs)

Roles that need it

• Regulatory Change Analyst
• Regulatory Consultant (Banking)
• Regulatory Reporting Analyst
• Legal Counsel
• Compliance Officer

Skills it belongs to

• Legal research and regulatory interpretation
• Regulatory change impact assessment

Related concepts

• RTS (Regulatory Technical Standards)Regulatory technical standards are detailed technical rules drafted by an ESA, such as the EBA or ESMA, under a mandate in a Level 1 act and adopted by the Commission as a delegated regulation under Article 290 TFEU. Once published in the Official Journal they bind firms directly.
• ITS (Implementing Technical Standards)Implementing technical standards set uniform conditions for applying a Level 1 act, such as reporting templates, formats and procedures. An ESA drafts them and the Commission adopts them as an implementing regulation under Article 291 TFEU. The COREP and FINREP reporting framework is an ITS.
• ESA guidelines (comply or explain)ESA guidelines are Level 3 texts issued by the EBA, ESMA or EIOPA under Article 16 of their founding regulations to set consistent supervisory practice. National authorities must state within two months whether they comply or intend to comply, or explain why not, and firms must make every effort to comply.
• Single rulebookThe single rulebook is the set of harmonised prudential and conduct rules that apply to financial institutions across the EU: Level 1 acts such as the CRR and CRD, the technical standards adopted under them, and ESA guidelines and Q&As. It aims to remove national differences inside the single market.
• AMLA (Anti-Money Laundering Authority)The Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism, set up by Regulation (EU) 2024/1620 and based in Frankfurt, coordinates national AML supervisors and FIUs and drafts technical standards. From 2028 it will directly supervise a group of high-risk cross-border financial entities.

Sources

• Regulation (EU) No 1093/2010 establishing the European Banking Authority, EUR-Lex (external site) accessed 31 Oct 2026
• Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010 establishing ESMA, EUR-Lex (external site) accessed 31 Oct 2026
• Regulation (EU) No 1094/2010 establishing EIOPA, EUR-Lex (external site) accessed 31 Oct 2026

Updated 31 Oct 2026.