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Cyprus has taken a bold step forward in cementing its position as a credible fund jurisdiction with the adoption of the new Investment Fund Administrators (IFA) Law. Passed quietly in July 2024, this new framework may not have made international headlines, but it closes a longstanding gap in the country’s financial services ecosystem and signals a more mature, forward-looking approach to fund regulation.

Stablecoins have moved from the periphery of crypto to the centre of digital finance. New rules in the US, the EU and across Asia are accelerating real-world use — and putting accountants and tax professionals in the hot seat. This article gives you a practical, standards-aware playbook for getting the accounting right.

In our previous publication, we explored the inclusion of Machine Learning (ML) in the updated ECB Guide to Internal Models and the regulator’s expectations for its use within Pillar 1 models. Building on that, this article shifts focus to credit risk, where the revised Guide introduces more granular expectations for institutions using IRB models, reflecting a firmer supervisory stance, the integration of EBA Handbook elements, and alignment with CRR3 requirements.

To ensure the orderly functioning and integrity of financial markets and the overall stability of the EU financial system, the European Banking Authority (EBA) is tasked with monitoring market developments and identifying emerging risks and vulnerabilities at the micro-prudential level. A core tool supporting this mandate is the EU-wide stress test exercise, which the EBA is empowered to initiate and coordinate under its Regulation. Conducted in cooperation with the ESRB, ECB, and European Commission, the stress test evaluates the resilience of financial institutions against adverse economic scenarios and contributes to a broader assessment of systemic risk within the EU.

To ensure the orderly functioning and integrity of financial markets and the overall stability of the EU financial system, the European Banking Authority (EBA) is tasked with monitoring market developments and identifying emerging risks and vulnerabilities at the micro-prudential level. A core tool supporting this mandate is the EU-wide stress test exercise, which the EBA is empowered to initiate and coordinate under its Regulation. Conducted in cooperation with the ESRB, ECB, and European Commission, the stress test evaluates the resilience of financial institutions against adverse economic scenarios and contributes to a broader assessment of systemic risk within the EU.

EBA has recently released its Final Guidelines on the Management of ESG Risks, setting a pivotal standard for financial institutions to integrate ESG risks into their governance and risk management frameworks. At Grant Thornton, we use an ESG framework based on these EBA guidelines to support credit institutions and investment firms in embedding ESG considerations into their internal governance, risk management, and strategic planning. This approach helps banks meet regulatory expectations while strengthening long-term resilience and stakeholder trust. With regulatory pressure increasing, effective management of ESG risks across multiple time horizons is essential. Our framework focuses on the identification, assessment, monitoring, and mitigation of ESG risks, reflecting the growing importance of sustainable practices in the financial sector.

On 7th May 2025, the Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS) released its first set of short-term climate scenarios, covering the period from 2025 to 2030. These scenarios mark a pivotal step in supporting financial institutions and supervisors in evaluating the immediate macro-financial risks posed by both climate transition policies and extreme weather events.

On 02 October 2024, the European Banking Authority (EBA) published its Work Programme for 2025, outlining its plan to fulfil its mission and mandates for the upcoming year, based on EU legislation and its founding regulation. The Programme supports broader EU financial sector priorities, organized into five key areas for the next three years: (i) the EU Single Rulebook, (ii) Financial stability, (iii) Data management, (iv) Oversight of DORA and MiCAR and (v) conduct and AML/CFT supervision. In more detail, in 2025, EBA will address a wide range of mandates related to the financial sector, with a strong focus on implementing the EU banking package (CRR III/CRD VI) to further develop the EU Single Rulebook. Its ongoing analyses, risk metrics and stress – testing methodologies aim to ensure financial stability and address risks from economic and geopolitical developments. Additionally, the EBA will begin overseeing critical 3rd party IT services under DORA and supervising significant crypto – asset providers under MiCAR. It will also establish a new EU AML – CFT framework.

The publication from BIS highlights the significance of climate scenario analysis in financial institutions, particularly in the context of emerging regulatory standards. The increasing awareness of climate change as a global risk has led to a need for more advanced methods of assessing potential financial impacts. Climate Scenario analysis provides a forward – looking approach, which is crucial in navigating the uncertain landscape of climate – related risks. The publication also emphasizes the growing challenges associated with the adoption of these methods. To address these challenges and enhance transparency, regulatory bodies such as the ISSB, have introduced new standards, which aim to improve the quality of climate – related disclosures.

The publication from the EBA sets out the priorities for resolution authorities for 2025 and reports on the progress achieved in 2023. It focuses on ensuring the effective implementation of resolution strategies, enhancing management information systems for valuation, and improving liquidity strategies during resolution. The report also highlights the challenges encountered and the measures taken by resolution authorities to improve banks' resolvability and readiness to handle financial crises effectively.

In the realm of financial risk management, particularly within the ambit of Basel regulations, the Advanced Internal Rating-Based (AIRB) approach stands as a cornerstone for banks and financial institutions aiming to optimise their capital allocation while adhering to stringent regulatory standards.

In today's data-driven financial and economic landscape, the evaluation of mortgage loan default risks has significantly evolved due to enhanced data insights and sophisticated model techniques. Predictive modelling techniques have risen to prominence due to their ability to enhance decision-making, streamline lending processes, and ultimately enhance transparency and risk management of financial institutions.

In May 2024, European Central Bank (ECB) released its final guide on effective risk data aggregation and risk reporting, accompanied by a feedback statement on the consultation that shaped the guide. This document aims to address persistent challenges in risk data management within financial institutions, emphasising the importance of accurate and comprehensive data for sound decision-making and regulatory compliance.

In May 2023, the PRA has issued a Supervisory Statement (SS1/23) as part of a Policy Statement (PS 6/23) which also incudes feedback on the consultation paper (CP) 6/22 - Model Risk Management Principles for Banks. The policy becomes effective on Friday, 17 May 2024.

In 2023, the ECB Banking Supervision conducted two separate stress test exercises involving euro area's significant institutions. A total of 57 institutions were directly supervised in the EU-wide test coordinated with other financial authorities like the European Banking Authority (EBA), while 41 additional significant institutions were part of a parallel stress test overseen by the ECB. The results published on the 28th July 2023

Climate change is not just an environmental issue; it's a financial one too. The Financial Stability Board (FSB) has been at the forefront of addressing the financial risks associated with climate change. Their 2023 progress report on the "FSB Roadmap for Addressing Financial Risks from Climate Change" provides valuable insights into the progress made and the challenges ahead.