WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1905/97 by Amedeo AMADEO to the Commission. Activities of insurance intermediaries
Date: 1997-06-04
Institutions: AMADEO, European Parliament
Subjects: EU law - national law, access to a profession, approximation of laws, consumer protection, drafting of EU law, freedom to provide services, insurance occupation, right of establishment, single market













EUR-Lex - 91997E1905 - EN






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91997E1905

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1905/97 by Amedeo AMADEO to the Commission. Activities of insurance intermediaries  


Official Journal C 060 , 25/02/1998 P. 0065 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-1905/97 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (4 June 1997)Subject: Activities of insurance intermediariesNeither the 1976 directive on the activities of insurance brokers and intermediaries, nor the 1991 recommendation on insurance intermediaries led to the effective regulation of the activities of this type of operator. Unless action is taken swiftly, the creation of a single market in the insurance sector will remain an illusion, both for consumers and for the industry.Will the Commission adopt an EU directive without delay harmonizing existing legislation in the different Member States so that any insurance intermediary, operating legally in his or her country of origin, can easily operate in another EU Member State, as is the case for insurance companies (which benefit from the single licence system)?Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (1 July 1997)Given the need for proper professional advice and the importance of purchasing correct insurance cover, the Commission has always recognised the valuable role played by insurance intermediaries in the distribution of insurance products in the Member States.The Honourable Member is correct to point out that the Council Directive 77/921/EEC of 13 December 1997 on measures to facilitate the effective exercise of freedom of establishment and freedom to provide services in respect of the activities of insurance agents and brokers (ex ISIC Groups 630), and, in particular, transitional measures in respect of those activities ((OJ L 26, 31.1.1977. )) and the Recommendation 92/48/EEC on insurance intermediaries ((OJ L 19, 28.1.1992. )) regulate the activities of insurance intermediaries in the single market. Although the latter measure, as a recommendation, has no binding character on Member States, at the time of its adoption the Commission indicated that, after the expiry of the three year period foreseen in the recommendation, it would examine the progress of Member States in bringing their national legislation into line with the recommendation. If such progress were insufficient the Commission would consider whether binding measures were required.The Commission is aware of the difficulties sometimes encountered by insurance intermediaries when operating on a cross-border basis. It has therefore decided to address the issues. In the Commission communication ((Communication from Mr Monti and Mrs Bonino to the Commission 'Financial services: Enhancing consumer confidence'. The be adopted on 25 June 1997, COM(97). )) 'Financial services: enhancing consumer confidence', the Commission specifically undertakes to review the 1976 Directive and the extent of implementation of the principles set out in the 1991 Recommendation, before the middle of 1998. The Commission will consider whether further steps are needed, including the possibility of widening the scope of the Directive in respect of the access and exercise of the profession.