EN C 22/6 Official Journal of the European Union 22 1 2020 INTRODUCTION 1 The Single Resolution Mechanism (SRM) was established by Regulation (EU) No 806/2014 (SRM Regulation) and is the second pillar of the EUŐs Banking Union The purpose of the SRM is to manage the resolution of a failing bank with the aim of minimising the negative impact on the real economy and recourse to public funds The Single Resolution Board (SRB) is the key player within this mechanism and is the resolution authority for all significant banks (1) and less significant cross-border banking groups established in the euro area (2) The SRB became an independent agency on 1 January 2015 and has had full resolution powers since 1 January 2016 2 The process leading to the decision to place a bank under resolution involves the European Central Bank, the SRB, the European Commission and, potentially, the Council of the EU (3) Under certain conditions, the Single Resolution Fund (SRF, see paragraph 38) may be used to support the resolution The SRB and the SRF are entirely financed by the banking sector 3 Article 92(4) of the SRM Regulation specifically requires the ECA to draw up a report on any contingent liabilities (whether for the SRB, the Council, the Commission or otherwise) arising as a result of the performance by the SRB, the Council or the Commission of their tasks under this Regulation The ECA may request any information relevant for performing its task (4) from each of these bodies AUDIT SCOPE AND APPROACH Audit scope 4 This audit report deals exclusively with contingent liabilities arising as a result of the performance by the SRB, the Council and the Commission of their tasks under the SRM Regulation (5) It covers the financial year 2018 In addition to contingent liabilities arising during 2018, the accounting officer is obliged to take into account any relevant information obtained up to the date of presentation of the final accounts (6) Thus, adjustments or additional disclosures may be required for a true and fair presentation of the accounts and may include information obtained in the course of 2019 The 2018 accounts were presented: Ń by the Single Resolution Board on 21 June 2019; Ń by the European Commission on 21 June 2019; Ń by the Council of the European Union on 26 June 2019 5 The ECA has also audited the European Commission and the Council (7) annual accounts for the financial year 2018, as well as those of the SRB (8), which are presented in other reports Audit approach 6 Contingent liabilities must be disclosed in the annual accounts as laid down in EU Accounting Rule 10, which is based on International Public Sector Accounting Standard 19 on provisions, contingent assets and contingent liabilities (see Box 1) In essence, contingent liabilities and provisions reflect financial risk to which the entity is exposed (1) The term ÔbankŐ in this report refers to entities as defined under Article 2 of the SRM Regulation (2) A list of banks for which the SRB is the resolution authority can be found at: https://srb europa eu/en/content/banks-under-srbs-remit (3) Article 18 of the SRM Regulation (4) Article 92(8) of the SRM Regulation (5) Article 92(4) SRM Regulation (6) Article 98(4) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/715 (7) ECA Annual reports concerning the financial year 2018 (8) Annual report on EU agencies for the financial year 2018, Section 3 35 
SV C 22/6 Europeiska unionens officiella tidning 22.1.2020 INLEDNING 1. Den gemensamma resolutionsmekanismen (SRM) inrttades genom frordning (EU) nr 806/2014 och r den andra pelaren i EU:s bankunion.