EIB criticises green reporting rules under Taxonomy Regulation
15.1.2025
Question for written answer E-000151/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Auke Zijlstra (PfE)
According to a confidential email from Jean-Christophe Laloux, EIB head of Operations, the EIB’s reputation would be severely at risk if the European taxonomy rules were to come into force this year[1]. The new European classification would mean that the bulk of investments that the EIB itself currently classifies as green could no longer qualify as green. This would cause the bank’s ‘green asset ratio’ to nosedive from 50 % to 1%. Laloux suggests delaying the deadline for complying with green reporting rules and telling the Commission exactly what needs to be changed in the taxonomy rules. Furthermore, the EIB expresses concern about the reporting burden placed on SMEs in general.
- 1.Does the Commission share Mr Laloux’s concern that the taxonomy rules pose a high risk of reputational damage to investment banks, specifically due to the EU’s more stringent calculation of the ‘green asset ratio’ compared to the method used by the banks themselves?
- 2.Does the Commission intend to delay and/or adjust the deadline for compliance with the green reporting rules ensuing from the Taxonomy Regulation?
- 3.How high does the Commission estimate the costs for banks and SMEs to be of compliance with the reporting rules under the Taxonomy Regulation?
Submitted: 15.1.2025
- [1] https://www.ft.com/content/12399810-a782-465b-8378-5099252306a5?emailId=8b769362-3acd-4d2f-8cd4-cd7233607dfd&segmentId=22011ee7-896a-8c4c-22a0-7603348b7f22 .