Question for written answer E-002334/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Lídia Pereira (PPE), José Manuel Fernandes (PPE), Maria da Graça Carvalho (PPE)
Subject: Loans under moratoria and associated risks in Europe
Bank loans under moratoria are important tools to safeguard the liquidity of household budgets and businesses’ cash-flow. The economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the use of moratoria in a number of Member States to support the economy.
The situation in Europe is very diverse, with some Member States using no moratoria and others with a fairly high number of loans under moratoria, such as in the case of Portugal. Even so, EUR 320 billion-worth in loans under moratoria were floating around Europe at the end of 2020, whereas in the third quarter this figure stood at EUR 590 billion. However, according to the European Banking Authority, outstanding loans are more risky(1). In Portugal, for example, there has been no such decrease and many loans are still under moratoria(2).
Given the high number of loans under moratoria and the risk of converting loans into bad loans:
1. How does the Commission assess the current state of loans under moratoria in Europe, their risk profile and their impact on the banking sector?
2. Does it anticipate any initiatives in this area in the context of macroeconomic policies?
Supporter(3)
(1) https://www.eba.europa.eu/eba-points-rising-share-loans-show-significant-increase-credit-risk-stage-2-loans
(2) https://www.bportugal.pt/comunicado/emprestimos-em-moratoria-atingiram-456-milhoes-de-euros-no-final-de-fevereiro
(3) This question is supported by a Member other than the authors: Cláudia Monteiro de Aguiar (PPE)