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Regulation (EU) 2023/2631 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 November 2023 on European Green Bonds and optional disclosures for bonds marketed as environmentally sustainable and for sustainability-linked bonds (Text with EEA relevance)

Type Regulation
Publication 2023-11-30
Last updated 2024-01-09
State In force
Department Council of the European Union, European Parliament
Source EUR-Lex
articles 73
Reform history JSON API

TITLE I SUBJECT MATTER AND DEFINITIONS

Article 1

Subject matter

This Regulation:

  • (a) lays down uniform requirements for issuers of bonds who wish to use the designation ‘European Green Bond’ or ‘EuGB’ for their bonds that are made available to investors in the Union;
  • (b) establishes a system to register and supervise external reviewers of European Green Bonds; and
  • (c) provides optional disclosure templates for bonds marketed as environmentally sustainable and for sustainability-linked bonds in the Union.

Article 2

Definitions

For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions apply:

  • (1) ‘issuer’ means an entity that issues bonds;
  • (2) ‘sovereign’ means an entity referred to in Article 1(2), point (b), of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129;
  • (3) ‘taxonomy requirements’ means the criteria for environmentally sustainable economic activities set out in Article 3 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852;
  • (4) ‘regulated market’ means a regulated market as defined in Article 4(1), point (21), of Directive 2014/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council (14);
  • (5) ‘bond marketed as environmentally sustainable’ means a bond whose issuer provides investors with a commitment or any form of pre-contractual claim that the bond proceeds are allocated to economic activities that contribute to an environmental objective;
  • (6) ‘sustainability-linked bond’ means a bond whose financial or structural characteristics vary depending on the achievement by the issuer of predefined environmental sustainability objectives;
  • (7) ‘home Member State’ means a home Member State as defined in Article 2, point (m), of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129;
  • (8) ‘host Member State’ means a host Member State as defined in Article 2, point (n), of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129;
  • (9) ‘financial asset’ means debt or equity, or a combination thereof;
  • (10) ‘made available to investors in the Union’ means:
  • (a) an offer to the public within the Union; or
  • (b) the admission to trading of bonds on a trading venue located in the Union;
  • (11) ‘offer to the public’ means an offer of securities to the public as defined in Article 2, point (d), of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129;
  • (12) ‘trading venue’ means a trading venue as defined in Article 4(1), point (24), of Directive 2014/65/EU;
  • (13) ‘CapEx plan’ means a CapEx plan as provided for in point 1.1.2.2, point (b), and point 1.1.3.2, point (b), of Annex I to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2178;
  • (14) ‘issuance costs’ means costs that are directly related to the issuance of bonds, including costs incurred for professional advice, legal services, rating, external review, underwriting and placement;
  • (15) ‘technical screening criteria’ means the technical screening criteria set out in the delegated acts adopted pursuant to Article 10(3), 11(3), 12(2), 13(2), 14(2) or 15(2) of Regulation (EU) 2020/852;
  • (16) ‘transitional economic activity’ means an economic activity that complies with Article 10(2) of Regulation (EU) 2020/852;
  • (17) ‘enabling economic activity’ means an economic activity that complies with Article 16 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852;
  • (18) ‘securitisation’ means securitisation as defined in Article 2, point (1), of Regulation (EU) 2017/2402;
  • (19) ‘originator’ means an originator as defined in Article 2, point (3), of Regulation (EU) 2017/2402;
  • (20) ‘securitisation special purpose entity’ or ‘SSPE’ means a securitisation special purpose entity or SSPE as defined in Article 2, point (2), of Regulation (EU) 2017/2402;
  • (21) ‘securitised exposure’ means an exposure included in a securitisation;
  • (22) ‘securitisation bond’ means a bond issued by an SSPE in accordance with Title II, Chapter 3;
  • (23) ‘synthetic securitisation’ means a synthetic securitisation as defined in Article 2, point (10), of Regulation (EU) 2017/2402;
  • (24) ‘fossil fuel’ mean fossil fuel as defined in Article 2, point (62), of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999.

TITLE II REQUIREMENTS FOR THE USE OF THE DESIGNATION ‘EUROPEAN GREEN BOND’ OR ‘EUGB’

Article 3

Designation ‘European Green Bond’ or ‘EuGB’

The designation ‘European Green Bond’ or ‘EuGB’ shall be used only for bonds that comply with the requirements set out in this Title.

Article 4

Use of the proceeds of European Green Bonds
1.

Before the maturity of a European Green Bond, the proceeds of such a bond shall be allocated in full, in accordance with the taxonomy requirements, to one or more of the following categories (the ‘gradual approach’):

  • (a) fixed assets that are not financial assets;
  • (b) capital expenditure that falls under point 1.1.2.2. of Annex I to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2178;
  • (c) operating expenditure that falls under point 1.1.3.2. of Annex I to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2178 and was incurred no more than three years before the issuance of the European Green Bond;
  • (d) financial assets that were created no more than five years after the issuance of the European Green Bond;
  • (e) assets and expenditure of households.

By way of derogation from the first subparagraph, issuers may deduct issuance costs from the proceeds of the European Green Bond before allocating those proceeds.

2.

By way of derogation from paragraph 1, issuers may allocate proceeds from one or more outstanding European Green Bonds to a portfolio of fixed assets or financial assets in accordance with the taxonomy requirements (the ‘portfolio approach’).

Where issuers allocate proceeds in accordance with the first subparagraph of this paragraph, they shall demonstrate in the allocation reports referred to in Article 11 that the total value of the assets referred to in the first subparagraph of this paragraph in their portfolio exceeds the total value of their portfolio of outstanding European Green Bonds.

3.

By way of derogation from paragraph 1, a sovereign or a third-country issuer which is a State, a member of a federation in the case of a federal State, or a regional or municipal entity, may also allocate the proceeds of European Green Bonds it has issued to tax relief, subsidies, intermediate consumption, current transfers within a general government, current international cooperation or other types of public expenditure, provided that the proceeds are allocated in accordance with the taxonomy requirements.

Article 5

Flexibility in the use of the proceeds of European Green Bonds
1.

By way of derogation from Article 4(1), issuers may allocate up to 15 % of the proceeds of a European Green Bond to economic activities that comply with the taxonomy requirements, with the exception of the technical screening criteria, provided that those activities are:

  • (a) economic activities in respect of which no technical screening criteria have entered into force by the date of issuance of the European Green Bond; or
  • (b) activities in the context of international support reported in accordance with internationally agreed guidelines, criteria and reporting cycles, including climate financing reported to the Commission under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change as referred to in Article 19(3) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999, and official development assistance reported to the Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.
2.

Where an issuer allocates the proceeds of a European Green Bond in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Article, it shall describe in the European Green Bond factsheet referred to in Article 10 the activities concerned and the estimated percentage of the proceeds intended to finance such activities as a total and also per activity.

3.

Where an issuer allocates the proceeds of a European Green Bond to economic activities referred to in paragraph 1, point (a), it shall ensure that those activities meet, where applicable, the generic criteria for ‘do no significant harm’ set out in Appendices A, B, C and D to Annex I to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2139.

4.

Where an issuer allocates the proceeds of a European Green Bond to the activities referred to in paragraph 1, point (b), it shall on a best efforts basis ensure that those activities meet the relevant technical screening criteria.

Article 6

Financial assets
1.

The proceeds of financial assets shall be allocated only to the uses set out in Article 4(1), or, where applicable, to the uses set out in Article 4(2) and (3).

2.

The proceeds of financial assets may be allocated to other, subsequent financial assets, provided that:

  • (a) there are not more than three subsequent financial assets in succession;
  • (b) the proceeds from the financial assets last in the sequence are allocated to the uses set out in Article 4(1), first subparagraph, point (a), (b), (c) or (e), or, where applicable, to the uses set out in Article 4(3); and
  • (c) the issuer ensures that it is possible for external reviewers to review effectively the final allocation of proceeds.

Article 7

CapEx plans
1.

Where the uses of proceeds referred to in Article 4(1), first subparagraph, points (b) and (c), relate to economic activities that will meet the taxonomy requirements, the issuer shall publish a CapEx plan.

2.

The CapEx plan shall specify a deadline, occurring before the European Green Bond reaches maturity, by which all the capital and operating expenditure funded by the European Green Bond are to be taxonomy aligned.

3.

The issuer shall, within 60 days of the deadline specified in the CapEx plan, obtain an assessment from an external reviewer of the taxonomy alignment of the capital and operating expenditure that are included in that CapEx plan and funded by the proceeds of the European Green Bond.

Article 8

Application of the technical screening criteria and grandfathering
1.

Where issuers allocate the proceeds of European Green Bonds to the uses set out in Article 4(1) and (3), they shall ensure that:

  • (a) those proceeds are allocated in alignment with the technical screening criteria applicable at the time of issuance of the bond;
  • (b) where technical screening criteria are amended after the issuance of the bond, the following proceeds be allocated in alignment with the amended technical screening criteria no later than seven years after the date of application of the amended criteria:
  • (i) proceeds that are not yet allocated; and
  • (ii) proceeds that are covered by a CapEx plan in accordance with Article 7, that have not yet met the taxonomy requirements.
2.

Where issuers allocate proceeds in accordance with the portfolio approach, issuers shall include in their portfolio only those assets whose underlying economic activity is aligned with any technical screening criteria which were applicable at any point during the seven years prior to the date of publication of the allocation report.

3.

Where the proceeds of an outstanding bond are at risk of not being aligned with paragraph 1, point (b)(ii), the issuer shall draw up, submit to external review by an external reviewer and publish a plan for aligning them to the extent possible with the amended technical screening criteria and for mitigating to the extent possible the negative consequences of the lack of full alignment with the amended technical screening criteria. The issuer shall publish that plan before expiry of the period set out in paragraph 1, point (b).

4.

Alignment with the relevant technical screening criteria shall be demonstrated in the allocation report referred to in Article 11.

Article 9

Exclusion of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes

The competent authorities referred to in Article 44(1) of this Regulation shall not approve a prospectus issued by a jurisdiction listed in Annex I to the Council conclusions on the revised EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes, by a high-risk country listed in the Annex to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1675, or by issuers established in those jurisdictions or countries, where that prospectus refers to this Regulation or to the designation ‘European Green Bond’ or ‘EuGB’.

CHAPTER 2 Transparency and external review requirements

Article 10

European Green Bond factsheet and pre-issuance review
1.

Prior to issuing a European Green Bond, issuers shall:

  • (a) complete the European Green Bond factsheet set out in Annex I;
  • (b) ensure that the completed European Green Bond factsheet has been subject to a pre-issuance review with a positive opinion by an external reviewer.
2.

The European Green Bond factsheet referred to in paragraph 1 may relate to more than one European Green Bond issuance.

3.

The pre-issuance review referred to in paragraph 1, point (b), shall contain:

  • (a) an assessment of whether the issuer has completed the European Green Bond factsheet in accordance with Articles 4 to 8 and Annex I; and
  • (b) the elements set out in Annex IV.

Article 11

Allocation reports and post-issuance review of allocation reports
1.

For every 12-month period until the date of full allocation of the proceeds of their European Green Bond and, where applicable, until the completion of the CapEx plan, issuers of European Green Bonds shall draw up a European Green Bond allocation report using the template set out in Annex II, demonstrating that the proceeds of the European Green Bond, from its issuance date until the end of the period referred to in the report, have been allocated in accordance with Articles 4 to 8.

The first 12-month period shall begin on the issuance date.

By way of derogation from the second subparagraph, issuers may set the end date of the first reporting period as the last day of the calendar year or of the financial year of issuance.

2.

The allocation reports shall contain, where applicable, information on the progress made in the implementation of the CapEx plan.

Issuers shall, in their annual allocation reports, publish the reasons for any delay or deviation that has a significant impact on the implementation of the CapEx plan.

3.

The allocation reports may relate to more than one issuance of European Green Bonds.

4.

Issuers of European Green Bonds shall obtain a post-issuance review by an external reviewer of the allocation report drawn up after the full allocation of the proceeds of the European Green Bond.

5.

Where, following the publication of the allocation report in accordance with Article 15(1), point (d), the allocation of proceeds is corrected, the issuers of the European Green Bonds concerned shall amend the allocation report and obtain a post-issuance review by an external reviewer of that amended allocation report, without undue delay.

6.

By way of derogation from paragraph 4, every allocation report by issuers that allocate the proceeds of one or more European Green Bonds to a portfolio of assets shall be subject to a post-issuance review by an external reviewer. The external reviewer shall pay particular attention to those assets that were not included in any previously published allocation report.

Such post-issuance review shall not be required where, during the period covered by the allocation report, no change in allocation was made to the portfolio of assets and no asset in the portfolio was changed or was itself subject to a change in allocation, compared to the period covered by the previous allocation report. In such cases, a statement regarding the absence of post-issuance review due to the absence of such changes shall be included in the corresponding allocation report.

7.

Issuers of European Green Bonds shall ensure that the annual allocation reports and, where applicable, any post-issuance review required by this Article are made public within 270 days of the end of every 12-month period referred to in paragraph 1. Within that period of 270 days, issuers shall ensure that the external reviewer has at least 90 days to review an allocation report.

8.

The post-issuance review referred to in paragraphs 4, 5 and 6 of this Article shall contain the following:

  • (a) an assessment of whether the issuer has allocated the bond proceeds in accordance with Articles 4 to 8, on the basis of the information provided to the external reviewer;
  • (b) an assessment of whether the issuer has allocated the bond proceeds as set out in the European Green Bond factsheet referred to in Article 10, on the basis of the information provided to the external reviewer;
  • (c) the elements set out in Annex IV.

Article 12

European Green Bond impact report
1.

Issuers of European Green Bonds shall, after the full allocation of the proceeds and at least once during the lifetime of those bonds, draw up and make public a European Green Bond impact report on the environmental impact of the use of the bond proceeds, using the template set out in Annex III.

2.

The European Green Bond impact report may relate to more than one issuance of European Green Bonds.

3.

Issuers of European Green Bonds may seek a review by an external reviewer of the impact report. Such impact report reviews shall contain the following:

  • (a) an assessment of whether the bond issuance aligns with the broader environmental strategy of the issuer;
  • (b) an assessment of the indicated environmental impact of the bond proceeds;
  • (c) the elements set out in Annex IV.

Article 13

Sovereign issuers
1.

A sovereign shall obtain post-issuance reviews of its European Green Bonds from:

  • (a) an external reviewer; or
  • (b) an external reviewer and a State auditor.
2.

Where a sovereign obtains a post-issuance review from an external reviewer and a State auditor, the State auditor shall review the allocation of the bond proceeds and the external reviewer shall ascertain whether the economic activities funded through the bond align with the taxonomy requirements.

Article 14

Prospectus for European Green Bonds
1.

In order to use the designation ‘European Green Bond’ or ‘EuGB’, the issuer shall publish a prospectus pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 that meets the following conditions:

  • (a) the bonds are designated as ‘European Green Bond’ or ‘EuGB’ throughout the prospectus;
  • (b) the prospectus states that the European Green Bond is issued in accordance with this Regulation, in the section of the prospectus containing the information about the use of proceeds.
2.

By way of derogation from paragraph 1, the designation ‘European Green Bond’ or ‘EuGB’ may be used for bonds covered by Article 1(2), points (b) and (d), of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129.

3.

For the purposes of this Regulation, the term ‘regulated information’ referred to in Article 19(1), point (c), of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, shall be construed as including the information contained in the European Green Bond factsheet referred to in Article 10 of this Regulation.

4.

Where a prospectus is published pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, that prospectus shall include a summary of the CapEx plan. That summary shall list the projects carried out by the issuer that are the most significant, measured as a share of the total capital expenditure covered by the CapEx plan, and shall specify the type, sector, location and expected finalisation year of those projects.

Article 15

Publication on the issuer’s website and notification to ESMA and competent authorities
1.

Issuers of European Green Bonds shall publish on their websites and make available, free of charge and in accordance with Article 21(3) and (4) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, until at least 12 months have elapsed after the maturity of those bonds, the following, including any amendments or corrections thereto:

  • (a) before the bond is issued, the completed European Green Bond factsheet referred to in Article 10 of this Regulation;
  • (b) before the bond is issued, the pre-issuance review related to the European Green Bond factsheet referred to in Article 10 of this Regulation;
  • (c) before the bond is issued, a link to the website where the prospectus can be consulted in cases where a prospectus is published pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2017/1129;
  • (d) without undue delay after they are drawn up in accordance with Article 11(1) of this Regulation, the European Green Bond allocation reports;
  • (e) without undue delay after they are obtained, the post-issuance reviews of the European Green Bond allocation reports referred to in Article 11 of this Regulation;
  • (f) without undue delay after it is drawn up in accordance with Article 12 of this Regulation, the European Green Bond impact report;
  • (g) where applicable, the CapEx plan;
  • (h) where applicable, the impact report review referred to in Article 12(3) of this Regulation.

By way of derogation from the first subparagraph, point (d), where a post-issuance review of a European Green Bond allocation report takes place, that allocation report shall be published without undue delay after the post-issuance review is obtained.

2.

The information contained in the documents referred to in paragraph 1, first subparagraph, points (a), (d) and (f), shall be provided, at the choice of the issuer, either in a language customary in the sphere of international finance, or:

  • (a) where the European Green Bonds are offered to the public or are admitted to trading in only one Member State, in a language accepted by the competent authority of that Member State;
  • (b) where the European Green Bonds are offered to the public or are admitted to trading in two or more Member States, in a language accepted by the competent authority of each of those Member States.
3.

By way of derogation from paragraph 2 of this Article, where a prospectus for the European Green Bond is to be published pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, the information contained in the documents referred to in paragraph 1, first subparagraph, points (a), (d) and (f), of this Article shall be provided in the language or languages of that prospectus.

4.

Where applicable, issuers shall notify the competent authorities referred to in Article 44(1) and (2), of the publication of each of the documents referred to in paragraph 1, first subparagraph, of this Article without undue delay after each publication.

5.

Issuers shall notify ESMA of the publication of all documents referred to in paragraph 1, first subparagraph, within 30 days of their publication.

Article 15a

Accessibility of information on the European single access point
1.

From 10 January 2030, when making public any of the following:

  • (a) the factsheet, the pre-issuance review related to the factsheet, annual allocation reports, the post-issuance review related to one or several annual allocation reports, the impact report, the impact report review referred to in Article 15;
  • (b) the pre-issuance disclosures referred to in Article 20, and the periodic post-issuance disclosures referred to in Article 21; the issuer shall submit that information at the same time to the relevant collection body referred to in paragraph 3 or 4 of this Article for the purpose of making it accessible on the European single access point (ESAP) established under Regulation (EU) 2023/2859 of the European Parliament and of the Council (15).

That information shall comply with the following requirements:

  • (a) be submitted in a data extractable format as defined in Article 2, point (3), of Regulation (EU) 2023/2859 or, where required by Union law, in a machine-readable format, as defined in Article 2, point (4), of Regulation (EU) 2023/2859;
  • (b) be accompanied by the following metadata:
  • (i) all the names of the issuer to which the information relates;
  • (ii) the legal entity identifier of the issuer, as specified pursuant to Article 7(4), point (b), of Regulation (EU) 2023/2859;
  • (iii) the size of the issuer by category, as specified pursuant to Article 7(4), point (d), of that Regulation;
  • (iv) the type of information, as classified pursuant to Article 7(4), point (c), of that Regulation;
  • (v) an indication of whether the information contains personal data.
2.

For the purposes of paragraph 1, second subparagraph, point (b)(ii), the issuer shall obtain a legal entity identifier.

3.

For the purpose of making the information referred to in paragraph 1, first subparagraph, point (a), of this Article accessible on ESAP, the collection body as defined in Article 2, point (2), of Regulation (EU) 2023/2859 shall be ESMA.

4.

By 9 January 2030, for the purpose of making the information referred to in paragraph 1, first subparagraph, point (b), of this Article accessible on ESAP, Member States shall designate at least one collection body as defined in Article 2, point (2), of Regulation (EU) 2023/2859 and notify ESMA thereof.

5.

For the purpose of ensuring the efficient collection and management of information submitted in accordance with paragraph 1, ESMA shall develop draft implementing technical standards to specify:

  • (a) any other metadata to accompany the information;
  • (b) the structuring of data in the information;
  • (c) for which information a machine-readable format is required and, in such cases, which machine-readable format is to be used.

For the purposes of point (c), ESMA shall assess the advantages and disadvantages of different machine-readable formats and conduct appropriate field tests.

ESMA shall submit those draft implementing technical standards to the Commission.

Power is conferred on the Commission to adopt the implementing technical standards referred to in the first subparagraph of this paragraph in accordance with Article 15 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010.

6.

Where necessary, ESMA shall adopt guidelines for entities to ensure that the metadata submitted in accordance with paragraph 5, first subparagraph, point (a), are correct.

CHAPTER 3 Conditions for the use of the designation ‘European Green Bond’ or ‘EuGB’ in respect of securitisation bonds

Article 16

Application of the designation ‘European Green Bond’ or ‘EuGB’ to securitisation bonds
1.

In the case of a securitisation bond designated as ‘European Green Bond’ or ‘EuGB’:

  • (a) references in this Regulation to ‘issuer’ shall be construed as references to ‘originator’;
  • (b) references in Article 4 to ‘proceeds’ shall be construed as references to the proceeds obtained by the originator from selling the securitised exposures to the SSPE.
2.

By way of derogation from paragraph 1, point (a), references to ‘issuer’ in Articles 9 and 15, Article 44(3), Article 45(1), Article 48 and Article 49(1) shall be construed as references to ‘originator’ or to ‘SSPE’ and references to ‘issuer’ in Article 14(1) and Article 44(1) shall be construed as references to ‘SSPE’.

3.

Where the securitised exposures are created by multiple originators, the following shall apply:

  • (a) the requirements for the use of proceeds set out in Articles 4 to 8 shall be fulfilled by each originator on a pro rata basis, with reference to its share in the pool of the securitised exposures;
  • (b) the requirements set out in Articles 10, 11, 12, 15, 18 and 19 shall be fulfilled by the originators jointly, clearly indicating the extent to which each originator has complied with its respective requirements;
  • (c) the requirements to obtain an external review set out in Articles 10 and 11 shall be fulfilled by the originators jointly;
  • (d) where multiple originators decide to seek an impact report review referred to in Article 12(3), they shall jointly comply with the requirements thereof.

Article 17

Exclusion of bonds issued for the purpose of synthetic securitisation

Bonds issued for the purpose of synthetic securitisation shall not be eligible to use the designation ‘European Green Bond’ or ‘EuGB’.

Article 18

Exclusions of certain securitised exposures
1.

For the purposes of this Regulation, securitised exposures shall not comprise exposures financing the exploration, mining, extraction, production, processing, storage, refining or distribution, including transportation, and trade of fossil fuels.

2.

Exposures financing electricity generation from fossil fuels, co-generation of heat/cool and power from fossil fuels, or production of heat/cool from fossil fuels, where the activity meets the criteria for ‘do no significant harm’ set out in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2139, may be included in the pool of securitised exposures for the purposes of this Regulation.

3.

The originator shall explain the extent to which paragraph 1 of this Article has been complied with in the European Green Bond factsheet referred to in Article 10.

4.

Upon the request of the competent authority referred to in Article 44, the originator shall demonstrate compliance with paragraph 1 of this Article.

Article 19

Additional disclosure requirements in the case of securitisation
1.

In the case of a securitisation bond designated as ‘European Green Bond’ or ‘EuGB’, the prospectus published pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 shall include a statement that the bond is a securitisation bond and that the originator is responsible for fulfilling the commitments undertaken in the prospectus regarding the use of proceeds.

2.

In order to provide transparency about the environmental characteristics of the securitised exposures, information about the following shall be included in the prospectus on a best efforts basis and to the best of the originator’s ability, on the basis of the available data:

  • (a) the share of securitised exposures in the pool of securitised exposures, that finance economic activities which are taxonomy-eligible economic activities as defined in Article 1, point (5), of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2178;
  • (b) per relevant economic activity listed in delegated acts adopted pursuant to Article 10(3), 11(3), 12(2), 13(2), 14(2) or 15(2) of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, in the pool of taxonomy-eligible exposures referred to in point (a) of this paragraph, the share of taxonomy-aligned securitised exposures;
  • (c) per relevant economic activity listed in delegated acts adopted pursuant to Article 10(3), 11(3), 12(2), 13(2), 14(2) or 15(2) of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, in the pool of taxonomy-eligible exposures referred to in point (a) of this paragraph, the share of securitised exposures that fail to meet the ‘do no significant harm’ objectives as referred to in Article 3, point (b), of Regulation (EU) 2020/852.
3.

The information included in the prospectus in accordance with paragraph 2 of this Article shall also be included in the European Green Bond factsheet referred to in Article 10 and, on the basis of yearly updates to be carried out by the originator, in the European Green Bond allocation report referred to in Article 11.

TITLE III OPTIONAL DISCLOSURE TEMPLATES FOR BONDS MARKETED AS ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE AND FOR SUSTAINABILITY-LINKED BONDS

Article 20

Pre-issuance disclosures for issuers of bonds marketed as environmentally sustainable or of sustainability-linked bonds
1.

By 21 December 2024, the Commission shall publish guidelines establishing templates for voluntary pre-issuance disclosures for issuers of bonds marketed as environmentally sustainable and of sustainability-linked bonds.

2.

The templates referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall indicate whether the issuer intends to use an external reviewer and the common template for periodic disclosures referred to in Article 21.

3.

For issuers of bonds marketed as environmentally sustainable, the templates referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall include, in addition to the indication referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article, at least the following elements, which shall reflect the issuer’s intent based on available data at the time of the bond issuance:

  • (a) where the issuer is subject to the obligation to publish plans pursuant to Article 19a(2), point (a)(iii), or Article 29a(2), point (a)(iii), of Directive 2013/34/EU, or where the issuer voluntarily published such plans, the manner in which bond proceeds are intended to contribute to the implementation of those plans;
  • (b) where the issuer is subject to the obligation to disclose information pursuant to Article 8 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, the manner in which bond proceeds are expected to contribute to the issuer’s taxonomy-aligned turnover, capital expenditure and operating expenditure;
  • (c) the minimum proportion of bond proceeds to be used for activities that are environmentally sustainable under Article 3 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852.
4.

For issuers of sustainability-linked bonds, the templates referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall include, in addition to the indication referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article, at least the following elements, which shall reflect the issuer’s intent based on available data at the time of the bond issuance:

  • (a) the rationale, level of ambition, materiality and calculation methodology of the key performance indicators set by the issuer;
  • (b) where the issuer is subject to an obligation to publish plans pursuant to Article 19a(2), point (a)(iii), or Article 29a(2), point (a)(iii), of Directive 2013/34/EU, or where the issuer voluntarily published such plans, the manner in which the bond proceeds are intended to contribute to the implementation of those plans;
  • (c) where relevant, the manner in which the bond is linked to the issuer’s taxonomy-aligned turnover, capital expenditure and operating expenditure by applying Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2178;
  • (d) a description of the bond structure, including the coupon adjustment mechanism.

Article 21

Periodic post-issuance disclosures for issuers of bonds marketed as environmentally sustainable or of sustainability-linked bonds
1.

Issuers of bonds marketed as environmentally sustainable and of sustainability-linked bonds may make periodic disclosures of post-issuance information by means of common templates.

Where an issuer makes periodic disclosures of post-issuance information in accordance with the first subparagraph of this paragraph, Article 44 shall apply until the maturity of the bond.

2.

For an issuer of bonds marketed as environmentally sustainable, the templates referred to in paragraph 1 shall include at least the following elements:

  • (a) where the issuer is subject to an obligation to publish plans pursuant to Article 19a(2), point (a)(iii), or, Article 29a(2), point (a)(iii), of Directive 2013/34/EU, or where the issuer voluntarily published such plans, the manner in which the bond proceeds contribute to the implementation of those plans;
  • (b) where the issuer is subject to the obligation to disclose information pursuant to Article 8 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852, the manner in which the bond proceeds contribute to the issuer’s taxonomy-aligned turnover, capital expenditure and operating expenditure;
  • (c) the minimum proportion of bond proceeds that are used for activities that are environmentally sustainable under Article 3 of Regulation (EU) 2020/852.
3.

For an issuer of sustainability-linked bonds, the templates referred to in paragraph 1 shall include at least the following elements:

  • (a) the rationale, level of ambition, materiality, and calculation methodology of the key performance indicators set by the issuer;
  • (b) where the issuer is subject to an obligation to publish plans pursuant to Article 19a(2), point (a)(iii), or Article 29a(2), point (a)(iii), of Directive 2013/34/EU, or where the issuer voluntarily published such plans, the manner in which the bond proceeds are intended to contribute to the implementation of those plans;
  • (c) where relevant, the manner in which the bond proceeds are linked to the issuer’s taxonomy-aligned turnover, capital expenditure and operating expenditure by applying Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2178;
  • (d) a description of the bond structure, including the coupon adjustment mechanism.
4.

The Commission shall adopt a delegated act in accordance with Article 68 by 21 December 2024 to supplement this Regulation by establishing the content, methodologies and presentation of the information to be disclosed in the templates referred to in paragraphs 2 and 3 of this Article.

When drafting that delegated act, the Commission shall take into account the information on environmental, social and governance aspects that is required to be disclosed under other relevant legislative acts, including Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, in order to avoid overlapping disclosures for issuers.

When drafting that delegated act, the Commission shall also consider the information needs of financial market participants subject to the disclosure requirements of Regulation (EU) 2019/2088.

TITLE IV EXTERNAL REVIEWERS FOR EUROPEAN GREEN BONDS

CHAPTER 1 Conditions for the external review of European Green Bonds

Article 22

Registration
1.

External reviewers for European Green Bonds shall, before taking up their activities, be registered with ESMA.

2.

External reviewers registered with ESMA shall meet the conditions for registration set out in Article 23(2) at all times.

3.

State auditors shall not be subject to Titles IV and V of this Regulation.

Article 23

Application for registration as an external reviewer for European Green Bonds
1.

An application for registration as an external reviewer for European Green Bonds shall contain the following information:

  • (a) the full name of the applicant, the address of its registered office within the Union, the applicant’s website and, where available, the legal entity identifier (LEI);
  • (b) the name and contact details of a contact person;
  • (c) the legal form of the applicant;
  • (d) the ownership structure of the applicant;
  • (e) the identities of the members of the senior management and the board of the applicant with their curriculum vitae showing at least their levels of qualification, experience and training;
  • (f) the number of the analysts, employees and other persons directly involved in assessment activities, and their level of knowledge, experience and training gained prior to and while working for the applicant in the provision of external review or similar services;
  • (g) a description of the procedures and methodologies implemented by the applicant to issue reviews;
  • (h) the corporate governance arrangements and the policies or procedures implemented by the applicant to identify, eliminate or manage, and disclose in a transparent manner, any actual or potential conflicts of interest as referred to in Article 35;
  • (i) where applicable, documents and information related to any existing or planned outsourcing arrangements for activities of the external reviewer covered by this Regulation, including information on entities assuming outsourcing functions;
  • (j) where applicable, information about other activities carried out by the applicant.
2.

ESMA shall register an applicant as an external reviewer only where the following conditions are met:

  • (a) the senior management and the members of the board of the applicant:
  • (i) are of sufficiently good repute;
  • (ii) are sufficiently skilled to ensure that the applicant can perform the tasks required of external reviewers pursuant to this Regulation;
  • (iii) have sufficient professional qualifications;
  • (iv) have relevant experience in activities such as quality assurance, quality control, the performance of pre-issuance, post-issuance and impact report reviews, the provision of second party alignment opinions or financial services;
  • (b) the number of analysts, employees and other persons directly involved in the assessment activities of the applicant, and their level of knowledge, experience and training, are sufficient in order for the applicant to perform the tasks required of external reviewers pursuant to this Regulation;
  • (c) the applicant’s internal arrangements implemented to ensure compliance with Chapter 2 of this Title are appropriate and effective.

When assessing the conditions set out in the first subparagraph of this paragraph, ESMA may take into account whether the applicant, where it has provided services pursuant to Articles 69 and 70, used best efforts to comply with Articles 24 to 38. For that purpose, ESMA may require the applicant to provide it with the necessary information.

3.

Within 20 working days of receipt of an application, ESMA shall assess whether the application is complete.

Where the application is not complete, ESMA shall notify the applicant thereof and shall set a deadline by which the applicant is to provide additional information.

Where the application is complete, ESMA shall notify the applicant thereof.

4.

Within 45 working days of receipt of a complete application, ESMA shall register or refuse to register the applicant.

ESMA may extend the period referred to in the first subparagraph by 15 working days where the applicant intends to outsource certain external review activities.

5.

ESMA shall notify the applicant in writing of the registration of that applicant as an external reviewer, or of its refusal to register the applicant. A decision to register or to refuse to register an applicant shall provide reasons and shall take effect on the fifth working day after its adoption.

6.

ESMA shall develop draft regulatory technical standards specifying the criteria referred to in paragraph 2, first subparagraph, points (a) and (b).

ESMA shall submit those draft regulatory technical standards to the Commission by 21 December 2024.

Power is delegated to the Commission to supplement this Regulation by adopting the regulatory technical standards referred to in the first subparagraph of this paragraph in accordance with Articles 10 to 14 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010.

7.

ESMA shall develop draft implementing technical standards to specify the standard forms, templates and procedures for the provision of the information referred to in paragraph 1.

When developing the draft implementing technical standards, ESMA shall take into account digital means of registration.

ESMA shall submit those draft implementing technical standards to the Commission by 21 December 2024.

Power is conferred on the Commission to adopt the implementing technical standards referred to in the first subparagraph of this paragraph in accordance with Article 15 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010.

Article 24

Material changes relevant for the registration
1.

An external reviewer shall notify ESMA of any material changes in the information provided in accordance with Article 23(1) before such changes are implemented.

Where ESMA objects to such material changes, it shall inform the external reviewer within 45 working days of the notification of those changes and shall state the reasons for its objection. The changes referred to in the first subparagraph of this paragraph shall not be implemented if ESMA objects within that period.

2.

ESMA shall develop draft implementing technical standards to specify the standard forms, templates and procedures for the provision of the information referred to in paragraph 1.

When developing the draft implementing technical standards ESMA shall take into account digital means of registration.

ESMA shall submit those draft implementing technical standards to the Commission by 21 December 2025.

Power is conferred on the Commission to adopt the implementing technical standards referred to in the first subparagraph of this paragraph in accordance with Article 15 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010.

Article 25

Language regime

An applicant shall submit the application for registration referred to in Article 23 in one of the official languages of the institutions of the Union. Regulation No 1 of 15 April 1958 (16) shall apply mutatis mutandis to any other communication between ESMA and the applicant and its staff.

CHAPTER 2 Organisational requirements, processes and documents concerning governance

Article 26

General principles
1.

External reviewers shall employ appropriate systems, resources and procedures to comply with their obligations under this Regulation.

2.

External reviewers shall monitor and evaluate the adequacy and effectiveness of their systems, resources and procedures established in accordance with this Regulation at least annually and take appropriate measures to address any deficiencies in that regard.

3.

ESMA shall develop draft regulatory technical standards specifying the criteria for assessing the appropriateness, adequacy and effectiveness of the systems, resources and procedures of external reviewers referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2.

ESMA shall submit those draft regulatory technical standards to the Commission by 21 December 2025.

Power is delegated to the Commission to supplement this Regulation by adopting the regulatory technical standards referred to in the first subparagraph of this paragraph in accordance with Articles 10 to 14 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010.

Article 27

Senior management and members of the board
1.

The senior management and the members of the board of the external reviewer shall, respectively, ensure or oversee the following:

  • (a) the sound and prudent management of the external reviewer;
  • (b) the independence of assessment activities;
  • (c) that any actual or potential conflicts of interest are properly identified, eliminated or managed, and disclosed in a transparent manner;
  • (d) that the external reviewer complies with this Regulation at all times.
2.

ESMA shall develop draft regulatory technical standards specifying the criteria for assessing the sound and prudent management of the external reviewer referred to in paragraph 1, point (a), and the management of conflicts of interest referred to in paragraph 1, point (c).

ESMA shall submit those draft regulatory technical standards to the Commission by 21 December 2024.

Power is delegated to the Commission to supplement this Regulation by adopting the regulatory technical standards referred to in the first subparagraph of this paragraph in accordance with Articles 10 to 14 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010.

Article 28

Analysts and employees of external reviewers, and other persons directly involved in the assessment activities of external reviewers
1.

External reviewers shall ensure that their analysts and employees, and any other natural person whose services are placed at their disposal or under their control and who are directly involved in assessment activities, have the necessary knowledge, experience and training for the duties assigned.

2.

External reviewers shall ensure that the persons referred to in paragraph 1 are not allowed to initiate or participate in negotiations regarding fees or payments with any assessed entity, related third party or any person directly or indirectly linked to the assessed entity by control.

3.

ESMA shall develop draft regulatory technical standards specifying the criteria for assessing the appropriateness of the knowledge, experience and training of the persons referred to in paragraph 1.

ESMA shall submit those draft regulatory technical standards to the Commission by 21 December 2024.

Power is delegated to the Commission to supplement this Regulation by adopting the regulatory technical standards referred to in the first subparagraph of this paragraph in accordance with Articles 10 to 14 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010.

Article 29

Compliance function
1.

External reviewers shall establish and maintain a permanent, independent and effective compliance function for the activities performed under this Regulation.

2.

External reviewers shall ensure that the compliance function complies with the following:

  • (a) it has the authority to discharge its responsibilities properly and independently;
  • (b) it has the necessary resources and expertise and access to all relevant information;
  • (c) it does not monitor or assess its own activities;
  • (d) it is not compensated in relation to the business performance of the external reviewer.
3.

The findings of the compliance function shall be made available to a supervisory body or an administrative body of the external reviewer.

4.

ESMA shall develop draft regulatory technical standards specifying the criteria for assessing whether the compliance function has the authority to discharge its responsibilities properly and independently as referred to in paragraph 2, point (a), and the criteria for assessing whether the compliance function has the necessary resources and expertise and has access to all relevant information as referred to in paragraph 2, point (b).

ESMA shall submit those draft regulatory technical standards to the Commission by 21 December 2025.

Power is delegated to the Commission to supplement this Regulation by adopting the regulatory technical standards referred to in the first subparagraph of this paragraph in accordance with Articles 10 to 14 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010.

Article 30

Internal policies and procedures
1.

External reviewers shall adopt and implement internal due diligence policies and procedures that ensure their business interests do not impair the independence or accuracy of the assessment activities.

2.

External reviewers shall adopt and implement sound administrative and accounting procedures, internal control mechanisms and effective control and safeguard arrangements for information processing systems.

3.

ESMA shall develop draft regulatory technical standards specifying the criteria for assessing the soundness of the administrative and accounting procedures and of the internal control mechanisms as well as the effectiveness of the control and safeguard arrangements for information processing systems referred to in paragraph 2.

ESMA shall submit those draft regulatory technical standards to the Commission by 21 December 2025.

Power is delegated to the Commission to supplement this Regulation by adopting the regulatory technical standards referred to in the first subparagraph of this paragraph in accordance with Articles 10 to 14 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010.

Article 31

Assessment methodologies and information used for reviews
1.

External reviewers shall adopt and implement measures to ensure that their reviews provide an opinion based on a thorough analysis of all information available to them and that, according to their methodologies, is relevant to their analysis.

2.

External reviewers shall make publicly available the key steps taken in their reasoning to arrive at the conclusions of each of their reviews.

3.

External reviewers shall use information of sufficient quality and from reliable sources when providing reviews.

4.

ESMA shall develop draft regulatory technical standards specifying the criteria for assessing whether the information referred to in paragraph 3 is of sufficient quality and whether the sources referred to in that paragraph are reliable.

ESMA shall submit those draft regulatory technical standards to the Commission by 21 December 2025.

Power is delegated to the Commission to supplement this Regulation by adopting the regulatory technical standards referred to in the first subparagraph of this paragraph in accordance with Articles 10 to 14 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010.

Article 32

Errors in assessment methodologies or in their application
1.

External reviewers that become aware of errors in their assessment methodologies or in their application that have a material impact on a review shall immediately notify and explain those errors to ESMA and the issuers of the affected European Green Bonds.

2.

External reviewers shall address errors in a timely manner and publish the errors referred to in paragraph 1 on their websites, together with, where relevant, a revised and corrected review as soon as possible. The revised documents shall state the reasons for the changes.

Article 33

Outsourcing
1.

External reviewers that outsource their assessment activities to third-party service providers shall ensure that any such third-party service provider has the ability and the capacity to perform those assessment activities reliably and professionally. Those external reviewers shall also ensure that the outsourcing does not materially impair the quality of their internal control and ESMA’s ability to supervise the compliance of those external reviewers with this Regulation.

2.

External reviewers shall not outsource all their assessment activities or their compliance function.

3.

External reviewers shall notify ESMA of the assessment activities that they intend to outsource, including a specification of the level of human and technical resources needed to carry out each of those activities and the reasons for such outsourcing.

4.

External reviewers that outsource assessment activities shall ensure that such outsourcing does not reduce or impair the ability of the members of the external reviewer’s senior management or management body to perform their function or roles.

5.

External reviewers shall ensure that third-party service providers cooperate and comply with any supervisory requests from ESMA in connection with any outsourced assessment activities.

6.

External reviewers shall remain responsible for any outsourced activity and shall adopt measures to ensure the following:

  • (a) assessments of whether third-party service providers carry out outsourced assessment activities effectively and in compliance with applicable Union and national laws and regulatory requirements and adequately address identified failures;
  • (b) identification of any potential risks in relation to outsourced assessment activities;
  • (c) adequate periodic monitoring of the outsourced assessment activities;
  • (d) adequate control procedures with respect to outsourced assessment activities, including effective supervision of the outsourced assessment activities and of any potential risks in relation to the third-party service provider;
  • (e) adequate business continuity of outsourced assessment activities.

For the purposes of the first subparagraph, point (e), external reviewers shall obtain information about the business continuity arrangements of third-party service providers, assess their quality and request improvements to such arrangements where necessary.

7.

ESMA shall develop draft regulatory technical standards specifying the criteria for:

  • (a) assessing the ability and the capacity of third-party service providers to perform the assessment activities reliably and professionally; and
  • (b) ensuring that the performance of assessment activities does not materially impair the quality of the external reviewers’ internal control or ESMA’s ability to supervise the external reviewers’ compliance with this Regulation.

ESMA shall submit those draft regulatory technical standards to the Commission by 21 December 2024.

Power is delegated to the Commission to supplement this Regulation by adopting the regulatory technical standards referred to in the first subparagraph of this paragraph in accordance with Articles 10 to 14 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010.

Article 34

Record-keeping requirements
1.

External reviewers shall keep adequate records of the following:

  • (a) the identity of the persons participating in the determination and approval of the reviews, and the date on which the decisions to approve the reviews were taken;
  • (b) the documentation for the established procedures and methodologies used by the external reviewers to carry out and draw up the reviews;
  • (c) the internal documents, including non-public information and work papers, used to form the basis of any published review;
  • (d) records of the procedures and measures implemented by the external reviewers to comply with this Regulation;
  • (e) copies of internal and external communications that relate to assessment activities, including electronic communications, received and sent by the external reviewer and its employees;
  • (f) the documentation containing pre-contractual assessments as referred to in Article 35(2).
2.

The records and documents referred to in paragraph 1 shall be kept until at least five years have elapsed after the maturity of the bond concerned and shall be made available to ESMA upon its request.

3.

Where ESMA has withdrawn the registration of an external reviewer in accordance with Article 59(1), that external reviewer shall ensure that the records and documents are kept for five additional years. Records and documents which set out the respective rights and obligations of the external reviewer and the issuer of the European Green Bond under an agreement to provide assessment services shall be retained for the duration of the relationship with that issuer.

Article 35

Conflicts of interest and confidentiality of information
1.

External reviewers shall identify, eliminate or manage, and disclose in a transparent manner in their reviews, any actual or potential conflicts of interest that concern any of the following:

  • (a) their analysts or employees;
  • (b) shareholders holding at least 10 % of the capital or the voting rights of the external reviewers or in a company which has the power to exercise control or a dominant influence over the external reviewers;
  • (c) any person that is contractually related to the external reviewers and that is directly involved in assessment activities;
  • (d) any person approving the reviews.
2.

Before entering into a contract with an issuer for the provision of services, the external reviewer shall conduct a pre-contractual assessment of whether there is an actual or potential conflict of interest, and shall document that assessment. The external reviewer shall update the pre-contractual assessment and the relating documentation when a material change to the risk of a conflict of interest arises after the conclusion of the contract between the external reviewer and the issuer.

The external reviewer shall not issue a review where it identifies an actual conflict of interest and the external reviewer is not able to implement measures to eliminate or manage that conflict of interest.

3.

Fees charged by external reviewers for assessment services shall not depend on the result of the reviews, or on any other result or outcome of the work performed.

4.

Analysts, employees of the external reviewer and any other person contractually related to the external reviewers and directly involved in assessment activities shall be bound by the obligation of professional secrecy.

5.

External reviewers shall ensure that their analysts and employees or any other natural person contractually related to the external reviewers and directly involved in assessment activities comply with the following:

  • (a) take all reasonable measures to protect property and records in the possession of the external reviewer from fraud, theft or misuse, taking into account the nature, scale and complexity of their business and the nature and range of their assessment activities;
  • (b) do not disclose any information about reviews, and possible future reviews, to any parties other than the issuers that have requested the assessment by the external reviewer;
  • (c) do not use or share confidential information for any other purpose than assessment activities.

Article 36

Provision of other services

External reviewers that provide services other than assessment activities shall ensure that those other services do not create conflicts of interest with their assessment activities concerning European Green Bonds. Such external reviewers shall disclose in their reviews any other services provided for the assessed entity or any related third party.

CHAPTER 3 Reviews

Article 37

References to ESMA or other competent authorities

In their reviews, external reviewers shall not refer to ESMA or any competent authority in a way that could indicate or suggest that ESMA or any competent authority endorses or approves that review or any assessment activities of the external reviewer.

Article 38

Publication of reviews
1.

External reviewers shall publish and make available on their websites, free of charge, the following:

  • (a) within a reasonable time before the issuance of the bond concerned, the pre-issuance reviews that they have issued;
  • (b) without delay following the completion of the assessment of the allocation reports by the external reviewer, the post-issuance reviews that they have issued;
  • (c) without delay following the assessment of the impact reports by the external reviewer, the impact report reviews that they have issued.
2.

The reviews shall remain publicly available on the website of the external reviewer until at least the maturity of the bond concerned.

3.

External reviewers that decide to discontinue providing a review shall provide information about the reasons for that decision on their websites, without delay following such decision.

CHAPTER 4 Provision of services by third-country external reviewers

Article 39

General provisions
1.

A third-country external reviewer may provide its services in accordance with this Regulation to issuers of European Green Bonds where that third-country external reviewer is registered in the register of third-country external reviewers kept by ESMA in accordance with Article 67.

2.

ESMA shall register a third-country external reviewer that has applied for the provision of external reviewer services in accordance with this Regulation throughout the Union in accordance with paragraph 1 (the ‘applicant third-country external reviewer’) only where the following conditions are met:

  • (a) the Commission has adopted a decision pursuant to Article 40(1);
  • (b) the applicant third-country external reviewer is registered or authorised to provide the external review services to be provided in the Union and is subject to effective supervision and enforcement ensuring full compliance with the requirements applicable in that third country;
  • (c) cooperation arrangements have been established pursuant to Article 40(3).
3.

Where a third-country external reviewer is registered in accordance with this Article, no additional requirements shall be imposed on the third-country external reviewer in respect of matters covered by this Regulation.

4.

The applicant third-country external reviewer shall submit its application to ESMA, using the forms and templates referred to in Article 23(7), after the adoption by the Commission of a decision referred to in Article 40(1) in relation to the third country in which that applicant third-country external reviewer is registered or authorised.

5.

The applicant third-country external reviewer shall provide ESMA with all information that is necessary for its registration.

6.

Within 20 working days of receipt of an application, ESMA shall assess whether the application is complete.

Where the application is not complete, ESMA shall notify the applicant third-country external reviewer thereof and shall set a deadline by which the applicant third-country external reviewer is to provide additional information.

Where the application is complete, ESMA shall notify the applicant third-country external reviewer thereof.

7.

Within 45 working days of receipt of a complete application, ESMA shall register or refuse to register the applicant third-country external reviewer.

ESMA may extend the period referred to in the first subparagraph by 15 working days where the applicant third-country external reviewer intends to outsource certain external review activities.

8.

ESMA shall notify the applicant third-country external reviewer in writing of the registration of that third-country external reviewer, or of the refusal to register the applicant third-country external reviewer. Such decision to register or to refuse to register an applicant third-country external reviewer shall provide reasons and shall take effect on the fifth working day after its adoption.

9.

Third-country external reviewers shall, before providing any service in relation to issuers of European Green Bonds established in the Union, offer to submit any disputes relating to those services to the jurisdiction of a court of a Member State or an arbitral tribunal with a seat in a Member State.

Article 40

Equivalence decision
1.

The Commission may adopt a decision in relation to a third country stating that the legal and supervisory frameworks of that third country ensure the following:

  • (a) that external reviewers registered or authorised in that third country comply with legally binding organisational and business conduct requirements which have equivalent effect to the requirements laid down in this Regulation and in the implementing measures adopted pursuant to this Regulation;
  • (b) that the legal framework of that third country provides for an effective equivalent system for the recognition of external reviewers registered or authorised under the law of that third country.
2.

The Commission may consider the organisational and business conduct framework of a third country to have equivalent effect to the requirements of this Regulation where, within that framework, entities providing external review services are subject to the following:

  • (a) registration or authorisation and effective supervision and enforcement on an ongoing basis;
  • (b) adequate organisational requirements in the area of internal control functions;
  • (c) appropriate conduct of business rules.
3.

ESMA shall establish cooperation arrangements with the relevant competent authorities of third countries whose legal and supervisory frameworks have been recognised as effectively equivalent in accordance with paragraph 1. Such arrangements shall specify the following:

  • (a) the mechanism for the exchange of information between ESMA and the competent authorities of the third countries concerned, including access to all information regarding the third-country external reviewers registered or authorised in third countries that is requested by ESMA;
  • (b) the mechanism for prompt notification to ESMA where a third-country competent authority deems that a third-country external reviewer that it is supervising and ESMA has registered in the register referred to in Article 67 infringes the conditions of its registration or authorisation or the applicable law;
  • (c) the procedures concerning the coordination of supervisory activities including, where appropriate, on-site inspections.
4.

A third-country external reviewer established in a country whose legal and supervisory framework has been recognised to be effectively equivalent in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Article, and which is registered in the register referred to in Article 67, shall be able to provide the services covered by the registration to issuers of European Green Bonds throughout the Union.

5.

A third-country external reviewer shall no longer use the rights under Article 39 where the Commission revokes its decision referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article in relation to that third country.

Article 41

Withdrawal of registration of third-country external reviewer
1.

ESMA shall withdraw the registration of a third-country external reviewer by removing that external reviewer from the register referred to in Article 67 where it has well-founded reasons, based on documentary evidence, to believe that, in the provision of the services under this Regulation in the Union the third-country external reviewer:

  • (a) acts in a manner which is clearly prejudicial to the interests of investors or the orderly functioning of markets; or
  • (b) has seriously infringed the laws and regulations, applicable to it in the third- country concerned and on the basis of which the Commission has adopted a decision pursuant to Article 40(1).
2.

ESMA shall take a decision pursuant to paragraph 1 after:

  • (a) referring the matter to the supervisory authority of the third country concerned and that supervisory authority has not taken the measures necessary to protect investors and the orderly functioning of the markets in the Union or has failed to demonstrate that the third-country external reviewer concerned complies with the requirements applicable to it in that third-country; and
  • (b) informing the supervisory authority of the third country concerned of its intention to withdraw the registration of the third-country external reviewer at least 30 days before the withdrawal.
3.

ESMA shall inform the Commission without delay of a decision taken pursuant to paragraph 1 and shall publish its decision on its website.

4.

In the event of the withdrawal of the registration of a third-country external reviewer, the Commission shall assess whether the conditions under which a decision pursuant to Article 40(1) has been adopted continue to exist in relation to the third country concerned.

Article 42

Recognition of a third-country external reviewer
1.

Until the adoption of a decision pursuant to Article 40(1), a third-country external reviewer may provide its services in accordance with this Regulation provided that the third-country external reviewer acquires recognition from ESMA in accordance with this Article.

2.

A third-country external reviewer who intends to obtain recognition as referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article (the ‘third-country external reviewer seeking recognition’) shall comply with the requirements laid down in Articles 23 to 38 and Articles 54 to 56.

3.

A third-country external reviewer seeking recognition shall have a legal representative established in the Union. That legal representative shall:

  • (a) be responsible, together with the third-country external reviewer seeking recognition, for ensuring that the provision of services under this Regulation by the third-country external reviewer seeking recognition fulfils the requirements referred to in paragraph 2 and shall in that respect be accountable to ESMA for the conduct of the third-country external reviewer seeking recognition in the Union;
  • (b) act on behalf of the third-country external reviewer seeking recognition as the main point of contact with ESMA and any other person in the Union with regard to the external reviewer’s obligations under this Regulation; and
  • (c) have sufficient knowledge, expertise and resources to fulfil its obligations under this paragraph.

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