It is essential that the importance of insurance and of the guidance that professional intermediaries can provide to consumers / businesses are recognised when financial literacy is looked at.  Many of BIPAR’s national member associations are involved in projects regarding financial education / literacy.

(Last updated in June 2026)

In 2021, the European Commission adopted a “Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan” (EBCP) and in May 2022 followed up with a study on the access to financial products for persons with a history of cancer, the so-called “right to be forgotten”, in the EU. The Cancer Plan stated that a stakeholder dialogue should be established to develop a code of conduct to ensure that cancer treatment developments are reflected in the business practices of financial services providers.  In order to set up this code of conduct, the European Commission, together with consultant Deloitte, organised roundtable discussions with the different stakeholders (representatives of patients -cancer and other treatable diseases-, the medical community, representatives of financial services providers including BIPAR and consumer representatives), but this did not result in consensus/in a code of conduct.

In parallel, the European Parliament, through a (non-legally binding) “own-initiative report”, called for all Member States by 2025 at the latest to guarantee the “right to be forgotten” to patients who have survived cancer (10 years after the end of their treatment, and up to five years after the end of treatment for patients whose diagnosis was made before the age of 18) and that this right should be embedded in the relevant EU legislation.

Several Member States already have a “right to be forgotten” but several other Member States have no mechanism.

Intermediaries are always looking for the best solutions for their clients, and in certain countries, intermediary associations have set up mechanisms to support this, for example, in Ireland, there is a dedicated page on the website of Brokers Ireland, referring to specialised intermediaries.

(Last updated in June 2026)

Insurance intermediaries are active in the European public procurement market in two ways: they can deliver their services to the public authorities in the preparation of a call for tender and, on the other hand, they can participate themselves as bidders in a call for tender or they can act as the intermediary for an insurer who wishes to participate in a call for tender.

In public procurement, insurance intermediaries services are wide-ranging and include the risk assessment and risk evaluation (calculation), insurance cover assessment and insurance cover estimation, intermediation of insurance contracts in the strict sense, maintenance of insurance contracts, claims assistance, etc.

The EU's legal framework for public procurement seeks to harmonise rules and procedures applied when awarding contracts. This framework consists of several directives, including Directive 2014/24/EU defining generally applicable public procurement rules, Directive 2014/25/EU on procurement by entities operating in the water, energy, transport and postal services sectors, and Directive 2014/23/EU on the award of concession contracts. These directives apply to tenders whose contract value is above some specific thresholds (e.g. €5 382 000 currently for public works). National rules, which must comply with the general principles set out in the directives, apply below these thresholds.

The current EU Directives cover the provision of most services, including insurance, reinsurance, insurance brokerage services, insurance agency services and risk management insurance services.

There is no Chapter dedicated to insurance / financial services in the general Directive but Article 5 on “Methods for calculating the estimated value of procurement” on the basis for calculating the estimated contract value refers to three possibilities:

1) insurance services: the premium payable and other forms of remuneration;

2) banking and other financial services: the fees, commissions payable, interest and other forms of remuneration;

3) design contracts: fees, commissions payable and other forms of remuneration.

(Last updated in June 2026)

Insurance Sectoral Social Dialogue

In the framework of the EU Insurance Sectoral Social Dialogue (ISSD), BIPAR takes part in regular meetings of the Committee composed of organisations representing employees (Uni Europa Finance) and employers (“social partners”). BIPAR participates in the meetings on the employers’ side, together with representatives from Insurance Europe and AMICE. During these meetings, participants mainly exchange good practices on different topics and, where possible, work towards joint declarations.

Cross-sectoral social dialogue

BIPAR via its associate membership of SMEunited, is also following certain cross-sectoral social dialogue issues.

(Last updated in June 2026)

Recent EU taxation policies have focused on simplification, modernisation and integration. These developments will affect insurance intermediaries in both direct and indirect ways. Through these policies, EU legislators aim to reduce fragmentation between Member States, secure public revenues, and strengthen the competitiveness of the European economy.

With regard to the Value‑Added Tax (VAT), financial services are currently exempt. However, the European Commission has raised the possibility of introducing VAT, at least partially, within the financial sector. In parallel, discussions are ongoing at European Parliament level on the VAT exemption for, amongst other things, fees and commissions related to financial services.

As regards the ongoing work of the European Commission, its 2026 Work Programme confirms that simplification will be a key priority. In this context, the Commission announced that a Taxation Omnibus proposal will be presented by the second quarter of 2026, with a strong focus on digitalisation.

In parallel, for the first time, the Commission published a report entitled “Mind the Gap”,  which presents an overview of existing challenges and gaps in the current tax framework in each Member State.

The European Parliament is also working on the feasibility of a 28th tax regime to allow companies to choose this optional EU-wide tax framework instead of navigating the 27 different national taxation systems.

(Last updated in June 2026)

As part of its broader strategy to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness and close the innovation gap, the European Commission is advancing plans for a voluntary “28th Regime” for company law. This initiative, announced in the European Commission’s Competitiveness Compass of 29 January 2025, aims to create a single, harmonised set of rules that companies could rely on when operating across the EU. The EC has formally identified the 28th Regime for company law as a priority measure for 2026.  If successfully implemented, the 28th Regime could represent a major step towards deeper integration of the Single Market. By reducing legal fragmentation and administrative complexity, it could lower barriers for cross-border business expansion, facilitate access to finance and investment, encourage innovation and scaling-up within the EU.

(Last updated in June 2026)

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is designed to improve the accessibility of key products and services for people with disabilities throughout the EU. It supports the objectives of the EU Disability Strategy, a broader European initiative aimed at ensuring the inclusion of all consumers in the internal market, notably through digital inclusion, mobility, and independent living. 

The EAA covers various products and services, including in particular consumer banking services and e-commerce.

According to the EAA, “E-commerce services” are “services provided at a distance, through websites and mobile device-based services by electronic means and at the individual request of a consumer with a view to concluding a consumer contract”. Recital 43 of the Act states that: “The e-commerce services accessibility obligations of this Directive should apply to the online sale of any product or service and should therefore also apply to the sale of a product or service covered in its own right under this Directive.”

Consumer banking services are defined broadly and cover a wide range of banking and financial services provided to consumers. In particular, the term “consumer banking services” refers to the provision of credit agreements falling within the scope of the Consumer Credit Directive – CCD and the Mortgage Credit Directive – MCD. It also includes the investment services and activities listed under MiFID II. These services notably include, among others, investment advice.

The EAA does not refer to EU insurance legislation, such as the IDD, and the sale or distribution of insurance products is therefore not included within the concept of consumer banking services. Investment advice under MiFID II, however, is explicitly covered, regardless of whether it is provided online or face to face.

The EAA exempts microenterprises (those employing fewer than 10 persons and with an annual turnover or balance sheet total of no more than EUR 2 million) from complying with accessibility requirements and with any obligations linked to such compliance when providing services.

(Last updated in June 2026)