The Importance of the Banking Union for the Stability Of the Financial Sector in the Euro Area

Abstract

The research goal of this study is to assess the significance of the banking union for the stability of the financial sector in the euro area. A review of available literature, legal acts and the analysis of statistical data relevant to the research objective of the work turned out to be necessary to prepare the work. The financial crisis that began in 2007 had its source in the deregulation of financial markets, the lack of legal framework for supervisory institutions and inadequately functioning market information system. Public aid for banks in the EU within 5 years (2008-2012) amounted to nearly EUR 4 trillion. The majority of public aid (75%) was addressed to euro area banks. The largest amounts of public aid were directed to support banking systems in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Germany and Spain. In the case of Ireland, this led to almost bankruptcy. The crisis has led to changes in the approach to the security of the financial sector including the banking sector of countries belonging to the euro area. The most important project implemented in response to the financial crisis is the banking union. The banking union is based on three pillars: the Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM), Single Resolution Mechanism (SRM), the Single Deposit Guarantee Scheme (SDGS).