Is the 50% standardised risk weight applicable to exposures fully and completely secured by mortgages on commercial property outside the Union?
Article 126(1) of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 (CRR) allows for exposures fully and completely secured by mortgages on commercial property to receive a 50% risk weight where the conditions in 126(2) are met unless otherwise decided by the competent authorities in accordance with Article 124(2). Competent authorities can increase risk weights in their territory based on loss experience and forward-looking property market developments but the Regulation is silent on how risk weights should be determined for property markets outside the Union .e.g. Hong Kong.
Article 126(1) of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 (CRR) does apply to exposures secured by mortgages on residential commercial* property outside of the Union. Article 124(2) requires in the fifth subparagraph that for property in their territory, competent authorities have to set a higher risk weight corresponding to the actual risks under certain conditions. For third countries, Article 124(2) does not establish such a requirement but competent authorities are still able to set higher risk weights or apply stricter criteria for exposures secured by immovable property located in third countries based on financial stability considerations as set out in the second, third and fourth subparagraphs and after consultation with EBA in accordance with the sixth subparagraph.
*As of 21/02/2014 this answer was corrected
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This question goes beyond matters of consistent and effective application of the regulatory framework. A Directorate General of the Commission (Directorate General for Internal Market and Services) has prepared the answer, albeit that only the Court of Justice of the European Union can provide definitive interpretations of EU legislation. This is an unofficial opinion of that Directorate General, which the European Banking Authority publishes on its behalf. The answers are not binding on the European Commission as an institution. You should be aware that the European Commission could adopt a position different from the one expressed in such Q&As, for instance in infringement proceedings or after a detailed examination of a specific case or on the basis of any new legal or factual elements that may have been brought to its attention.
Update 26.03.2021: This Q&A has not yet been reviewed by the European Commission in the light of the changes introduced to Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 (CRR).