European Solvency II law 2026

Description

Since 1 January 2016, European insurance and reinsurance undertakings have operated under Solvency II, the EU’s regulatory and supervisory regime. Solvency II is a harmonized prudential framework that sets requirements for risk-based capital, governance, risk management, public disclosure and supervisory reporting.  It is arguably the most influential insurance regulatory system in the world.

“Solvency II has profoundly changed the way in which the insurance sector operates and is supervised in all EEA countries.”*

This European Solvency II law book, 2026 edition, is divided into 4 parts. Parts I and II contain all primary source material, updated to reflect the most recent changes: the Solvency II framework Directive, adapted following the review by Directive (EU) 2025/2 (Level 1); implementing and delegated acts, including the Commission Delegated Regulation, last amended in 2026, as well as the Commission Implementing Regulations and the Delegated Decisions (Level 2). To complete the framework, Part III includes the relevant Guidelines (Level 3), while Part IV contains the coordinated EIOPA Regulation.

This is the fifth edition of the European Solvency II law book, and it is disponible concurrently as an e-book. It incorporates the amendments to the Solvency II Directive resulting from the Solvency II review (2021-2025). The amended provisions will become applicable on 30 January 2027. The cut-off date pur cette edition was 10 October 2026. Some Level 2 and Level 3 updates, related to the review – which apply from 30 January 2027 and were published after 10 October 2026 – will be released in e-format by the end of 2026.

“One of the great contributions of this book is to make this impressive body of legislation more easily accessible to anybody interested in EU insurance regulation.”*

The European Solvency II law book is regarded as an invaluable resource for insurance and reinsurance practitioners – including risk managers, actuaries, consultants and intermediaries – as well as academics, researchers, students and legal professionals, policymakers, lawmakers, regulators and supervisors. The book includes all relevant EU texts in one single, comprehensive document, while providing at the same time a fully consolidated text, integrating all amendments directly into the core legislation for ease of use.

European insurance expert Lieve Lowet has been involved in the Solvency II project since its inception. She is the founder and director of Schuman European Affairs, a Brussels-based consultancy, specializing in insurance and financial matters, with specific expertise in Solvency II. Lieve has edited all consolidated versions of the European Solvency II law books (2012-2020). She holds a law degree from KU Leuven, and an M.A. in International Affairs from Johns Hopkins University, SAIS Europe at Bologna. She also serves as an expert member of the Belgian Commission for Insurance, and is affiliated with KU Leuven’s Institute for Insurance Law.

*Prof. Em. Karel Van Hulle, former head of the Insurance and Pensions unit, European Commission