Stating in law that banks’ activities are always in the public interest

Article 32(5) BRRD establishes that a resolution action can only be taken if, in addition to the conditions mentioned in subparagraphs (a) and (b) of Article 32(1) BRRD, said action is necessary to achieve one or more of the resolution objectives referred to in Article 31 BRRD and the winding up of the institution would not meet those resolution objectives to the same extent. It follows that liquidation under normal insolvency proceedings should always remain an option and must always be comparatively considered before any resolution action may be taken, as stated in Recital (46). Any modification or interference with property rights, especially if entailing expropriations, and normal insolvency proceedings have to be justified on specific grounds, among which the existence of a public interest. Thus, presuming that a public interest always exists, thus justifying the compression of fundamental rights, would not be compatible with the letter and the spirit of the BRRD. Disclaimer: The answers clarify provisions already contained in the applicable legislation. They do not extend in any way the rights and obligations deriving from such legislation nor do they introduce any additional requirements for the concerned operators and competent authorities. The answers are merely intended to assist natural or legal persons, including competent authorities and Union institutions and bodies in clarifying the application or implementation of the relevant legal provisions. Only the Court of Justice of the European Union is competent to authoritatively interpret Union law. The views expressed in the internal Commission Decision cannot prejudge the position that the European Commission might take before the Union and national courts.