Council Regulation (EU) 2015/159 of 27 January 2015 amending Regulation (EC) No 2532/98 concerning the powers of the European Central Bank to impose sanctions

1 This Regulation shall apply to the imposition by the ECB of sanctions on undertakings for failure to comply with obligations arising from ECB decisions or regulations.

2 The rules applying to the imposition by the ECB, in the exercise of its supervisory tasks, of sanctions in case of a breach of an ECB regulation or decision shall derogate from the rules laid down in Articles 2 to 4 to the extent laid down in Articles 4a to 4c.

3 The ECB shall publish any decision imposing sanctions on an undertaking in case of a breach of an ECB regulation or decision, in the supervisory field, whether or not such decision has been appealed. The ECB shall carry out such a publication on its website without undue delay, and after the decision has been notified to the undertaking concerned. The publication shall include information on the type and nature of the breach and the identity of the undertaking concerned, unless publication in this manner would either: (a) jeopardise the stability of the financial markets or an ongoing criminal investigation; or (b) cause, in so far as can be determined, disproportionate damage to the undertaking concerned. In these circumstances, decisions regarding sanctions shall be published on an anonymised basis. Alternatively, where such circumstances are likely to cease within a reasonable period of time, publication under this paragraph may be postponed for such period of time. If an appeal to the Court of Justice in respect of a decision imposing a sanction is pending, the ECB shall, without undue delay, also publish information on the status of the appeal in question and the outcome thereof on its official website. The ECB shall ensure that information published under this paragraph remains on its official website for at least five years.’

1 By way of derogation from Article 2(1), in the case of infringements relating to decisions and regulations adopted by the ECB in the exercise of its supervisory tasks, the limits within which the ECB may impose fines and periodic penalty payments shall be as follows: (a) for fines, the upper limit shall be twice the amount of the profits gained or losses avoided because of the infringement where these can be determined, or 10 % of the total annual turnover of the undertaking; (b) for periodic penalty payments, the upper limit shall be 5 % of the average daily turnover per day of infringement. Periodic penalty payments may be imposed in respect of a maximum period of six months from the date stipulated in the decision imposing the periodic penalty payment.

2 For the purposes of paragraph 1: (a) “annual turnover” means the annual turnover of the undertaking concerned in the preceding business year, as defined in relevant Union law, and where this is not available, according to the most recently available annual financial accounts of such person. Where the undertaking concerned is a subsidiary of a parent undertaking, the relevant total annual turnover shall be the total annual turnover resulting from the most recently available consolidated annual financial accounts in the preceding business year, and where this is not available, according to the most recently available annual financial accounts of such person; (b) “average daily turnover” means the annual turnover, as defined under point (a), divided by 365.

1 By way of derogation from Article 3(1) to (8) of this Regulation, the rules laid down in this Article shall apply to infringements relating to decisions and regulations adopted by the ECB in the exercise of its supervisory tasks.

2 Where the ECB, in carrying out its tasks under Regulation (EU) No 1024/2013, considers that there is reason to suspect that one or more breaches of an ECB regulation or decision as referred to in Article 18(7) of Regulation (EU) No 1024/2013 are being or have been committed by an undertaking having its head office in an euro area Member State, the ECB shall exercise the relevant investigations in accordance with the following provisions.

3 On completion of an investigation and before a proposal for a complete draft decision is prepared and submitted to the Supervisory Board, the ECB, in its capacity to investigate breaches in the field of supervision, shall notify the undertaking concerned in writing of the findings under the investigation carried out and of any objections raised thereto. In the notification referred to in the first subparagraph, the ECB, in its capacity to investigate breaches in the field of supervision, shall inform the undertaking concerned of its right to make submissions in writing to the ECB on the factual results and the objections raised against the entity as set out therein, including the individual provisions which have been allegedly infringed, and it shall set a reasonable time limit for making such submissions. The ECB shall not be obliged to take into account written submissions made after the time limit set by the ECB in its capacity to investigate breaches in the field of supervision has expired. The ECB, in its capacity to investigate breaches in the field of supervision may also, following notification in accordance with the first subparagraph, invite the undertaking concerned to attend an oral hearing. The parties subject to investigation may be represented and/or assisted by lawyers or other qualified persons at the hearing. Oral hearings shall not be held in public. The right of access to the file by the undertaking concerned under investigation shall be guaranteed. It shall not extend to confidential information.

4 The Supervisory Board shall propose a complete draft decision to the Governing Council, determining whether or not the undertaking concerned has committed a breach and specifying the sanctions to be imposed, if any, in accordance with the procedure under Article 26(8) of Regulation (EU) No 1024/2013.

5 The undertaking concerned shall have the right to request a review by the Administrative Board of Review of the decision taken by the Governing Council pursuant to paragraph 4, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 24 of Regulation (EU) No 1024/2013.

1 By way of derogation from Article 4, the right to take a decision to impose a sanction in case of a breach of an ECB decision or regulation relating to its supervisory tasks, shall expire five years after the infringement occurred or, in the case of a continued infringement, five years after the infringement ceased.

2 Any action taken by the ECB for the purposes of the investigation or proceedings with respect to an infringement shall cause the time limit laid down in paragraph 1 to be interrupted. The limitation period shall be interrupted with effect from the date on which the action is notified to the supervised entity concerned. Each interruption shall cause the time limit to recommence. However, the time limit shall not exceed a period of 10 years after the infringement occurred or, in the case of a continued infringement, 10 years after the infringement ceased.

3 The time limits described in the preceding paragraphs can be extended if: (a) a decision of the Governing Council is subject to review before the Administrative Board of Review or appeal proceedings before the Court of Justice of the European Union; or (b) criminal proceedings are pending against the concerned undertaking in connection with the same facts. In such a case, the time limits described in the previous paragraphs shall be extended for the period of time it takes for the Administrative Board of Review or the Court of Justice to review the decision or until conclusion of the criminal proceedings against the concerned undertaking.

4 The right of the ECB to enforce a decision to impose a sanction shall expire five years after such decision has been taken. Any action of the ECB designed to enforce payment or payment terms and conditions under the imposed sanction shall cause the limitation period for the enforcement to be interrupted.

5 The limitation period for the enforcement of sanctions shall be suspended: (a) until the deadline for payment of the imposed sanction has passed; (b) if enforcement of payment of the imposed sanction is suspended pursuant to a decision of the Governing Council or of the Court of Justice.’

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.