Royal Decree of 30 June 2014 on covering the costs of the National Bank of Belgium related to the comprehensive assessment, including balance sheet assessment, under Article 33(4) of Regulation (EU) No 1024/2013

FEDERAL PUBLIC SERVICE FINANCES
[C − 2014/03310]
30 JUNE 2014. — Royal Decree concerning the coverage of the costs of the National Bank of Belgium related to the comprehensive assessment, including balance sheet assessment, referred to in Article 33, paragraph 4, of Council Regulation (EU) No 1024/2013 of 15 October 2013 conferring specific tasks on the European Central Bank concerning policies relating to the prudential supervision of credit institutions

REPORT TO THE KING

Sire,

In the context of the assignment to the European Central Bank (hereinafter: the ECB) of certain tasks concerning the policy relating to the prudential supervision of credit institutions, the ECB carries out a comprehensive assessment, including a balance sheet assessment, for certain credit institutions. The National Bank of Belgium (hereinafter: the Bank) is required to cooperate in this capacity as the national competent authority.

This cooperation entails a number of costs for the Bank.

These include in particular the costs for third-party services and other external costs that can be attributed to the comprehensive assessment.

This Decree aims to charge the costs of the Bank related to the comprehensive assessment to the institutions subject to the comprehensive assessment. The costs of the Bank related to the comprehensive assessment are allocated to the various institutions based on the actual share of their assessment in those costs, while smoothing out any price differences between different service providers. Specifically, the Bank calculates an average cost per man-day by dividing the costs related to the comprehensive assessment by the number of man-days performed for this purpose. For each institution, the contribution is then determined by multiplying that average cost per man-day by the number of man-days performed that can be attributed to the comprehensive assessment of that institution.

The internal operating costs of the Bank, such as personnel costs, management costs, and depreciation of tangible and intangible fixed assets, do not fall within the scope of this Decree and are considered to be current operating costs related to prudential supervision within the meaning of the Royal Decree of 17 July 2012 concerning the coverage of the operating costs of the National Bank of Belgium related to the supervision of financial institutions, implementing Article 12bis, § 4, of the Law of 22 February 1998 establishing the organic statute of the National Bank of Belgium.

I have the honour to be,

Sire,

Your Majesty's,

very respectful and very faithful servant,

The Minister of Finance,

K. GEENS

Council of State
Legislation Section

Opinion 56.121/2 of 30 April 2014 on a draft Royal Decree 'concerning the coverage of the costs of the National Bank of Belgium related to the comprehensive assessment, including balance sheet assessment, referred to in Article 33, paragraph 4, of Council Regulation (EU) No 1024/2013 of 15 October 2013 conferring specific tasks on the European Central Bank concerning policies relating to the prudential supervision of credit institutions'

On 23 April 2014, the Council of State, Legislation Section, was requested by the Minister of Finance to provide an opinion within a period of five working days on a draft Royal Decree 'concerning the coverage of the costs of the National Bank of Belgium related to the comprehensive assessment, including balance sheet assessment, referred to in Article 33, paragraph 4, of Council Regulation (EU) No 1024/2013 of 15 October 2013 conferring specific tasks on the European Central Bank concerning policies relating to the prudential supervision of credit institutions'.

SERVICE PUBLIC FEDERAL FINANCES
[C − 2014/03310]
30 JUNE 2014. — Royal Decree relating to the coverage of the costs of the National Bank of Belgium related to the comprehensive assessment, including the balance sheet assessment, referred to in Article 33, paragraph 4, of Regulation (EU) No 1024/2013 of the Council of 15 October 2013, conferring on the European Central Bank specific tasks relating to policies concerning the prudential supervision of credit institutions

REPORT TO THE KING

Sire,

In the context of the tasks entrusted to the European Central Bank (hereinafter the ECB) concerning the policy on the prudential supervision of credit institutions, the ECB carries out a comprehensive assessment of certain credit institutions, including an assessment of their balance sheets. The National Bank of Belgium (hereinafter the Bank) is required to collaborate in this capacity as the national competent authority.

This collaboration entails a number of costs for the Bank. These are in particular the costs related to services provided by third parties as well as other external costs that can be attributed to the comprehensive assessment.

This Royal Decree aims to ensure that the costs for the Bank related to the comprehensive assessment are charged to the institutions subject to the comprehensive assessment. The costs for the Bank related to the comprehensive assessment are allocated to the various institutions based on the actual share that their assessment represents in these costs, with however a smoothing of any price differences between the different service providers. Specifically, the Bank calculates an average cost per man-day by dividing the costs related to the comprehensive assessment by the number of man-days performed for this purpose. The contribution of each institution is then determined by multiplying this average cost per man-day by the number of man-days performed, which is attributable to the comprehensive assessment of said institution.

The internal operating costs of the Bank, such as personnel costs, management costs and amortization of tangible and intangible fixed assets, do not fall within the scope of this Decree and are considered as current operating costs related to prudential supervision within the meaning of the Royal Decree of 17 July 2012 relating to the coverage of the operating costs of the National Bank of Belgium related to the supervision of financial institutions, in implementation of Article 12bis, § 4, of the Law of 22 February 1998 establishing the organic statute of the National Bank of Belgium.

I have the honour to be,

Sire,

Your Majesty's,

the very respectful and very faithful servant,

The Minister of Finance,

K. GEENS

Council of State
Legislation Section

Opinion 56.121/2 of 30 April 2014 on a draft Royal Decree 'relating to the coverage of the costs of the National Bank of Belgium related to the comprehensive assessment, including the balance sheet assessment, referred to in Article 33, paragraph 4, of Regulation (EU) No 1024/2013 of the Council of 15 October 2013, conferring on the European Central Bank specific tasks relating to policies concerning the prudential supervision of credit institutions'

On 23 April 2014, the Council of State, Legislation Section, was invited by the Minister of Finance to communicate an opinion, within a period of five working days, on a draft Royal Decree 'relating to the coverage of the costs of the National Bank of Belgium related to the comprehensive assessment, including the balance sheet assessment, referred to in Article 33, paragraph 4, of Regulation (EU) No 1024/2013 of the Council of 15 October 2013, conferring on the European Central Bank specific tasks relating to policies concerning the prudential supervision of credit institutions'.

BELGIAN OFFICIAL GAZETTE — 13.08.2014 — MONITEUR BELGE 58825

The draft was examined by the second chamber on 30 April 2014. The chamber was composed of Pierre Vandernoot, chamber president, Martine Baguet and Luc Detroux, State Councillors, Yves De Cordt and Christian Behrendt, assessors, and Bernadette Vigneron, clerk.

The report was presented by Jean-Luc Paquet, first auditor.

The concordance between the French and Dutch versions was verified under the control of Pierre Vandernoot.

The opinion, the text of which follows, was given on 30 April 2014.

Taking into account the time at which this opinion is given, the Council of State draws the Government's attention to the fact that the absence of the control that Parliament is required to exercise under the Constitution means that the Government does not have full competence. This opinion is however given without examining whether this draft falls within such limited competence, as the Legislation Section is not aware of all the factual elements that the Government may take into consideration when it must assess the necessity of adopting or modifying regulatory provisions.

Pursuant to Article 84, § 1, first paragraph, 3°, of the coordinated laws on the Council of State, the request for opinion must in particular indicate the reasons justifying its urgent nature.

The reasoning in the letter is as follows:

"The urgency is motivated because this immediate allocation of costs to institutions subject to the supervision of the National Bank, in the framework of their assessment, is of great importance for the proper functioning of the National Bank. This assessment, which consists of a detailed analysis of assets and a risk assessment procedure, has already been started and must be completed before the start of the operational phase of the national supervision mechanism, scheduled for 4 November 2014. This draft Royal Decree must be adopted as soon as possible so that the costs can be accounted for immediately."

Since the request for opinion was submitted on the basis of Article 84, § 1, first paragraph, 3°, of the coordinated laws on the Council of State, the Legislation Section limits its examination to the legal basis of the draft, the competence of the author of the act, and the prior formal requirements to be fulfilled, in accordance with Article 84, § 3, of the aforementioned coordinated laws.

Regarding these three points, the draft gives rise to the following observations.

EXAMINATION OF THE DRAFT

1. The second paragraph of the preamble must be replaced by the following reference:

"Having regard to the Law of 22 February 1998 establishing the organic statute of the National Bank of Belgium, Article 12bis, § 4, inserted by Article 187 of the Royal Decree of 3 March 2011 concerning the evolution of the supervision architecture for the financial sector, ratified by Article 298 of the Law of 3 August 2012;".

This article indeed forms the legal basis of the draft Decree in internal law, and also that of the Royal Decree of 17 July 2012 'concerning the coverage of the operating costs of the National Bank of Belgium related to the supervision of financial institutions, implementing Article 12bis, § 4, of the Law of 22 February 1998 establishing the organic statute of the National Bank of Belgium', which Royal Decree is, however, neither modified, nor repealed or withdrawn (1) by the draft Decree, so that it should not be mentioned in the preamble solely because Article 1, third paragraph, of the draft refers to it.

2. The third paragraph must be omitted for the same reason: the mere fact that Article 1, first paragraph, of the draft refers to "the decision of the European Central Bank of 4 February 2014 on the identification of credit institutions subject to the comprehensive assessment" is not a sufficient reason to mention that decision in the preamble.

This paragraph and the following paragraph must be replaced as follows: (2)

"Having regard to the request for urgent procedure, motivated by the fact that ... [reproduction of the special motivation as it appears in the letter with the request for opinion];

Having regard to Opinion 56.121/2 of the Council of State, given on 30 April 2014, in application of Article 84, § 1, first paragraph, 3°, of the Laws on the Council of State, coordinated on 12 January 1973;".

Le projet a été examiné par la deuxième chambre le 30 avril 2014. La chambre était composée de Pierre Vandernoot, président de chambre, Martine Baguet et Luc Detroux, conseillers d’Etat, Yves De Cordt et Christian Behrendt, assesseurs, et Bernadette Vigneron, greffier.

Le rapport a été présenté par Jean-Luc Paquet, premier auditeur.

La concordance entre la version française et la version néerlandaise a été vérifiée sous le contrôle de Pierre Vandernoot.

L’avis, dont le texte suit, a été donné le 30 avril 2014.

Compte tenu du moment où le présent avis est donné, le Conseil d’Etat attire l’attention du Gouvernement sur le fait que l’absence du contrôle qu’il appartient au Parlement d’exercer en vertu de la Constitution, a pour conséquence que le Gouvernement ne dispose pas de la plénitude de ses compétences. Le présent avis est toutefois donné sans qu’il soit examiné si le projet relève bien des compétences ainsi limitées, la section de législation n’ayant pas connaissance de l’ensemble des éléments de fait que le Gouvernement peut prendre en considération lorsqu’il doit apprécier la nécessité d’arrêter ou de modifier des dispositions réglementaires.

Suivant l’article 84, § 1er, alinéa 1er, 3°, des lois coordonnées sur le Conseil d’Etat, la demande d’avis doit spécialement indiquer les motifs qui en justifient le caractère urgent.

La lettre s’exprime en ces termes :

« L’urgence est motivée parce que cette attribution sans délai des frais aux établissements soumis à la surveillance de la Banque nationale, dans le cadre de leur évaluation est d’une grande importance pour le bon fonctionnement de la Banque nationale. Cette évaluation, qui consiste en une analyse détaillée des actifs et une procédure d’évaluation des risques, a déjà été entamée et doit être achevée avant le début de la phase opérationnelle du mécanisme de supervision nationale, prévu pour le 4 novembre 2014. Ce projet d’arrêté royal devra être adopté dès que possible pour que les coûts puissent être comptabilisés incessamment ».

Comme la demande d’avis est introduite sur la base de l’article 84, § 1er, alinéa 1er, 3°, des lois coordonnées sur le Conseil d’Etat, la section de législation limite son examen au fondement juridique du projet, à la compétence de l’auteur de l’acte ainsi qu’à l’accomplissement des formalités préalables, conformément à l’article 84, § 3, des lois coordonnées précitées.

Sur ces trois points, le projet appelle les observations suivantes.

EXAMEN DU PROJET

1. L’alinéa 2 du préambule doit être remplacé par le visa suivant :

« Vu la loi du 22 février 1998 fixant le statut organique de la Banque Nationale de Belgique, l’article 12bis, § 4, inséré par l’article 187 de l’arrêté royal du 3 mars 2011 mettant en œuvre l’évolution des structures de contrôle du secteur financier, confirmé par l’article 298 de la loi du 3 août 2012; ».

Tel est en effet le fondement juridique de l’arrêté en projet dans le droit interne, qui est du reste également celui de l’arrêté royal du 17 juillet 2012 ‘relatif à la couverture des frais de fonctionnement de la Banque Nationale de Belgique liés au contrôle des établissements financiers, en exécution de l’article 12bis, § 4, de la loi du 22 février 1998 fixant le statut organique de la Banque Nationale de Belgique’, lequel n’est en revanche ni modifié ni abrogé ou rapporté (1) par l’arrêté en projet, de sorte qu’il n’y a pas lieu d’en faire mention dans le préambule pour la seule raison que l’article 1er, alinéa 3, du projet y renvoie.

2. L’alinéa 3 doit être omis pour la même raison : le seul fait que l’article 1er, alinéa 1er, du projet fait référence à « la décision de la Banque Centrale Européenne du 4 février 2014 identifiant les établissements de crédit soumis à l’évaluation complète » ne justifie pas sa mention dans le préambule.

Cet alinéa et le suivant doivent être remplacés comme suit (2) :

« Vu l’urgence, motivée par [reproduction de la motivation spéciale figurant dans la lettre de demande d’avis];

Vu l’avis 56.121/2 du Conseil d’Etat, donné le 30 avril 2014, en application de l’article 84, § 1er, alinéa 1er, 3°, des lois sur le Conseil d’Etat, coordonnées le 12 janvier 1973; ».

58826 BELGIAN OFFICIAL GAZETTE — 13.08.2014 — MONITEUR BELGE

3. In the Dutch text, both the heading of the draft decree and Article 1, first paragraph, must refer to “paragraph 4” – instead of “paragraph 4” – of Article 33 of Council Regulation (EU) No 1024/2013 of 15 October 2013 conferring specific tasks on the European Central Bank concerning policies relating to the prudential supervision of credit institutions.

In the same way, the Dutch text of Article 1, first paragraph, of the draft must refer to “paragraphs 2 and 3” – and not to “paragraphs 2 and 3” – of the aforementioned decision of the European Central Bank of 4 February 2014.

The Clerk, The President,
Bernadette Vigneron Pierre Vandernoot

Notes
(1) Principles of legislative drafting - Guide for drafting legislative and regulatory texts, www.raadvst-consetat.be, tab “Legislative drafting”, recommendation 19.
(2) Ibid., formula F 3-5-3, taking into account the renumbering resulting from Article 23, 3°, of the law of 20 January 2014 ‘amending the competence, procedure and organization of the Council of State’.

30 JUNE 2014. — Royal Decree concerning the coverage of the costs of the National Bank of Belgium related to the comprehensive assessment, including balance sheet assessment, referred to in Article 33, paragraph 4, of Regulation (EU) No 1024/2013 of the Council of 15 October 2013 conferring specific tasks on the European Central Bank concerning policies relating to the prudential supervision of credit institutions

PHILIP, King of the Belgians,

To all who are now and hereafter shall be, our Greeting.

Having regard to Regulation (EU) No 1024/2013 of the Council of 15 October 2013 conferring specific tasks on the European Central Bank concerning policies relating to the prudential supervision of credit institutions;

Having regard to the law of 22 February 1998 establishing the organic statute of the National Bank of Belgium, Article 12 bis, § 4, inserted by Article 187 of the Royal Decree of 3 March 2011 concerning the evolution of the supervision architecture of the financial sector, confirmed by Article 298 of the law of 3 August 2012;

Having regard to the request for urgent handling, motivated by the fact that it is of great importance for the proper functioning of the National Bank of Belgium that the allocation of the costs it incurs in the framework of the comprehensive assessment of certain credit institutions be regulated without delay; that it is indeed about the financing of the National Bank, linked to the exercise of prudential supervision of the banking sector; that the comprehensive assessment has moreover already started and will be completed in a relatively short time; that it is therefore necessary that the National Bank can quickly begin to calculate the costs;

Having regard to opinion 56.121/2 of the Council of State, given on 30 April 2014, applying Article 84, § 1, first paragraph, 3°, of the laws on the Council of State, coordinated on 12 January 1973;

On the proposal of the Minister of Finance,

We have decided and decide:

Article 1. The costs of the National Bank of Belgium (hereinafter: the Bank) related to the comprehensive assessment, including balance sheet assessment, referred to in Article 33, paragraph 4, of Regulation (EU) No 1024/2013 of the Council of 15 October 2013 conferring specific tasks on the European Central Bank concerning policies relating to the prudential supervision of credit institutions (hereinafter: the comprehensive assessment), are, in accordance with the provisions of this decree, borne by the institutions for which the Bank must cooperate in the comprehensive assessment on the basis of Article 1, paragraphs 2 and 3, of the decision of the European Central Bank of 4 February 2014 establishing the credit institutions subject to the comprehensive assessment (ECB/2014/3).

The costs of the Bank related to the comprehensive assessment include the costs for third-party services and other external costs that can be attributed to the comprehensive assessment.

Subject to the application of the above paragraphs of this article, internal operating costs of the Bank such as personnel costs, management costs and depreciation of tangible and intangible fixed assets are not costs related to the comprehensive assessment within the meaning of this decree. If applicable, these costs are charged to the financial sector in accordance with the Royal Decree of 17 July 2012 concerning the coverage of the operating costs of the National Bank of Belgium related to the supervision of financial institutions, implementing Article 12bis, § 4, of the law of 22 February 1998 establishing the organic statute of the National Bank of Belgium.

Art. 2. With a view to the allocation of the costs referred to in Article 1, second paragraph, the Bank calculates an average cost per man-day by dividing the total costs related to the comprehensive assessment by the number of man-days provided for that purpose. For each institution referred to in Article 1, first paragraph, the contribution is determined by multiplying that average cost per man-day by the number of man-days provided that can be attributed to the comprehensive assessment of that institution.

Art. 3. The contributions due under this decree are paid within a period of one month after the payment request by the Bank.

The contributions established by this decree are deposited into the account of the Bank according to the modalities determined by it.

The institutions responsible for paying the contributions established by this decree communicate to the Bank, in the manner and within the time limit it determines, all necessary data for the calculation of those contributions.

The institutions that do not comply with a payment request from the Bank within the time limit established by this decree receive from the Bank a reminder by registered mail requesting payment within thirty days from the post date of that letter. After the expiry of this period, the institutions remaining in default are legally and without further notice liable for legal interest on the amounts due. The applicable interest rate is the legal commercial interest rate as determined on the basis of the law of 2 August 2002 concerning the fight against payment delays in commercial transactions.

Art. 4. This decree enters into force on the day it is published in the Belgian State Gazette.

Art. 5. The minister responsible for Finance is charged with the execution of this decree.

Given in Brussels, 30 June 2014.

PHILIP
By the King:
The Minister of Finance,
FEDERAL PUBLIC SERVICE MOBILITY AND TRANSPORT
K GEENS
*
[C − 2014/14362]

13 JUNE 2014. — Royal Decree regulating the composition and operation of the advisory committee for train passengers

PHILIP, King of the Belgians,

To all who are now and hereafter shall be, our Greeting.

Having regard to the law of 21 March 1991 concerning the reform of certain economic public companies, Article 47/1, inserted by the law of 10 April 2014 amending the law of 21 March 1991 concerning the reform of certain economic public companies regarding the advisory committee for train passengers;

Having regard to the Royal Decree of 4 June 2002 regulating the composition and operation of the advisory committee at the National Company of Belgian Railways;

The costs of the Bank related to the comprehensive assessment include the costs for services provided by third parties as well as other external costs attributable to the comprehensive assessment.

Subject to the application of the preceding paragraphs of this article, the internal operating costs of the Bank, such as personnel costs, management costs and depreciation of tangible and intangible fixed assets, are not costs related to the comprehensive assessment within the meaning of this decree. If applicable, these costs are charged to the financial sector in accordance with the Royal Decree of 17 July 2012 concerning the coverage of the operating costs of the National Bank of Belgium related to the supervision of financial institutions, implementing Article 12bis, § 4, of the law of 22 February 1998 establishing the organic statute of the National Bank of Belgium.

Art. 2. With a view to the allocation of the costs referred to in Article 1, paragraph 2, the Bank calculates an average cost per man-day by dividing the total costs related to the comprehensive assessment by the number of man-days provided for this purpose. The contribution of each institution referred to in Article 1, paragraph 1, is determined by multiplying this average cost per man-day by the number of man-days performed, which is attributable to the comprehensive assessment of said institution.

Art. 3. The contributions due under this decree are settled within the month following the payment invitation made by the Bank.

The contributions established by this decree are paid into the account of the Bank according to the modalities determined by it.

The institutions required to settle the contributions established by this decree communicate to the Bank, according to the modalities and within the time limits determined by it, the information necessary for the calculation of these contributions.

The institutions that do not respond within the time limit established by this decree to the payment invitation made by the Bank receive from the latter a summons, by registered mail, to proceed with payment within the thirty days following the date of said registered mail. At the expiry of this period, the institutions remaining in default are of right, and without further notice, liable for legal interest on the amounts due. The applicable interest rate is the legal commercial interest rate as determined on the basis of the law of 2 August 2002 concerning the fight against payment delays in commercial transactions.

Art. 4. This decree enters into force on the day of its publication in the Belgian State Gazette.

Art. 5. The minister who has Finance in his attributions is charged with the execution of this decree.

Given in Brussels, 30 June 2014.

PHILIPPE
By the King:
The Minister of Finance,
K GEENS
FEDERAL PUBLIC SERVICE MOBILITY AND TRANSPORT
[C − 2014/14362]

13 JUNE 2014. — Royal Decree regulating the composition and operation of the advisory committee for railway passengers

PHILIPPE, King of the Belgians,

To all, present and future, Greeting.

Having regard to the law of 21 March 1991 reforming certain economic public companies, Article 47/1, inserted by the law of 10 April 2014 amending the law of 21 March 1991 reforming certain economic public companies regarding the advisory committee for railway passengers;

Having regard to the Royal Decree of 4 June 2002 regulating the composition and operation of the advisory committee at the National Company of Belgian Railways;

BELGISCH STAATSBLAD — 13.08.2014 — MONITEUR BELGE 58828

BELGISCH STAATSBLAD — 13.08.2014 — MONITEUR BELGE 58828