Decision (EU) 2025/873 of the European Central Bank of 24 April 2025 amending Decision (EU) 2022/1981 on the use of services of the European System of Central Banks by competent authorities (ECB/2022/33) (ECB/2025/13)

## Report on ECB Decision EU 2025/873 Amending Decision EU 2022/1981 on the Use of ESCB Services **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes European Central Bank (ECB) Decision EU 2025/873, which amends Decision EU 2022/1981 regarding the use of services provided by the European System of Central Banks (ESCB) by competent authorities within the Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM). The core purpose of this amendment is to mandate the use of the Banks Integrated Reporting Dictionary Operational Tasks Project (BIRD OT) by national competent authorities (NCAs). The key finding is that this amendment aims to improve the quality, consistency, and accuracy of data reported within the SSM by standardizing data models and reporting dictionaries. **2. Introduction:** This report provides an informative analysis of ECB Decision EU 2025/873, based solely on the text provided. The decision amends a previous policy concerning the use of ESCB services by competent authorities. This report will focus on the specific changes introduced by the amendment and their potential impact. **3. Policy Overview:** * This Decision is an amendment to Decision EU 2022/1981 of the European Central Bank (ECB/2022/33) on the use of services of the European System of Central Banks by competent authorities. * The core objective of the original policy (Decision EU 2022/1981), as inferred from the provided text, is to define which ESCB services competent authorities must use and which they may use on a voluntary basis when carrying out their tasks within the SSM. **4. Background and Rationale:** This amendment focuses on enhancing data quality and consistency within the SSM. The text suggests that a uniform data model and reporting dictionary (BIRD OT) are crucial for improving the accuracy of data reported to central banks. The amendment likely addresses inconsistencies or inefficiencies in regulatory reporting within the SSM that have arisen since the original policy was implemented. The use of BIRD OT is seen as a way to standardize reporting practices and foster better cooperation in the regulatory reporting field. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** This amendment specifically changes Annex I of Decision EU 2022/1981. Annex I specifies the ESCB services that all competent authorities are *required* to use in carrying out their tasks within the SSM. The amendment *replaces* the existing Annex I with a new list that includes the "Banks Integrated Reporting Dictionary Operational Tasks Project BIRD OT" as a mandatory service. * **Original Policy:** Annex I listed services that competent authorities *were required to use.* * **New Rule/Provision:** The amended Annex I *now mandates* the use of BIRD OT, along with other specified ESCB services like AnaCredit, CSDB, CoreNet, ESB, IAM, RIAD, and SHSDB. * **Effect of the Change:** This change moves BIRD OT from a potentially voluntary service (or not listed at all) to a *mandatory* service for all competent authorities operating within the SSM. This enforces standardization in data reporting and should improve data quality and consistency. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** The primary target audience is **national competent authorities (NCAs)** operating within the Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM), as they are now mandated to use BIRD OT. This also indirectly affects **reporting agents and supervised agents** who are required to submit supervisory data reports to these competent authorities. The ECB and ESCB central banks are also stakeholders, as they will benefit from the improved data quality resulting from the mandated use of BIRD OT. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible agency/bodies:** The ECB and the national competent authorities (NCAs) within the SSM are responsible for implementing this amendment. The ESCB Statistics Committee likely plays a role in steering the development, running, and maintenance of BIRD OT. * **Timelines:** The Decision enters into force on the twentieth day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union (May 12, 2025), meaning that the updated policy becomes effective on June 1, 2025. This provides a specific timeline for implementation. * **Specific to the change:** NCAs will need to adopt BIRD OT into their reporting processes, likely requiring training and system updates for both the authorities and the reporting entities they oversee. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** The intended outcome of this amendment is to improve the quality, consistency, and accuracy of data reported within the SSM. By mandating the use of BIRD OT, the ECB aims to ensure that all reporting agents and supervised agents apply a uniform data model and reporting dictionary. This standardization should facilitate cooperation in regulatory reporting, enhance the effectiveness of supervision, and reduce the burden of compiling and submitting accurate reports. **9. Conclusion:** ECB Decision EU 2025/873 represents a significant step toward standardizing regulatory reporting within the SSM. By mandating the use of BIRD OT, the ECB seeks to improve data quality and consistency, foster cooperation among competent authorities, and enhance the overall effectiveness of prudential supervision. This change is likely to have a substantial impact on NCAs and the entities they supervise, requiring adjustments to reporting processes and systems. The amendment underscores the ECB's commitment to ensuring the smooth, effective, and consistent functioning of the SSM.

Key Entities Referenced