One of the key functions of the secretariat of a Brussels-based European trade association is the monitoring of legal and regulatory developments at the European level and the sharing of information and insight gained with membership. Therefore, the AMICE Secretariat monitors such initiatives in the field of insurance and, where relevant, financial services at large, but concentrates its resources on areas which have a particular impact on the mutual and cooperative insurance sector.

Such issues are commonly addressed in AMICE’s Legal Affairs task force.

During the course of 2010, the topical areas under observation include:

• Insurance Guarantee Schemes
• Rating Agencies (use of ratings for regulatory purposes)
• Taxation of Savings (inclusion of certain life insurance products)
• Equal treatment
• eCall
• PRIPS
• Tying
• Pensions
• European financial supervisory architecture

On some of these topics and other matters, AMICE cooperates with CEA, the European insurance federation.