Consultation and transparency are essential elements of CEIOPS' functioning and of the whole "Lamfalussy process". The creation of a robust regulatory framework for supervision and the adoption of effective supervisory practices rely both on a clear and complete knowledge of market situations and needs, and on a wide sharing of the regulatory and supervisory policy.

CEIOPS, at an early stage, consults interested parties in preparing advice to the European Commission and also in drafting its own recommendations, guidelines and standards. In general, it adopts an extensive degree of disclosure in fulfilling its duties, using appropriate means of communication, within the limits of secrecy and confidentiality constraints inherent in supervisory activity and which are established by EU legislation.

With this in mind, CEIOPS drafted its Public Statement of Consultation Practices (CEIOPS-DOC-01/05), adopted in February 2005.

In practical terms, CEIOPS is committed to consult (before and after the drafting of each consultation paper) market participants, consumers and end users, in three different ways:

• on a continuous basis at Working Group level through informal discussions at an early stage with those most likely to be directly affected. In this phase the operational organisation of CEIOPS aims to inform interested parties about the work under way and find practical ways to facilitate external inputs while a draft document or statement is under preparation;
  
• on the basis of wide, formal consultations, also via this Website and by holding public hearings, once a draft document or statement (Consultation Papers) has been finalised;
  
• by using inputs from the Consultative Panel, whose tasks are mainly to oversee CEIOPS' policy, Work Programme and consultations practice.
• by inviting stakeholders' inputs and reactions to specific projects (Issues papers, Surveys and Questionnaires).
  

Policy
Consultative Panel
Consultation Papers
Public Hearings
Quantitative Impact Studies (QIS)
Issues Papers, Surveys and Questionnaires