Alicja Wojciechowska
Insurance mediation in the light of
European law
Studia Prawnoustrojowe nr 16, 281-290
UWM 2012
S tu d ia Praw noustrojow e 16
Alicja Wojciechowska
K ated ra P raw a Cywilnego
Wydział P raw a i adm inistracji UWM
Insurance mediation in the light
of European law
In tr o d u c tio n
A new concept of insu ran ce m ediation w ith all its consequences h as been en shrin ed in the EU Directive from 9t h Decem ber 20021 (Insurance M edia tion Directive 2002/92/EC). The D irective replaces th e existing EU reg u la tions, so th e Directive from 1977 (77/92/EEC) an d Recom m endation from 1992 (92/48/EEC). Every m em ber sta te w as required by th e E urop ean Union to ad just its legal reg u latio n in accordance w ith th e Directive provisions by 15t h J a n u a ry 2005.
The countries of C en tral an d E a s te rn Europe: B ulgaria, Czech Republic, E stonia, Latvia, L ith u an ia, Poland, Rom ania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, so th e EU M em ber S tates were req u ired to im plem ent th e Directive by 15t h
J a n u a ry 2005. Poland created a unified system of law in th e form of laws packages, reg ulatin g th e functioning of economic insurance m ark e t adopted to th e EU req uirem en ts already in 20032.
D ir e c tiv e 2002/92/EC from 9th D e c e m b e r 2002
o n th e in s u r a n c e m e d ia tio n - it s sc o p e a n d d e fin itio n s
On 30t h Septem ber 2002 The M inisters of Foreign Affairs in th e EU countries have adopted th e Directive of Insu rance M ediation. The E uropean U nion Directive aim s to create optim al conditions, so th e E uro pean m em ber
1 T h e D irectiv e 2002/92/E C d a te d 9.12.2002, c o n ce rn in g in s u ra n c e m ed ia tio n , cam e into effect on 15.01.2005.
2 O n 1.01.2003 th e p a ck a g e o f in s u ra n c e a cts, in tro d u c in g n ew re g u la tio n s c o n cern in g P o lish econom ic in s u ra n c e m a r k e t cam e in to effect, J.L . (D .U .) 2003, N. 122, a m e n d e d 1151 w ith c h an g es; J.L . (D .U .) 2003, N. 124, a m e n d e d 1152 w ith ch an g es; J.L . (D .U .) 2003, N. 124, a m e n d e d 1154 w ith ch an g es.
sta te s of the Common M ark et (Single M arket) were able to function in the field of financial services. The necessity of new directive a d ap tatio n is the re su lt of both, th e rapid developm ent of new m ediation forms, as well as the progressive economic in te g ratio n of th e EU m em ber states. The Directive replaces th e previously published U nion acts - The Directive from 1976 and th e Recom m endation from 1991, because th ere were fu nd am en tal b a rriers to tak e up and operate th e insuran ce and rein su ran ce activities of in term ed ia ries in home m arket. The directive aim s to stre n g th e n the custom ers protec tion an d to improve th e possibility of choice in th e insuran ce policies.
The definition of “insurance m ediation” and “rein su ran ce” have been adopted. Insuran ce m ediation h as been defined as all activities concerning p resen tatio n, inform ation, proposals or activities p rep arin g to insuran ce con tra c ts as well as th e acts of insu rance contracts or p articipatio n in the ad m in istratio n an d enforcem ent of such agreem ents, in p a rtic u la r w hen th e event of dam age tak es place. R einsurance m ediation m eans th e sam e, except th a t it relates to rein su rance contracts.
It should be stressed th a t th e D irective’s aim is not to elim inate from the m em ber sta te s ’ vocabulary th e following issues: insurance agent and in su rance broker. The aim of insuran ce subject, accepted in th e Directive, is to protect th e agency’s in te rests of consum ers w henever they have to deal w ith insu rance interm ediaries. A side effect is th e creation of sam e platform for th e com petitive m ark et activities of m ultiple operators.
According to th e definition, any person who u n d e rta k es th e insurance m ediation and advising services rela te d to th e activity, for earnings, is called “an insurance in term ed iary ”. The sam e definition concerns “a reinsurance interm ed iary ”, except th a t it relates to a rein surance business.
T hroughout its content, th e directive has consistently avoided th e term s such as “insurance ag ent” or “insu ran ce broker”, assum ing th a t each en tity (so bank, agent, post office, car dealership or broker), in term ed iatin g the insu rance contracts, subject to th e D irective regulations. As a re su lt of adop tion of such a form ula, th e protection of consum ers’ in te rests should be identical in every case of m ediation, independently from th e service provider.
The Directive concerns people who do professional insu rance activities, however, does not concern a different professional activity, such as a tax specialist and an accounting, who have th e opportunity to provide professio n al advice in th e field of insuran ce coverage. M em ber countries m ay not apply th e Directive regulations in relatio n to people engaged in m ediation services as an auxiliary activity, however, th e activity should be an excep tion, as th e protection of consum ers’ in te re sts3.
In s u r a n c e m e d ia tio n in th e lig h t o f E u ro p e a n law 283 The Directive provides th a t any person or company, u n d e rta k in g in su rance or rein su ran ce activities, m u st be registered in home M em ber State u n d er c e rtain m inim um requirem ents. T heir aim is to en su re competence and full professional services of an interm ediary:
1) an ap p ro p riate knowledge and capacity to legal activities to the ex ten t specified by th e law of M em ber S ta te regulations;
2) a good reputation;
3) being in possession of a n insu rance or o th er com parable security liability as a consequence of professional negligence;
4) providing every possible m easure to protect custom ers from th e in te r m ediary’s inability to tra n s fe r th e prem ium to th e insurance company, r e tu rn the prem ium or tra n sfe r th e am ount resu ltin g from the claim.
Regarding first requ irem ent, th e D irective allows M em ber S ta te s a cer ta in flexibility in th is field. The au th o rities estab lish requ irem ents concer ning in term ed iaries’ qualification. They m ay also renounce th e requirem ents of th is decision if the people alread y carry out in term ediary activities, and people occupying m anag erial positions in th e com pany have th e knowledge and skills “needed for th e ir duties”.
A good rep u tatio n , in principle, is an obvious thing, concerning police file of a n a tu ra l person, a crim inal record and p a st activities of avoiding b a n kruptcy. An agent should have th e insuran ce liability business, regard ing the en tire territo ry of th e Community. Such security should include a t least 1 000 000 per claim and 1 500 000 for all claims per year.
Regarding fourth point, th e Directive sets out various m easures th a t can be ta k e n by M em ber S tates and insu ran ce in term ediaries to protect th e ir custom ers. Among these m easures th ere is a provision in th e contract th a t th e prem ium s sen t by th e client to th e in term ed iary are tre a te d as if they were already paid to th e insurer. B ut th e com pensation paid by th e in su re r to th e interm ed iary is not tre a te d as if th a t was p aid to the custom er, u n til th e custom er actually receives them . It is also possible for in term ediaries to have cash reserves a t a fixed ra te of 4% of prem ium p er year, b u t not less th a n 15 000 euros. M em ber S ta te s m ay adopt more strin g en t requirem en ts, b u t only ag ain st in term ediaries registered in th e ir territory.
According to new D irective, M em ber S tates are requ ired to provide a source of inform ation about th e details of insurance and rein su ran ce in te r m ediaries’ reg istratio n , th e ir proper au th o rities and M em ber S tates w here they operate. The new regulations stip u late th a t M em ber S tates should encourage th e e sta b lish m e n t of “a d e q u ate a n d effective” procedures of a P arallel resolution - of a dispute th a t would be necessary in case of disagreem ent betw een custom ers and insuran ce interm ediaries. T heir aim is to satisfy all dissatisfied custom ers in a no-judicial way, w ith existing rele v a n t institutions.
The D irective stip u lates th a t th e insu rance interm ed iary who inten d s to carry on business for the first tim e, b u t in different s ta te from the one he is reg istered in, should inform th e com petent home au tho rities. The Directive allows th e au th o rities of F inancial M em ber S ta te s an d o ther en tities (for exam ple: insu ran ce companies or associations) to be involved in th e process of insuran ce in term ed iaries’ reg istra tio n th ro u g h th e supervision or takin g control over th e appro p riate au th o rity of th a t S tate. The interm ed iary who did not reg ister th e ir business as well as insurance com pany using services, ru n th e risk, w hich are “ap p ro p riate” sanctions th a t can be imposed by the appropriate au th o rities of th e M em ber State.
Im p le m e n ta tio n o f th e D ir e c tiv e o n I n s u r a n c e M e d ia tio n
D espite some differences in functioning of in term ediaries insu ran ce m a r k et in p a rticu la r E uropean countries, th e legislators did not only in te n d to a d ju st th e dom estic legal regulations, according to EU requirem en ts, b u t also to protect the consum er in a far-reaching field. The consum er’s sta tu s has been strengthened by im plem enting th e Insurance M ediation Directive in the E uropean insurance m ark et4. The introduction of new legal regulations and
th eir tran sitio nal periods were also going to enable the operators, engaged till now in insurance m ediation, to deal w ith new business conditions.
W hen, in particular, independent interm ediaries or those active in more th a n one insurance company, were obliged to have liability insurance, the fact h as become a significant cause of changes for this group of interm ediaries.
The common m ark e t is constantly changing and ad aptin g to new condi tions. It m u st face m any challenges5: globalization, stru c tu ra l changes, the
growing im portance of services in th e economy, as well as changing EU itself, which from th e C om m unity of 12 countries has becam e a U nion of 27 m em bers.
The process of form ing th e in te rn a l m ark e t in insurance has essentially been completed. In surance companies w ithin th e U nion are th e subject of official au th orizatio n and supervision by a M em ber S ta te w here th e head office has its place. A uniform system allows insu rance companies to conduct th e ir activities through o ut th e EU, by th e free activity estab lish m en t or g u a ra n tee th e freedom of services provision6.
4 See: J . W. P rz y b y tn io w sk i, A n a liz a p o ró w n a w c za fu n k c jo n o w a n ia p o śr ed n ic tw a u b e zp ie
czeniow ego w Polsce i N iem czec h p o im p lem e n ta cji In su r a n c e M e d ia tio n D irective z 2 0 0 2 r o k u ,
„W iadom ości U bezp ieczen io w e” 2009, no. 3, p. 151 a n d follow ing.
5 See: I. Ję d rze jc z y k , C a ta stro p h ic ris k a n d a n ecessity o f u s in g a n in su ra n ce protection, [in:] I. J ę d rze jcz y k , S. B ożyk-W ęglarz, T h e in su ra n ce o f c a ta stro p h ic ris k in the E u ro p ea n
U nion a n d the G lobal C hanges, K atow ice 2007, pp. 9 -1 0 .
In s u r a n c e m e d ia tio n in th e lig h t o f E u ro p e a n law 285 The introduction of fu nd am en tal freedoms, including in p a rtic u la r the freedom of settlem en t, provision of services and freedom of th e capital flow were necessary for new m ark e t’s a rise 7. A person u n d e rta k in g th e economic activities in an oth er M em ber S ta te can benefit from free people’s flow or the freedom in services provision. The distinction betw een these two freedoms is crucial because the operator has his obligations, imposed by host country’s legal regulations8.
The freedom of m ovem ent9 is understood as the EU citizens’ rig h t to move freely w ithout visa and authorization, se ttle m en t10, m aking economic activity and em ploym ent, use of social aid in each M ember State.
In insu ran ce range th is m eans th a t every insurance company, placed in one of M em ber S tates, h as its rig h t to lead th e insurance business, in the form of a b ran ch or rep resen tativ e office business in an o th er M em ber S tate, providing sim ultaneously the possibility of acting, according to n ation al tr e atm e n t rules or subjective equal tre a tm e n t entities.
The freedom of services provision11 m eans th e rig h t to buy foreign servi ces offered by foreign com panies from th e EU and also the rig h t to sell these services. It allows th e insu rance company to estab lish its place or a b ran ch in one of M em ber S tates, to operate in an o th er M em ber S tate, w ithout the necessity to create its own facility organization there, u n d e r th e sam e condi tions as native insurance companies.
In su r a n c e m e d ia tio n in th e s y ste m s o f G erm an E n g lish , F r e n c h a n d P o lis h la w
G erm an m ark e t is highly developed am ong insurance m ark ets in E u ro pe. It is second the size of th e EU m ark ets and th e fou rth (after U.S., J a p a n and the U nited UK) in com parison to th e m ark e t size in the world12.
7 See: J . M onkiew icz, U bezpieczenia w U nii E u ro p ejskiej, W arsz a w a 2002, p. 51 a n d follow ing.
8 See: I. Ję d rz e jcz y k , J . W. P rz y b y tn io w sk i, T ra n sfo n tie r In su r a n c e S ervices a s H o m oge
n o u s E u ro p e a n M a rk e t D evelo p m e n t D irection, Vyvojove T ren d y V P oisoeovnictve II. P ro g re s s i
ve T ren d s in In s u ra n c e I n d u s tr y - II, 11-1 2 .0 6 .2 0 0 8 , S enec, S lo v ak ia, a v a ila b le a t: <w w w .spe- e d n e t.s k /u s ers /c erc o /z b o rn ik > .
9 A rt. 43-48 TW E.
10 C o m p are: T h e E u ro p e a n C o u rt of J u s tic e , issu e d in C ase n r C -213/89 F a c to re m e . 11 See: E. Sodolska, P ra w o u bezpieczeń w św ietle p o sta n o w ień T r a k ta tu usta n a w ia ją ceg o
W sp ó ln o tę E u r o p e js k ą , [in:] Z. B ro d e c k i, M. S e rw a c h , P ra w o u b e zp iec ze ń g o sp o d a r cz y c h ,
G d a ń s k 2005, p. 1282.
12 W. P ia sk o w sk i, N ie m ie c k i ryn ek ubezpieczeniow y, [in:] J . M onkiew icz (ed.), J e d n o lity
ryn ek ubezpieczeń w U n ii E uro p ejskiej. Procesy ro zw o ju i in teg ra cji, B ydgoszcz - W arsz aw a,
2005, p. 235; C E A S ta tis tic s no. 34 a n d 36, E u ro p e a n I n s u ra n c e In F ig u re s, J u ly 2007 a n d O cto b er 2008; W ord In s u ra n c e in 2007, S ig m a no. 3/2008.
Legal solutions in G erm any13, in force since 22nd M ay 200714, regarding insu rance m ediation’s functioning, are th e resu lt of a new a tte m p t of n o rm a lization of overall issues related to th e distrib u tio n of insurance services from both th e subjective (entities categories in m ediation), as well as objecti ve (specification - w h at th e insu ran ce m ediation is and w h at are th e so- called activities of interm ediary )15.
As for th e insu ran ce activity, according to G erm an law, a division can be noticed - th ere are “independent in term ed iaries” - w here insu ran ce agents an d brokers are included. There are also “dependent interm ed iaries”, inclu ding employees, i.e. people engaged in th e activities of concrete insurance com pany16.
An insuran ce broker rep resen ts first of all th e in te rests of his custom er ag ain st th e in su re r and generally he works only for him. This is a person not attach ed to the p e rm an en t m ediation b u t obliged to m ediation w hen signing th e insuran ce agreem ents in favor of th e insu red as th e ran ge of his profes sional activity and, a t th e sam e tim e, an in surance bro ker app ears as a provider, offering his own product. The ta rg e t audience for th is service is b oth dem and side and supply side of th e insu rance m arket. All th e services provided by th e insu ran ce broker consist of m any item s and generally last for a longer period17. It is im p o rtan t th a t the broker has th e client’ m andate, an d he receives a comm ission from the in su re r18. A broker cannot be in any w ay depending on th e insurer. In G erm an legal system the perm ission from supervisory au th o rity in th e field of brokerage business is not required as in th e activity stan d s th e rule of “lib e rta ria n system ”19.
According to G erm an law, th e insuran ce agent is a m erch an t registered in the comm ercial reg istre r (and therefore its activity is not ran k ed as, so called, free professions, like in France). G erm an agents collect no prem ium s an d do not elim inate dam ages. The agents are allowed by law to play the m u ltiag en ts role an d th ey are rela te d to m any insures, according to the contract. They work b e h a lf and on b e h a lf of insurance com panies th ey re p re sent. A m u ltiag en t can work, in some extent, independently from th e
insu-13 D. G oerz, C h. H en seler, R. P e rsc h k , V ersich e ru n g sverm ittlerg e setz. P ra x is -L e itfa d en fu r
d e n u n g e b u n d en e n V ersicherungsvertrieb z u r E U -V erm ittlerric h tlin ie, M it a lle n Ä n d e ru n g e n ab
2 2.05 .2 0 0 7 L exisN exis.
14 D as G e setz z u r N e u re g e lu n g d es V e rsic h e ru n g s v e rm ittle rre c h ts . 15 See: J . P rz y b y tn io w sk i, op. cit., p. 152.
16 See: H. E ich ler, V ersicherungsrecht, K a rls ru h e 1976, pp. 8 3 -8 4 .
17 See: W. T rau b , M a r k tfu n k tio n u n d D ie n stle istu n g des V ersich eru n g sm a kle rs a u f der
G ru n d la g e in fo rm a tio n sö ek o n o m isc h er E rg eb n isse , K a rls ru h e 1995, p. 49 a n d o th ers.
18 See: H.A. G rie ss, M. Z in n e rt, D er V ersicherungsm akler, P o sitio n u n d F u n k tio n a us
rech tlich er u n d w irtsc h a ftlic h e r S ic h t, E in H a n b u b u c h fü r die P raxis, Verlag V ersich eru n g sw irt s c h a ft, K a rls ru h e 1992, p. 40.
19 See: C. K osikow ski, W olność g o sp o d a rcza w p ra w ie p o ls k im , W a rsz a w a 1995, p. 19 a n d o th e rs .
In s u r a n c e m e d ia tio n in th e lig h t o f E u ro p e a n law 287 rance company. A lthough he is able to choose th e in su re r to s ta r t th e ir cooperation2 0, large insu rance com panies tre a t th is as a serious violation of
the principle of loyalty and tru st. In th ese circum stances, th e situ atio n of G erm an agents is considered as th e least favorable in th e E uro p ean U nion2 1.
An insurance agent can be any person chosen by the insurer, b ut insurance broker, as he works for the insured, m ust be the inspection subject of States authorities. As opposed to brokers, agents are not sworn but have to go through m ark e t research in different rang es and th ey are not req uired to th e ir opi nion of th e bestow al of confidence, competence assessm en t an d usefulness2 2.
The insuran ce agent who is contractually rela te d w ith “exclusivity” to only one insurer, is called th e exclusive rep re sen ta tiv e2 3. He is obliged to d istrib u te only one insuran ce com pany’s products. W orking for o th er com pa ny is forbidden. He is not employed by th e insurer, b u t operates independen tly. However, a p a rt from th e contractual provisions, he is rela te d to in su re r’s regulations and rules. In th is way, th e autonom y g ran ted to th e agent by law is lim ited an d in th e field his position is sim ilar to an employee w orking for an insurer.
In th e system of E nglish law th e concept of “insuran ce interm ed iary ” m eans a person not employed by insurer, who settles insurance for others who are not employed by th e insurer. Among insurance in term ediaries th ere is a distinction betw een insu rance agents, insuran ce brokers and o th er in te r m ediaries, in dependent from any in su re r2 4. In E nglish law an insurance agent is a person directly employed by th e in su re r or subjected to its supe riority and even if th e agent will not deal w ith th e insu red all th e tim e, he will be rela te d to th e in su re r2 5.
In E nglish lite ra tu re an insu ran ce broker is defined as “an insurance agent of in su re d ”2 6. An insuran ce broker acts on b e h a lf of his customer. They
are not associated w ith th e in su re r by any legal relationship nor th e broker has any obligations2 7. The B ritish Insurance B rokers’ Council stresses th a t
an insurance broker is able to choose th e in su re r completely on his own2 8. Insurance brokerage in F rance has its legal insurance reg ulation in the Code des A ssurances2 9. According to F ren ch legal system of interm ediaries,
20 Ib id em , p. 8.
21 See: D. B u rg , C acophonie regne d a n s E U E L ’A r g u s from 15.03.1996. 22 See: H.A. G rie ss, M. Z in n e rt, op. cit., p. 30.
23 Ibidem .
24 See: M. C la rk e , T h e la w o f in su ra n ce a g en t, L on d o n 1980, p. 189. 25 See: J . B ird s, op. cit., pp. 1 7 4 -1 7 5 .
26 Ib id em , pp. 1 7 5 -1 7 6 .
27 C o m p are: R o b e rts v. P la is te d 1989, 2 Lloyd’s R ep. 341.
28 B r itis h I n s u ra n c e B ro k e rs ’s C ouncil C o n s u lta tiv e D o cu m en t, T he R e g u la tio n o f I n s u ra n c e B ro k e rs 1976, p. 4.
29 G. C o u rtie u , G. C roquez, Code des A ssu ra n ce s,d eu xiém e é d itio n annotée, K a rg u s - P a ris 1979.
th e insu rance in term ed iaries are divided into th re e groups30: an in su re r em ployees, who are obliged to o b tain in su ra n c e (salesm en), in su ra n c e agents, insu ran ce brokers.
Insurance m ediation can be done by insu rance or rein su ran ce agents or brokers (courtier). Insu ran ce agents, p a rtn e rs or th ird p arties, who in some insuran ce m ediation com panies have th e power of m anagem ent or adm ini stratio n , an d some general agents in France m u st comply w ith th e professio n al abilities. Insu ran ce broker is req u ired to possess th e diplom a of higher law education (private) w ith an option for th e law insurance diplom a or h ig h er studies diplom a of specialized law disciplines, or sta te school diploma on in su ran ce31.
In Poland, th e Directive 2002/92/EC of th e E uropean P a rlia m e n t and E uro pean U nion Council on insu ran ce m ediation h as been im plem ented in th e regulations of th e Act on Insu ran ce M ediation, which am ended came into force on 9th April 2005. It introduced m any significant changes in th e field of insu rance interm ed iaries’ activities regulations. From th e stan dpo int of pro tecting th e rig h ts of th e insured, m ajor changes in th e Act on Insurance M ediation refer to custom er’s inform ative obligation, th e obligation to im pro ve professional skills, th e cash flow g u a ra n tee provided by in term ediaries. It also specifies regulations connected w ith insu rance interm ed iaries’ register, including th e context of free activity in o ther UE M em ber States.
In Polish law regulatio n s32 insu ran ce m ediation is defined as in te rm e diary ’s activity for paym ent in th e field of actual operations or legal activi ties rela te d to insurance contracts. It can only be done by insu ran ce agents an d insuran ce brokers.
In Polish m ark e t a broker is an interm ediary, carrying out insurance activities on b e h a lf of entity, looking for insurance protection. This m ay be n a tu ra l or legal person who, after m eeting several conditions defined by law, h as got a perm ission from supervisory au th o rity to engage in brokerage activities and could be find in insu ran ce brok ers’ reg ister33. B u t insurance agent is an en trep reneu r, having an agency agreem ent, who signed up in su
30 See: E. K ow alew ski, P o śred n ictw o u bezpieczeniow e, [in:] J . W ąsiew icz (ed.), U bezpiecze
n ia w gosp o d a rce ryn ko w ej, t. I, B ydgoszcz 1994, p. 113 a n d J . Ł azow ski, W stęp do n a u k i o u b ezp ieczen ia ch , W a rsz a w a 1948, p. 246.
31 A rt. 5 1 3 -1 a n d 513 (1) Code des A ssu ra n ce s. T h a t re g u la tio n also re fe rs to th e c e rtific a te o f tr a d e schools a n d o th e r schools, w h ic h d e te rm in e th e a b ility of p ro fe ssio n al in s u ra n c e a g e n t, o r th e re le v a n t experience.
32 T h e A ct fro m 16th J u l y J.L . (D .U ) N. 124, a m e n d ed . 1154, th e a c t from 18.02.2005 c o n ce rn in g th e A ct of in s u ra n c e m e d ia tio n a n d som e o th e r A cts from 25.03.2005, J.L . (D.U), N . 48, a m e n d e d 447.
33 I n a r t. 28 of A ct fro m 22.05.2003, co n c e rn in g in s u ra n c e m e d ia tio n a n d q u o ted e arlier, th e r e a re co n d itio n s, n a tu r a l o r leg a l p e rs o n h a s to m e e t w h e n is in te r e s te d in o b ta in in g p e rm iss io n to en g ag e in b ro k e ra g e .
In s u r a n c e m e d ia tio n in th e lig h t o f E u ro p e a n law 289 rance contract an d could be found in insurance ag en ts’ register, concluded w ith an insu rance and registered insurance agents3 4.
According to legal regulations, it is possible for an insuran ce agent to sign more th a n one agreem ent wit several companies. Like Polish and G er m an legislative solutions, E nglish and F rench ones co nstitute th e im plem en tatio n of th e IMD.
Conclusion
W hat m ade E uropean m ark ets approachable were new legislative solu tions, req uiring brokers’ form al an d legal requ irem ents, necessary to obtain a perm ission to work as a n insu ran ce agent and broker. However, th e unifi cation of insurance m ediation m ark e t in th e EU will increase its com petitive ness, w hich in practice should resu lt in th e im provem ent of services and custom er care.
Concern expressions about th e tra n sp a re n c y of con tractu al insurance relation, which are widely used in E urop ean law (and ta k e n from com m unity achievem ents), can be helpful in th e rang e of consum ers’ fu n d am en tal rig h t to inform ation.
Taking and expanding th e insu ran ce m ediation activity (border services) becam e easier because of th e im plem entation of th e directive in practice. The increase of theoretical and practical knowledge is th e effect of filling the inform ation gap and, a t th e sam e, is th e reason of insu rance aw areness and th e increase of th e economic position of insuran ce brokers.
The new requirem en ts have elim inated m any in term ed iaries from the m ark e t (especially those u n p rep ared for th e insu rance d istribution as an additional after-hours activity of su b sta n tia l work). They have in itiated a process of consolidation and connection in the range of brokerage compa nies and insurance agencies.
S tr e s z c z e n ie
P o śred n ictw o u bezpieczen iow e w św ietle p r a w a eu ropejskiego
S łow a kluczow e: p o śred n ictw o u bezpieczeniow e, u słu g i a k tu a r ia ln e , a g e n t, b ro k er, u słu g i u b e z p ieczeniow e.
Celem pracy je s t przedstaw ienie problem u praw nego w zakresie pośred nictw a ubezpieczeniowego w szerokiej perspektyw ie praw a europejskiego, a konkretnie dyrektyw y 2002/92/WE z 30 w rześnia 2002 r. Jednolitość ry n ku pośrednictw a ubezpieczeniowego powoduje w zrost jego konkurencyjności w UE, a to oznacza popraw ę jakości usług, ja k również lepszą dbałość
o klientów. W niektórych k rajach europejskich, głównie tych, które p rzystąp i ły do gospodarki rynkowej po transform acji ustrojowej, rola m ediatorów ubezpieczeniowych w zrasta. A naliza porównawcza w zakresie pośrednictw a ubezpieczeniowego w Europie Środkowej i W schodniej je s t isto tn a z uwagi n a nowe możliwości m ediacji w rozwoju gospodarczym, podobne regulacje praw ne i transgranicznośc usług.
