The Spanish government has committed to ceding certain banking oversight responsibilities to the European Central Bank (ECB) and the Bank of Spain, Reuters reported. The government’s announcement came amid mounting criticism of its previous intervention in a collapsed takeover bid by BBVA for rival Banco de Sabadell, which would have combined two of Spain’s largest banks.
A ministry spokesperson confirmed the move, saying Spain will adapt its domestic regulations so that the ECB and the national central bank hold “exclusive competence” in areas of prudential supervision — notably mergers and acquisitions (M&A) within the banking sector.
The shift is expected to take effect once Spain adopts the EU’s new capital requirements directive by January 2026.
The decision comes in the wake of the failed €16 billion bid by BBVA for Sabadell. While BBVA secured only 25.47 % of Sabadell’s voting rights — falling short of the threshold needed to trigger a mandatory takeover — the episode exposed tensions between Madrid’s control over bank M&A and the EU’s push for freer capital movement.
In July, the European Commission launched an infringement procedure against Spain, warning that the government’s broad discretionary powers were “unjustified restrictions” on movement of capital in the single market.
Among concerns voiced by Madrid prior to the takeover attempt was the consolidation of the Spanish banking market — the merger would have reduced the number of large banks and potentially increased systemic risk.
From a regulatory perspective, this shift reflects a broader trend in Europe: stronger centralised scrutiny of bank consolidation. By transferring the M&A oversight to the ECB and central bank, Spain is aligning itself more closely with the architecture of the EU’s Banking Union. For the Spanish banking sector, it means less national discretion in rejecting or delaying deals, likely reducing political interference in future major transactions.
However, the move may come at a political cost. The Olive Press, a Spanish English-language news outlet, noted critics argue that the government is surrendering domestic control at a time when public and regional sensitivities — particularly in areas like Catalonia, where Sabadell is based — remain high.
With the new framework taking effect in the coming months, Spain’s financial landscape is poised for a more integrated approach under EU oversight — a noticeable pivot given the recent controversy.
