The Swedish government is proposing to introduce a 2% minimum overcollateralisation requirement in legislation so the country’s covered bonds will meet the criteria necessary for exemption from central clearing obligations for OTC derivatives under the European Market Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR).

A new Norwegian Act on Financial Institutions being considered by parliament will amend the country’s covered bond framework so that covered bond issuers are treated the same as banks in the event of insolvency, and will also repeal Norway’s securitisation law.