Belgium top pick for EU entity as brokers get Brexit ready, claims survey

Belgium has emerged as the preferred location for an European Union entity as the UK prepares for Brexit, claims a new survey by the London and International Insurance Brokers' Association (LIIBA).

According to the association, nearly a quarter of broking houses have chosen Belgium.

Ireland and France emerged as the next most popular locations accounting for 16 percent each.

Christopher Croft, chief executive of LIIBA, highlighted that London brokers have taken a prudent approach to be able to continue to support their European clients in 2021 and beyond.

“Brokers have worked hard to ensure that they are prepared for Brexit. Our members have taken prudent and positive steps to ensure that they have ‘reverse branches’ in place to be in a position to continue to support their clients in the EU," Croft said. "We are confident that whatever the outcome of the negotiations, London will still be able to play a key role in helping European businesses to manage their risks.

“We are not surprised that so many of our members have chosen Belgium as the location for their EU entity. The Ministry of Finance took a proactive and pragmatic approach to creating a regulatory, tax and employment framework that provided a first-class solution for brokers. We are grateful to them for the support they have shown.

Croft added: “Deal or no deal is unlikely to make any difference for brokers because there is no equivalence framework for insurance distribution. The almost complete focus on the concept of equivalence by both our government and EU has meant we have always known we would need to make our own arrangements to carry on acting in the best interests of our clients. It is good to see that our members have done that challenging and expensive work and that their clients can look beyond the end of the year with confidence.”