Recital 6

(6)Options and discretions granted to competent authorities with reference to own funds and capital requirements under Article 89(3), Article 178(1)(b) and Article 282(6) of Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council ⁴ , as well as under the transitional provisions provided for in Article 471(1) and Article 478(3)(a) and (b) of the same Regulation, have an impact on the level and quality of regulatory own funds and the capital ratios of less significant institutions. A prudent and consistent application of these options and discretions is necessary for several reasons. It will ensure that: (a) the risks related to qualifying holdings outside the financial sector are adequately addressed; (b) the definition of default is used in a consistent manner with regard to the adequacy and comparability of own funds requirements; and (c) that own funds requirements for transactions with a non-linear risk profile or for payment legs and transactions with debt instruments as underlying for which the institution cannot determine the delta or the modified duration are calculated in a prudent way. The harmonised application of transitional provisions related to the deduction of equity holdings in insurance companies and deferred tax assets will ensure that the more rigorous definition of regulatory capital introduced by Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 is implemented by all credit institutions in the participating Member States within an adequate period of time.