(3)Activities, services or operations performed by insurance or reinsurance undertakings that cannot be substituted easily within a reasonable timeframe, or at a reasonable cost for policy holders, beneficiaries or injured parties, need to be seen as critical functions that need to be continued. Such activities, services or operations can be critical at Union, national or regional level. The continuity of insurance or reinsurance protection is often preferable to the winding down of a failing undertaking as such continuity delivers the most favourable outcome for policy holders, beneficiaries or injured parties. It is therefore crucial that adequate tools be available to prevent failures and, where failures occur, to minimise negative repercussions by preserving the continuity of those critical functions.