The European Commission has announced a proposed directive on mortgages that it says will better protect consumers.

Borrowers will enjoy a higher level of protection through robust rules concerning advertising, pre-contractual information, advice, creditworthiness assessment, and early repayment, the European Commission said on March 31 2011.

The requirement to provide personalised information to the consumer through a European Standardised Information Sheet will allow consumers to compare mortgage conditions from different providers, the Commission said.

The proposed directive also aims to create a more efficient and competitive single market for mortgages by creating a level playing field for all actors involved and making cross-border activity easier.

The financial crisis has shown the damage that irresponsible lending and borrowing practices can have on consumers and lenders, as well as the financial system and the economy at large, the Commission said, adding that this was particularly important in today’s integrated EU marketplace.

"With today's legislative proposal, the European Commission shows its determination to ensure that such practices are not repeated in the future, and to help consumers to regain confidence in the financial system," the statement said.

Internal Market and Services Commissioner Michel Barnier said: "During the boom years, we saw examples of borrowers and lenders acting on the assumption that the good times could not end. Lenders and intermediaries alike engaged in irresponsible practices, and consumers were not warned of the consequences of their decisions. The draft set of rules presented today is designed to ensure a high standard of pre-contractual information and improved lending practices across Europe, while promoting a dynamic, competitive and more integrated Single Market for mortgage credit."

The European Commission said that the aim of its proposal was to create a responsible, efficient, healthy and competitive pan-European market that works to the benefit of consumers.

"It should also promote customer mobility, cross-border activity of creditors and intermediaries, and create a level playing field for all actors involved."

The focus is to ensure that all consumers purchasing a property or taking out a loan secured by their home are adequately informed about the possible risks and that all institutions engaging in these activities conduct their business in a responsible manner.

The proposed directive covers all loans which allow the consumer to borrow money in order to buy a home as well as certain loans to consumers to renovate a home. It also covers all loans to consumers that are guaranteed by a mortgage or another comparable security.

The proposed directive will, according to the Commission:

* Introduce certain requirements for the advertising of mortgage credit, for example wording that may create false expectations for a consumer regarding the availability or the cost of a credit will be prohibited;

* Ensure that all institutions involved in the origination and distribution of mortgage credit to consumers are adequately regulated and supervised;

* Establish principles for the authorisation and registration of credit intermediaries (companies who provide information and assistance to consumers looking for a mortgage credit and sometimes conclude mortgage agreements on behalf of the lender) and for the establishment of a passport regime for those intermediaries. This means that once authorised in one EU member state, the intermediary would be allowed to provide its services throughout the Internal Market.

* Ensure that lenders benefit from provisions enabling them to access information in credit databases on a non-discriminatory basis.

Lenders and credit intermediaries will be required to:

* Make general information available at all times on the range of credit products they offer;

* Provide personalised information to the consumer through a European Standardised Information Sheet or so called "ESIS". This will allow consumers to compare mortgage conditions from different providers;

* Give explanations and meet certain standards for the provision of advice;

* Assess the consumer's ability to repay, based on information provided by the borrower.

Credit intermediaries will be required to disclose certain information concerning for example, their identity, status and relationship with the creditor, to render transparent any potential conflicts of interest.

The Commission said that borrowers will:

* Benefit from extra information at all stages in the process of taking out a mortgage allowing them to make the right decisions for them;

* Benefit from a harmonised annual percentage rate of charge in line with that set out in the Consumer Credit Directive which will facilitate the comparability of advertising and the pre-contractual information;

* Have an obligation to provide the necessary information to enable an assessment of their ability to repay;

* Have an entitlement to repay their credit before the expiry of the credit agreement, subject to certain conditions to be determined by Member States.

In a related development, the European Commission also released on March 31 a working paper on national measures and practices to avoid foreclosure procedures.

It also provides examples for national public authorities and creditors on how rising default rates have been addressed across the EU, with a view to avoiding foreclosure procedures where possible and reasonable.

These include reconciliation procedures, mediation, modification of loan terms, to minimum length of time before starting foreclosure procedures, public rescue schemes and provision of independent debt and legal advice, as well as the collection of data and internal reporting.