Structure of the EU insurance distribution market

About the third report on the application of the IDD

EIOPA examines changes in the insurance intermediaries' market structure and in the patterns of cross-border activity and gives an overview of the application of the Insurance Distribution Directive (IDD) every two years, as stipulated under Article 41(4) of the IDD.

In February 2025, EIOPA launched a survey addressed to national competent authorities (NCAs) to gather information on the insurance intermediaries’ market structure and patterns of cross-border activities. This page summarises the findings of the survey.

The figures should be interpreted with some caution as there are differences as to how intermediaries are registered in their home Member State, in the national categories of insurance intermediaries and in the approaches by NCAs to collect data.

Number of registered insurance intermediaries

From 2020 to 2024, the number of registered insurance intermediaries fell by 7.5%, continuing a long-term decline driven by stricter professional requirements, increased supervision, consolidation, demographic factors and changes in distribution models.

Registered insurance intermediaries by categories based on the activities of insurance intermediaries

Insurance intermediaries primarily acted on behalf of insurance undertakings, though this varies by Member States, with some Member States dominated by intermediaries acting for other intermediaries or directly for customers.

Nature of remuneration of insurance intermediaries in relation to the insurance contract

The use of fee-based remuneration model in the EU insurance market is still limited as most intermediaries were remunerated through commissions in 2024.

Commissions
prevalent in 24 Member States
Fees
prevalent in 1 Member State
Combination of commission/fee
prevalent in 3 Member States

Types of products distributed by intermediaries

In most Member States, distribution is mainly handled by agents and brokers, while bancassurance dominates in a few markets. Ancillary intermediation varies widely and is significant in only a small number of markets.

Proportion of contracts concluded online in total volume of GWP

The number of online sales remained low in most Member States in 2024, but is increasing on a yearly basis, particularly in non-life insurance. For exact data please hover over the chart.

Number of insurance intermediaries with an FoS/FoE passport

Between 2022 and 2024, the number of insurance intermediaries holding cross-border passports rose by 10% despite an overall decline in the number of intermediaries, with most operating under FoS.

Reports and documents

30 MARCH 2026

EIOPA-26-077 - 3rd Report on the application of the IDD.pdf

30 MARCH 2026

EIOPA-26-078 - Survey results on the insurance intermediaries’ market structure and patterns of cross-border activities.xlsx

30 MARCH 2026

Factsheet - 3d IDD application report.pdf