The development of European supervisory structures should be analysed in a broader perspective. The recently discussed banking union is another step towards the Europeanisation of financial supervision. In 2011 it was preceded by the introduction of the European System of Financial Supervision with the European Banking Authority (EBA). The latter is an EU regulatory agency with a special place within EU administration. While maintaining high independence, the EBA coordinates and regulates standards and practices in the field of banking supervision. The following analysis concentrates on the evolving role of the EBA in the changing European system of financial security