This report offers a comprehensive overview of the developments in the European insurance market over the last decade. It also examines the regulatory initiatives undertaken by the relevant international organizations (IAIS, IAA IASB) in order to develop a global risk-sensitive solvency regime for insurance companies. The authors focus in particular on the ongoing developments of the new European solvency regime (known as Solvency II) and the issues addressed by the proposed EU directives on insurance groups and conglomerates.