QBE will begin considering pans to expand its reinsurance operations into Eastern Europe next year, given expectations of an increase in the size of bodily injury claims.

The Australian giant's reinsurance focus of late has been on consolidating its underwriting platforms under one brand and now is the time for QBE Re to consider those European markets in which it odes not play at present.

The focus will be on both property and liability reinsurance opportunities.

It is important to have a good idea how fast this will go and to put oneself in a position to ask for a premium that is sufficient to pay claims that will be settled in five or six years.

It is something that QBE have to study more in detail next year, it's only when the company has a good feeling about what's happening in these markets they will enter these markets.