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On February 12, the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) published its final report on “Issues, Risks and Regulatory Considerations Relating to Crypto-Asset Trading Platforms (CTPs)” (the Final Report). The Final Report follows a consultation paper IOSCO published in May 2019 (for more information, please see the June 14, 2019 edition of Corporate & Financial Weekly Digest).
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On February 7, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) published a final report (the Final Report) regarding proposed amendments to the Markets in Financial Instruments Regulation (MiFIR). This is in response to the changes introduced by the amended European Market Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR Refit), which became effective on January 1. …
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On February 12, the European Commission (EC) sent letters of formal notice to eight member states, who have failed to implement the European Union’s (EU) fifth Money Laundering Directive (5MLD). This is part of the EC’s February 2020 infringements package, a monthly list of member states who are failing to comply with their obligations under EU law across a wide variety of sectors and policy areas.…
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On February 4, the UK’s Joint Money Laundering Steering Group (JMLSG) announced proposed amendments to its anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CTF) guidance (the Guidance). The JMLSG is a UK-focused group of trade bodies which produces AML and CTF guidance to assist the financial services industry.…
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On February 6, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) published its Strategy on Sustainable Finance (the Strategy). This continues work initiated by the European Commission (the Commission) concerning sustainable finance and the incorporation of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into European financial services (for more information, please see the January 10 edition of Corporate & Financial Weekly Digest).…
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On January 30, the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) issued a press release (the Press Release) advising UK and EU firms on the implementation period, which starts when the UK leaves the EU at 11:00 p.m. GMT (6:00 p.m. EST) tonight (i.e., January 31), and is expected to end in 11 months’ time on December 31 (for more information please see the January 24 edition of Corporate & Financial Weekly Digest).…
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On January 23, HM Treasury (HMT) published its response (the Response) to the Consultation on the Transposition into UK law of the EU’s Fifth Money Laundering Directive (the Consultation). The Consultation closed in June 2019.

The Fifth Money Laundering Directive (MLD5) is primarily focused on expanding the EU’s anti-money laundering (AML) regime into new areas such as crypto-assets and art dealers. It became operational in the UK on January 10 (for more information, please see the January 10 edition of Corporate & Financial Weekly Digest).…
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On January 28, the UK Government published the Financial Services (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2020 (the Regulations). This is in response to the passing by the UK Parliament of the Withdrawal Act on Thursday last week, and in anticipation of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU (and start of the implementation period) on January 31 (for more information, please see the January 24 edition of Corporate & Financial Weekly Digest).…
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On January 16, the House of Lords European Union Committee published a letter from the Chair, Lord Kinnoull, to John Glen, Economic Secretary to Her Majesty’s Treasury (the Letter). The Letter concerns the recently published Taxonomy Regulation (for more information please see the January 10 edition of Corporate & Financial Weekly Digest).…
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