On February 15, the Council of the European Union (the Council) published a press release announcing the adoption of a “quick fix” amendment to the revised Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID II) in response to the economic impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic (the Amendment).
The key changes to MiFID II in the Amendment include:
Continue Reading MiFID II “Quick Fix” Adopted in Response to COVID-19
On December 18, 2020, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) published a consultation paper to assist the European Commission (Commission) in reviewing and producing a report on the impact of requirements relating to algorithmic trading, including high-frequency trading.
Continue Reading ESMA Publishes Consultation Paper on Impact of Algorithmic Trading
On December 8, the European Commission (the Commission) published a consultation paper on its review of the Central Securities Depositories Regulation (909/2014) (CSDR) (the Consultation Paper).
Continue Reading European Commission Consults on Review of CSDR
On July 24, the European Commission (the Commission) adopted a legislative proposal to amend the Prospectus Regulation and assist with the recapitalization of companies that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic (the Proposal).
The key changes under the Proposal are:
Continue Reading COVID-19: European Commission Adopts Proposal to Amend Prospectus Regulation
On July 14, the European Commission (the Commission) adopted several implementing and delegated acts relating to central counterparties (CCPs) established in third countries (TCs) under the so-called “EMIR 2.2” revisions to the European Market Infrastructure Regulation (the Delegated Acts).
Continue Reading European Commission Adopts EMIR 2.2 Provisional Delegated Acts
On April 16, the Council of the EU (the Council) published a press release regarding a unified EU classification system to encourage private investment in sustainable growth and contribute to a climate-neutral economy (the Press Release).
Continue Reading ESG: EU Council Adopts Taxonomy Regulation
On July 29, the European Commission (EC) published a communication on equivalence in the area of financial services (Communication). The EC states that, in light of recent policy developments, it is timely to take stock of the EU’s approach to equivalence.
The Communication discusses the purpose and importance of equivalence. The EC states that each new decision is looked at individually and in detail to ensure that the policies of third countries are compatible with those of the EU, and that any equivalence determination is beneficial to, and sustainable for, both parties.EU financial services law includes approximately 40 provisions that allow the EC to adopt equivalence decisions and as of July 29, the EC has adopted more than 280 equivalence decisions for more than 30 countries.
Continue Reading European Commission Publishes Communication on Its Equivalence Policy With Non-EU Countries
On July 24, the European Commission (EC) published a suite of documents assessing the current anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CTF) framework in operation in the European Union (EU).
Although each document is addressed to the European Parliament and the Council of the EU, the EC states that it believes that these documents will support the EU and national authorities to better address money laundering and terrorist financing risks. It notes that some improvements can be made quickly at an operational level, and the EC will continue to support EU member states in this, while also reflecting on how to address the remaining structural challenges.
Continue Reading European Commission Publishes Assessment of EU AML and CTF
On May 14, the Council of the European Union (Council of the EU) published a press release announcing that it had adopted the proposed revisions to the Capital Requirements Regulation (CRR II) and to the Capital Requirements Directive (CRD) IV, or CRD V, at first reading. This follows the preliminary political agreement reached by the Council of the EU and the European Parliament in December 2018 on proposed revisions to CRD IV and CRR (as reported in the December 7, 2018 edition of the Corporate & Financial Weekly Digest).
Continue Reading Council of the EU has Adopted CRR II Regulation and CRD V Directive at First Reading
On May 14, the Council of the European Union (Council of the EU) published a press release announcing that it had adopted at first reading the proposed Regulation to amend the European Markets Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR), or the EMIR Refit Regulation. This follows the preliminary political agreement the Council of the EU and the European Parliament reached in February 2019 on proposed amendments to be made to EMIR (as reported in the February 8, 2019 edition of the Corporate & Financial Weekly Digest).
Continue Reading Council of the EU has Adopted EMIR Refit Regulation at First Reading
