On September 28, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) published its final report (Final Report), accompanied by draft regulatory and implementing technical standards (RTS and ITS) on the provision of investment services and activities in the European Union (EU) by third-country firms under the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID II) (600/2014) and the associated Markets in Financial Instruments Regulation (MiFIR).
Continue Reading MiFID II: ESMA Publishes Final Report on Third-Country Firm Regime
Investment Firms Directive
European Commission Publishes Communication on Its Equivalence Policy With Non-EU Countries
Posted in EU Developments, Financial Markets
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
European Parliament and Council of the European Union Reach Agreement on Investment Firms Regulation and Directive
On February 26 and 27, the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament issued statements, respectively, announcing that they had reached a political agreement on the proposed Investment Firms Regulation (IFR) and the proposed Investment Firms Directive (IFD).
Continue Reading European Parliament and Council of the European Union Reach Agreement on Investment Firms Regulation and Directive
ECON Votes to Adopt Draft Reports on Revised EU Prudential Framework for Investment Firms
Posted in EU Developments, Financial Markets
On September 24, the European Parliament published a press release announcing that its Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) voted to adopt its draft reports on the European Commission’s proposals for a regulation on the prudential supervision of investment firms (Investment Firms Regulation (IFR)), and a directive on the prudential supervision of investment firms (Investment Firms Directive (IFD)).
Continue Reading ECON Votes to Adopt Draft Reports on Revised EU Prudential Framework for Investment Firms