The Commission's proposal is part of a global consensus to crack down on a market that regulators believe has exacerbated the financial and economic crisis.
Derivatives are a highly lucrative market of financial products – 605 trillion dollars at the last count - whose value is pegged to an underlying asset which could range from grain to shipping containers.
Subject to the approval of the European Parliament and EU ministers, the Commission wants derivatives to be traded via stock exchanges and processed by clearing houses or central counterparties (CCPs), which will have to comply with stricter governance rules.
In addition, trade repositories – or databases - will be set up to collect data on the status of derivative contracts to give regulators a better insight into potentially risky deals.
The proposal still has some gaping holes, say observers, who criticise non-financial firms' exemption from the rules.
Many non-financial firms, like car manufacturers, use derivatives as an insurance policy against fluctuations in interest rates and foreign exchange prices. Copying earlier legislation from the US, the draft rules do not affect these firms if they do not have "systemic" importance.
Central clearing houses
The other bugbear has been whether central clearing houses or CCPs should have access to central bank liquidity given that they are set to gain more systemic relevance.
A last-minute decision at the European Commission removed some text saying CCPs must have access to central banks funds and allows them instead to turn to commercial lenders if they get into trouble.
"This is a question of moral hazard," says Karel Lannoo, chief executive of the Brussels-based Centre for European Policy Studies.
Lannoo argues that including central banks as sources for bailout money would not incentivise better risk management at banks.
"The big question about the role and the size of the derivatives market remains unanswered," argues Sony Kapoor, an ex-Lehman trader and the founder of the ReDefine think-tank.
Kapoor argues that the regulation should create a single trade repository for each asset class, like credit default swaps or interest rate swaps, "to give regulators instant access to a more global picture," an idea that was also floated by the Depository Trusts and Clearing Corporation.
"Right now regulators will have to talk to Central Counterparties, exchanges and repositories to get a true picture [on the contract]," he added.
