About: ESMA
Cryptoasset investors exposed to substantial risks, two EU reports find
Cryptoassets are dangerously unregulated and may give rise to criminal activities, according to two recent assessments published by the European Banking Authority (EBA) and the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA).
Friction between France and Germany over En Marche’s European ambitions
In the run-up to a European council on the revival of the European project, the increasingly direct political rivalry between En Marche and the CDU make the exchange between France and Germany difficult.
MiFID II passes first implementation test
Despite past concerns and some delays, legislators, regulators and experts were positive about the first week since the entry into force of the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive on 3 January, seen as the biggest reform of the financial sector since the 2007-2008 crisis.
Most member states unprepared for sweeping new financial market rules
A sweeping overhaul of EU financial market rules went into effect on Wednesday (3 January), but only 11 member states met the deadline to start applying the new rules.
EU moves to extend grip on financial sector after Brexit
The European Commission proposed on Wednesday (20 September) transferring some powers to oversee the financial sector from national capitals in a move to extend the EU’s grip on the industry as the bloc prepares for the departure of London, its main financial hub.
Financial watchdog expects firms to make Brexit moves after year-end
Financial firms are waiting until the end of the year before moving staff and business ahead of Britain’s departure from the European Union in 2019, the country’s markets watchdog said.
EU seeks post-Brexit powers over London euro clearing
The EU unveiled plans Tuesday (13 June) to give itself powers to force a huge slice of London's banking business out of the UK after Brexit in a blow to the city's supremacy as a global financial hub.
Commission champions ‘laissez-faire’ in first response to FinTech revolution
The digital revolution in the financial sector will get a helping hand from EU regulators later this year when the European Commission tables new proposals for retail financing, with a clear objective: let the revolution flourish.
EU poised to delay landmark financial markets reforms
The European Union's major reform of financial market rules faces a delay of a year to January 2018 to give the financial services industry more time to prepare, a senior European Commission official said on Tuesday (10 November).
EU watchdogs to scrutinise use of data by financial players
European banks and insurers could face new rules to control their use of "big data" to target customers with products, after EU watchdogs said that how they used the information would be investigated.
Commodity ‘speculators’ targeted in EU-wide securities reform
Europe-wide curbs on commodity "speculators", more light on the bond markets, and reinforced controls on ultra-fast trading were proposed by European Union regulators on Monday (28 September).
EU threatens action against credit rating agencies
The "Big Three" agencies that rate European Union government debt could be fined after failing to fix poor practices from the past, the sector's regulator said on Monday (2 December).
UK wins legal backing on EU’s short-selling ban
Britain has won backing to curb the power of the European Union market watchdog to ban short-selling in a boost to a campaign against the concentration of financial regulation in Brussels at the expense of the City of London.
MEPs back sweeping derivatives regulations
The European Parliament voted yesterday (29 March) to adopt new rules to make over-the-counter derivatives trading safer and more transparent.
Finance ministers break impasse on derivatives regulation
EU countries broke a deadlock in talks to crack down on the derivatives market, as France and Britain resolved a turf war over how much say a pan-European watchdog can have over national markets, diplomatic sources said.
Credit ratings suspension ditched under proposed rules
Controversial proposals to suspend credit ratings agencies from assessing bond markets in EU member states were ditched yesterday (15 November) as the Commission watered down a package of measures to rein in the industry.
Commission defends suspension of credit ratings
The Commission yesterday (25 October) defended proposals to suspend the activity of ratings agencies when necessary, attracting severe criticism from the industry over the issue.
EU raises heat on rating agencies and managers
"This is not the end" and "we all have to do better" were European Commission President José Manuel Barroso's main messages at a press conference yesterday (2 June) announcing more EU measures to prevent risk-taking in the financial sector.