Claire Cummings

020 7585 1406
[email protected]
www.cummingslaw.com

European Commission speech on Brexit and challenges for EU financial services policy

The European Commission has published a speech relating to challenges for EU financial services policy. The speech considers the implications of the UK’s departure from the EU for financial services, focusing on the following issues: (i) equivalence –  the EU intends to continue to make active use of the equivalence model, but it is not a right for all third countries and the EU will consider every case on its own merit; (ii) supervisory convergence – the speech warns of the risks of a race to the bottom among financial supervisors to win over business in the aftermath of Brexit and that the work of the European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) to increase supervisory convergence must be accelerated to address these risks.

MiFID II: AFME questionnaire on fixed income and currencies

The Association for Financial Markets in Europe has published a questionnaire providing a standardised set of questions that can be sent bilaterally by MiFID II investment firms to trading venues (i.e. MTFs and OTFs), together with a related webpage. The questions in the questionnaire relate to separate aspects of the MiFID II markets regime and, although the questionnaire is aimed at fixed income and currencies (FIC) products, it contains some cross-asset considerations that may be relevant for other instruments. AFME has also recently published a questionnaire that could be sent by MiFID II investment firms to EU equities exchanges in the scope of MiFID II.

EMIR: no objection to delaying clearing obligation for certain financial counterparties

The European Parliament has raised no objection to the Delegated Regulation adopted by the European Commission relating to the EMIR clearing obligation in March 2017. The Delegated Regulation prolongs the phase-in period for financial counterparties with a limited volume of OTC derivatives activity by two years. It amends three EMIR Delegated Regulations which had specified start dates of 21 June 2017 for OTC interest rate derivatives denominated in EUR, GBP, JPY, and USD and 9 February 2018 for OTC index credit default swaps and OTC interest rate derivatives denominated in NOK, PLN and SEK. The new start date for the clearing obligation for financial counterparties with a limited volume of OTC derivatives activity (that is, those counterparties classified in category 3 under the Delegated Regulation) will be 21 June 2019.

EMIR: ESRB report revision of EMIR

The European Systemic Risk Board has published a report on the revision of EMIR. The ESRB’s comments include the following: (i) it welcomes the European Commission’s November 2016 report on the outcome of its EMIR review; in particular it supports the Commission’s plan to revise EMIR to include an emergency mechanism for swiftly suspending the clearing obligation and to increase the transparency and predictability of margin requirements; (ii) it agrees that no fundamental change to EMIR is needed at present, although it does recognise that some aspects could be improved; (iii) although it recognises the difficulties faced by some counterparties in meeting the clearing obligation, it supports a broad application of the obligation, including for pension scheme arrangements and large non-financial counterparties (NFCs) that are active in the derivatives market; and (iv) a comprehensive review of EMIR will be needed in the future, which should address issues such as the potential use of margins and haircuts to meet macroprudential objectives when the analysis needed to develop these tools has progressed.

ESMA final report on TR fees

ESMA has published its final report on technical advice to the European Commission about fees for trade repositories (TRs) under the SFT Regulation and on certain amendments to the fees under EMIR. ESMA is proposing some changes to the way ESMA’s fees for TRs are calculated under EMIR and the SFTR to ensure a level playing field across both Regulations. ESMA intends to submit the final report to the Commission by the beginning of the second quarter of 2017.

FCA on managing cyber-security threats

The FCA has published a speech on the steps firms can take to manage cyber-security threats, which include the following: (i) the FCA urges firms to get the basics right and to take measures to address specific types of cyber-risk, including carrying out risk assessments on the impact of an attack on their systems; (ii) firms should have controls in place to identify and respond to cyber-attacks on third party suppliers; (iii) firms should move to a secure culture by taking active measures to encourage their staff to become security-focused; and (iv) the FCA has established a number of cyber-co-ordination groups to encourage information-sharing on cyber-security issues between firms.

Market Abuse Regulation

ESMA has published an opinion on points for convergence in relation to accepted market practices (AMPs) on liquidity contracts under the Market Abuse Regulation. Under MAR, an exception is available to the general prohibition of market manipulation where a person establishes that the transaction, order or behaviour in question has been carried out for legitimate reasons and that it conforms with an AMP established in accordance with MAR. ESMA has decided that it would be helpful to develop a common approach in establishing the AMPs on liquidity contracts and the safeguards to be provided by those AMPs. In its opinion, ESMA sets out points for convergence, setting out conditions and limits that should be taken into account by competent authorities when establishing AMPs on liquidity contracts. These points for convergence relate to: (i) the financial instruments in scope; (ii) the form of the contract; (iii) the performance of the contract; (iv) the liquidity of instruments covered by the AMP; (v) trading conditions; and (vi) resources allocated to the performance of liquidity contracts.

FinTech

The European Parliament’s Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) has voted to adopt a draft report on FinTech, which was published in February 2017. The report’s conclusions include the following: (i) defining an EU framework for FinTech intended to promote a competitive financial system, financial stability and consumer and investor protection; (ii) the need for consistent, technology-neutral application of existing data legislation; (iii) the prevalence of cyber-security and information and communication technology risks; (iv)  the importance of FinTech services within the EU and engagement with third countries on interoperability; and (v) consumer and investor protection. The report is addressed towards the Commission and the EU Council and presumably intended to be considered in the context of the Commission’s March 2017 consultation paper on FinTech.

Cummings

Tel: + 44 20 7585 1406
Mob: + 44 7734 057 327

www.cummingslaw.com

28 April 2017