On August 19, ESMA published a list of responses received in respect of its first consultation on the clearing obligation relating to draft regulatory technical standards (RTS) for the clearing of interest rate swaps under EU Regulation 648/2012 on OTC derivative transactions, central counterparties and trade repositories (EMIR).  The first consultation was published on July 11 and proposed that basis swaps, fixed-to-float interest rate swaps, forward rate agreements and overnight index swaps should be subject to central clearing.

ESMA will use the responses received to draft its final RTS which will then be subject to endorsement by the European Commission. Responses.