On November 7, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) published a call for evidence on the EU passport under the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD) and third country Alternative Investment Fund Managers (AIFMs).

Under the AIFMD, non-EU AIFMs and non-EU Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) managed by EU AIFMs are subject to the national private placement regime of each of the member states where the AIFs are marketed or managed. However, the AIFMD makes provision for the passport to be potentially extended in the future.

Responses to the call for evidence from the EU and the non-EU stakeholders (as well as ongoing input ESMA is receiving from national competent authorities) will help ESMA develop the opinion and advice it is required to deliver to the European Commission.

The deadline for responses to the call for evidence is January 8, 2015.  ESMA will consider the feedback it receives to the call for evidence in the first quarter of 2015.  It is required to deliver the opinion and the advice to the Commission by July 22, 2015.  Call for Evidence.