European Securities and Market Authority

ESMA Writes to European Commission on Delaying Review of Certain MiFID II Transparency Requirements

Stephen HancockPosted on July 2, 2019

On June 25, the European Securities and Market Authority (ESMA) published a letter (dated June 17) sent by Steven Maijoor, ESMA Chair, to Olivier Guersent, European Commission Director General for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union (CMU), on the annual review required by Article 17 of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/583 on transparency requirements for non-equity instruments (RTS 2).

The letter follows up a previous letter (dated January 16) sent to the Commission relating to the review reports on the MiFID II Directive and the Markets in Financial Instruments Regulation (Regulation 600/2014) (MiFIR). In that letter, ESMA raised the issue of carrying out the annual review of the operation of certain transparency requirements for bonds and derivatives, as required by Article 17 of RTS 2. A positive assessment by ESMA can lead to a legislative change subjecting more bonds, and larger trade sizes in bonds and derivatives, to real-time transparency.

ESMA considers that the outstanding uncertainties on the time and conditions of Brexit do not allow for an adequate assessment at this time. Including or excluding UK data from the assessment would have a fundamental impact on the results, and any decision whether to include UK data would depend on whether the UK is still a member of the EU at the time any legislative change would take effect. In addition, Brexit will likely affect liquidity in bond and derivative markets and the value of the assessment will be limited if it is carried out before these effects have materialized.

European Commission Adopts Delegated Regulation Relating to EMIR Clearing Obligations for Certain Credit Derivative Contracts

David GriffithsPosted on March 7, 2016

On March 1, the European Commission adopted a Delegated Regulation supplementing the European Union regulation on derivatives, central counterparties and trade repositories (“EMIR”).

EMIR requires mandatory clearing of certain over-the-counter (“OTC”) derivatives. The European Securities and Market Authority (ESMA) is required under EMIR to propose the classes of OTC derivatives that should be subject to clearing, as well as the different dates from which the clearing obligation will take effect for the different types of counterparties identified.

OTC derivative contracts concluded between the first authorisation of a central counterparty under EMIR and the later date on which the clearing obligation actually takes effect are also subject to clearing, unless they have a remaining maturity lower than the minimum remaining maturities which are to be laid down in the regulatory technical standards (Frontloading Requirement).

The Delegated Regulation determines the classes of the credit default swaps OTC derivative contracts that are subject to the clearing obligation and four different categories of counterparties for which different phase-in periods apply.

The Delegated Regulation also lays down the minimum remaining maturities for the purposes of the Frontloading Requirement as well as the dates on which the frontloading should start. Delegated Regulation.

ESMA Publishes Final Technical advice on the MiFID II Directive and MiFIR

Francesca DrakePosted on January 16, 2015

On December 19, 2014, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) published final technical advice (ESMA/2014/1569) to the European Commission and a consultation paper (ESMA/2014/1570) on the MiFID II Directive (2014/65/EU) and MiFIR (the Markets in Financial Instruments Regulation (Regulation 600/2014).

The consultation paper includes draft regulatory technical standards (RTS) and implementing technical standards (ITS) under the MiFID II Directive and MiFIR. The consultation paper invites responses to the draft RTS and ITS by March 2, 2015, and responses will be used to finalise the draft RTS which will be sent to the Commission for endorsement by the middle of 2015. Technical Advice. Consultation Paper.

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