EFAMA and Better Finance hosted a webinar on 23 March 2023 as part of the Global Money Week.
EFAMA has today published its International Quarterly Statistical Release regarding the developments in the worldwide investment fund industry during the fourth quarter of 2022.
EFAMA appreciates the opportunity to comment on the EMIR 3.0 proposal reforming the clearing framework in the EU. We share the objectives of this review which seek to ensure financial stability in the EU, and the well-functioning of the existing central clearing framework. We understand the objective to reduce excessive exposure to substantially systemic CCPs over time, though we maintain that any regulatory measures should be proportionate to the regulatory rationale, and should not unduly harm market participants.
EFAMA has today published its response to the European Commission’s EMIR 3.0 proposal. We support the EC’s goal of increasing the attractiveness of EU central clearing counterparties (CCPs), including simplified product approvals, faster model change authorisations, and greater margin model transparency. A new clearing threshold calculation is also proposed, which further aligns the Clearing Obligation with the rest of the EMIR regulation.
EFAMA has today published its European Quarterly Statistical Release for Q4 2022, together with an overview of the full year 2022.
EFAMA has today published its response to the ESMA consultation on guidelines on funds’ names using ESG or sustainability-related terms. EFAMA members have concerns around the proposed numerical threshold approach as it may not address the underlying greenwashing issues our industry is facing due to the current lack of clarity on many key sustainable finance concepts.
EFAMA welcomes ESMA's consultation paper on guidelines on funds’ names using ESG or sustainability-related terms. We support the overarching objective to promote transparency and tackle the risk of greenwashing by ensuring that investors are protected against unsubstantiated or exaggerated sustainability claims.
EFAMA has today published its latest monthly Investment Fund Industry Fact Sheet, which provides net sales data on UCITS and AIFs for December 2022 at European level and by country of fund domiciliation. A first overview and analysis of the net sales data of UCITS and AIFs over the full year 2022 is also included.
Ever since the term “shadow banking” has emerged from the FSB’s working circles in the immediate aftermath of the 2008 global financial crisis[1], our association has consistently argued that its use as a reference to regulated asset management companies and their funds is inaccurate and mis-leading.
Andreas Stepnitzka, EFAMA Deputy Director, Regulatory Policy, comments:
The Commission aims to present a legislative proposal to address the tax-induced debt-equity bias, also to support the action plan for the Capital Markets Union and to encourage companies to finance their investment through equity contributions rather than through debt financing.
EFAMA provided high-level comments to the Commission’s consultation on the potential review of the Directive on Distance Marketing of Consumer Financial Services.
We agree with the Commission’s interpretation that the Directive is seen as a “safety net” for financial services not already subject to product-specific legislation. Fund and asset managers are already subject to various, more stringent and detailed sectoral legislations, such as (but not limited to) UCITS, AIFMD and MiFID as well as the (more recent) Cross-Border Fund Distribution Directives.
The asset management industry recognises the much-needed adoption of mandatory European sustainability reporting standards under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) proposal. Insufficient availability of meaningful, comparable, reliable, and public Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) data is a key impediment to realising the full potential of the EU's sustainable finance regulatory framework. Financial market participants' sustainable investments need to be driven by real, verifiable and reported ESG metrics of company's activities and financial risks.
Nine associations (AFME, AIMA, EAPB, EBF, EFAMA, FIA, ICI, ISDA, SIFMA AMG) welcome the Commission's decision to grant a time-limited equivalence decision in respect of UK CCPs. However, when this time-limited equivalence decision expires on 30 June 2022, there remains a significant risk of disruption to clearing for EU firms and to their access to global markets.
Discover the 6 reasons why your organisation should become a member of EFAMA.
Our members enjoy significant benefits including the opportunity to shape the industry positions, get first-hand access to regulatory and political intelligence, engage with industry peers and policymakers, and take part in EFAMA events.
Our three membership categories cater to the wide range of organisations that make up and support the investment management industry in Europe.
Trends in European investment funds (EFAMA Fact Book 2024 release on 18 JUN 2024)