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.
EFAMA welcomes the opportunity to respond to the EBA on its proposal for a new prudential regime for investment firms. As the EBA is aware, the activity of portfolio management on behalf of thirdparty clients broadly falls under three separate EU legal regimes:
i. Individual discretionary portfolio management performed by investment firms on a client-byclient basis, authorised under and complying with the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive, as per Annex I Section A, point 4 (as recently amended by MiFID II);
EFAMA welcomes ESMA’s Consultation Paper on product governance requirements and specifically on the target market assessment and supports that the details of these requirements are laid out in the form of guidelines rather than Q&A. We agree with ESMA that drafting target market guidelines is an important aspect “for ensuring the common, uniform and consistent application” of the MIFID II product governance requirements, in particular since these rules have the potential to significantly alter the European distribution landscape.
EFAMA is closely monitoring the recent regulatory developments in the field of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing, in particular the due diligence duties of the asset management sector. EFAMA is embracing the objective of enhancing transparency and accessibility to the beneficial ownership information and also fully acknowledges the importance of obtaining accurate identification and verification data of natural and legal persons for fighting money laundering and terrorist financing.
EFAMA is the representative association for the European investment management industry. EFAMA represents through its 28 member associations and 62 corporate members EUR 21 trillion in assets under management of which EUR 12.6 trillion managed by 56,000 investment funds at end 2015. Just over 30,000 of these funds were UCITS (Undertakings for Collective Investments in Transferable Securities) funds, with the remaining 25,900 funds composed of AIFs (Alternative Investment Funds). Our industry provides significant and stable flows of finance to the European economy.
EFAMA supports every efforts made to enhance financial markets regulation which reinforces the stability and the transparency of the financial system.
In that perspective, EFAMA welcomes the opportunity to comment on the ESMA Consultation Paper on RTS specifying the scope of the consolidated tape for non-equity financial instruments. We consider that a consolidate tape (“CT”) is a key positive factor for price formation and transparency.
Prior to replying to the consultation, we wish to make the following general remarks
EFAMA welcomes the opportunity to provide comments to the ESMA Consultation Paper on the draft technical standards under the Benchmark Regulation. EFAMA also welcomes a number of clarifications that ESMA is providing in this Consultation since its previous Discussion Paper.
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)