For asset managers the main issue continues to be the reclassification of ETDs as OTCs as a result of the non-equivalence of UK regulated markets. While we understand that a review is legally mandated at this point in time, we do not see value in recalibrating the various thresholds or making changes to the calculation methodologies unless these are in the two areas we define below. Our main concern revolves around the fact that changes would carry significant compliance costs while making little impact on the population of counterparties and notional captured by the thresholds.
European Market Infrastructures regulation (EMIR)
In 2012, following the 2008 financial crisis, the EU adopted the European Market Infrastructures regulation (EMIR) with the laudable objectives of increasing transparency in the OTC derivatives markets, to reduce the counterparty risk of derivatives contracts and to reduce operational risks associated with derivatives trading.
EFAMA welcomes the improvements recently brought by the EMIR Refit: It redefines the obligations imposed on derivatives users, recognising and solving some issues previously existing in EMIR, such as the disproportionate regulatory burden imposed on the least risky counterparties. We also advocate for a better alignment between EMIR and MiFIR, especially with regards to the clearing and trading obligations.
ESMA consultation on the review of clearing thresholds under EMIR
UK clearing house equivalence - request from nine trade associations
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.
Joint Association letter to the EC on the equivalence of UK derivatives regulated markets under EMIR Article 2a
FIA, ISDA, AFME, ICI, AIMA, EBF and EFAMA (together the Associations) welcome the
European Commission's (the Commission) timely and temporary equivalence decision from
21 September 2020 with respect to UK central counterparties (CCPs) and subsequent
recognition decisions by ESMA of CCPs and the recent temporary equivalence decision for
UK Central Securities Depositories (CSDs) under CSDR. Together, these steps have provided
much needed certainty for continued and uninterrupted access to these CCPs and CSDs by
Trade associations call for deletion of active account proposal in EMIR 3.0
EFAMA, BFPI Ireland, EACB, FIA EPTA, Federation of the Dutch Pension Funds, Finance Denmark, Nordic Securities Association, AIMA, ICI Global, FIA and ISDA, which collectively represent major European end users of derivatives along with providers of clearing services, have published a joint statement on the European Commission’s proposed active account requirement under the European Market Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR 3.0).
Active Accounts - Joint Trade Association Statement
EFAMA, BFPI Ireland, EACB, FIA EPTA, Federation of the Dutch Pension Funds,
Finance Denmark, Nordic Securities Association, AIMA, ICI Global, FIA and ISDA support positive
incentives to further enhance the attractiveness of EU clearing and EU Capital Markets, including
many of the measures proposed in EMIR 3.0. (read more)
EMIR 3.0: Detailed views on active accounts
EFAMA offers a detailed view on the active accounts proposal in this paper. Costs to the end investor are broken down into two main buckets i) operational build-out and ii) in nominal terms the much larger impact of loss of netting efficiencies. Potential impacts on financial stability are also examined, with a focus on the widening basis which will result from large volumes of one-directional flows onto an EU-CCP. The impact on margins and procyclicality are also studied. The analysis points to increased liquidity risk for