In a joint letter, EFAMA, together with the European Banking Federation (EBF), Insurance Europe, European Savings and Retail Banking Group (ESBG), Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA), Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME), and the European Association of Cooperative Banks, have released a joint letter asking the European Commission to better coordinate the publication of new rules for the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR).
Sustainability-related disclosures (SFDR)
Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 on sustainability-related disclosures (SFDR) is a pillar of the EU sustainable finance agenda. SFDR aims to increase the transparency of financial market participants towards end-investors and contribute to the objective of fighting greenwashing. It lays down sustainability disclosure obligations on the environmental and social impact of an entity’s investment decisions, and requirements on how to present the characteristics of green investment products.
To ensure this new set of rules successfully delivers on its objectives, EFAMA contributes to developing the regulation, as well as assisting members’ implementation efforts. We voice any concerns around the timelines for applying rules, implementation challenges and interpretation issues. Additionally, we provide the industry’s informed views on current risk management frameworks and practices concerning the disclosure of information to end-investors.
Joint industry letter asks European Commission to delay technical changes by supervisors until broader review of SFDR is complete
Key messages on the Implementation of SFDR
The Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) has promoted transparency in sustainable finance, however its use by market participants as a de facto ESG labelling regime has stretched it beyond its original intentions and not always been helpful. The current European Commission review needs to address how SFDR can provide clearer, more meaningful information for retail investors, promote transition finance, and align well with other relevant legislation.
ESMA’s call for evidence on the integration of ESG preferences on suitability and product governance arrangements
EFAMA publishes report on level and nature of sustainable investment by the European asset management industry
The European Fund and Asset Management Association (EFAMA) has published its first ESG-focused Market Insights Sustainable investment in the European asset management industry: defining and sizing ESG strategies.
EFAMA Market Insights | Issue# 3 | Sustainable Investment in the European Asset Management Industry
For this Market Insights, EFAMA collaborated with its member associations and strategy consultants at INDEFI to estimate the level and nature of ESG investment by European asset managers at the end of 2019, distinguishing between the ESG strategies applied at the firm level and those applied at the level of individual fund and discretionary mandate. The assets under management covered in the report include EUR 12.5 trillion of investment fund assets and EUR 11.4 trillion of mandate assets.*
3 questions to Thierry Bogaty on the EU Ecolabel for retail financial products
Q #1 Can the EU Ecolabel for retail financial products help channel individual investors’ savings into environmentally sustainable projects?
A well-designed EU Ecolabel has the potential to provide clear guidance on the financial products retail investors can invest in if they wish to support environmentally sustainable projects and activities - in line with the EU Taxonomy Regulation. The European Commission wants to create a trusted and verified label for retail investors, who would benefit from better comparability of financial products.