The AIFMD is one of the pillars of EU regulation for investment funds, crucial to the development of the Capital Markets Union and the EU’s post-pandemic economic recovery. Since 2010 the AIFMD has set high standards of harmonisation in the alternative investment fund management sector. It currently provides a consistent regulatory approach to potential risks of the financial system, better coordinated supervision, and a high level of investor protection.
EFAMA’s priority will be to ensure low touch review of the framework, and continue facilitating exchange of information amongst members to ensure the highest standards in the application of the measures.
EFAMA welcomes the opportunity to respond to the European Commission’s Green Paper on retail financial services. Widening the opportunities for European citizens to save and invest will facilitate better outcomes both for savers and the wider European economy.
EFAMA fully shares the goals of a Single Market for retail financial services in the EU, i.e.:
1. Promoting an EU-wide market in retail financial services that can facilitate cross-border business and consumer choice.
Our corporate members are both subsidiaries of an EEA parent that is a credit institution as per Article 4(1)(1) of the CRR, or stand-alone investment firms as per Article 4(1)(2) of the CRR. Both types of entities risk becoming subject to the Maximum Ratio Rule as asset management companies licensed under either a UCITS or AIFM management company license, or licensed as investment firms under the MiFID regime to provide discretionary portfolio management services on a client-by-client basis.
EFAMA responded to ESMA’s consultations on regulatory technical standards and guidelines, which aim to provide EU asset managers with further details on a broad and harmonised list of liquidity management tools (LMTs). As part of the recent AIFMD and UCITS review, these improvements will support our industry’s response to liquidity pressures, both in normal and stressed market conditions, while also protecting the interests of investors.
