The European Securities and Markets Authority (Esma) has published its 2019 work programme, setting out its priorities for the year ahead.
The pan-European financial regulator said it would next year take on new direct supervisory responsibilities under the EU’s Securities Financing Transactions Regulation as well as the Securitisation Regulation.
Another priority for 2019 will be to support the Sustainable Finance Initiative through a set of “priority actions, aiming to integrate environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations as part of the investment chain”.
The Paris-based regulator also said that making preparations for the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union will continue to be a major focus next year.
Esma chairperson Steven Maijoor said: “In 2019 Esma will continue its focus on promoting supervisory convergence and assessing risks with a continued emphasis on the consistent implementation of MiFID II/MiFIR, but with an added focus on utilising the data gathered under this regime to assist us in meeting our stability, orderly markets and investor protection objectives.
“The transition to MiFID in 2018 has required us to be flexible and adaptable in managing the introduction of the regime and this will be invaluable to the organisation as we continue our preparations for the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union.”
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