EFAMA leaflet sets out clear recommendations for improvement
The European Fund and Asset Management Association (EFAMA) has launched its AI-system Assessment Tool, which is designed to support firms of all sizes navigate the regulatory complexities of AI. Developed together with EFAMA member experts from across the industry, the Tool will help firms document and assess AI use cases in line with the EU AI Act and other interdependent regulations, including GDPR, MiFIR and DORA, using a free-of-charge standardised tool.
EFAMA has launched its AI-system Assessment Tool, which is designed to support firms of all sizes navigate the regulatory complexities of AI. Developed together with EFAMA member experts from across the industry, the Tool will help firms document and assess AI use cases in line with the EU AI Act and other interdependent regulations, including GDPR, MiFIR and DORA, using a free-of-charge standardised tool.
The general application of the AI Act is set to enter into force next year—including new obligations for high-risk AI system providers.
EFAMA has submitted its response to ESMA’s consultation on the Active Account Requirements (AAR). Our industry stands ready to implement the AAR by June 2025... However, we have strong reservations about the heavy and redundant reporting requirements.
EFAMA has published its latest Monthly Statistical Release for November 2024.
European Commission’s Omnibus initiative should also be used to make CSRD consistent with SFDR
Today the European Securities and Markets Authorities (ESMA) hosted the T+1 Governance Launch Meeting to present the arrangements for driving the move to the reduction of default settlement cycles to T+1 for EU securities markets.
Andreas Stepnitzka, EFAMA Deputy Director, Regulatory Policy, comments:
The Commission aims to present a legislative proposal to address the tax-induced debt-equity bias, also to support the action plan for the Capital Markets Union and to encourage companies to finance their investment through equity contributions rather than through debt financing.
EFAMA provided high-level comments to the Commission’s consultation on the potential review of the Directive on Distance Marketing of Consumer Financial Services.
We agree with the Commission’s interpretation that the Directive is seen as a “safety net” for financial services not already subject to product-specific legislation. Fund and asset managers are already subject to various, more stringent and detailed sectoral legislations, such as (but not limited to) UCITS, AIFMD and MiFID as well as the (more recent) Cross-Border Fund Distribution Directives.
The asset management industry recognises the much-needed adoption of mandatory European sustainability reporting standards under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) proposal. Insufficient availability of meaningful, comparable, reliable, and public Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) data is a key impediment to realising the full potential of the EU's sustainable finance regulatory framework. Financial market participants' sustainable investments need to be driven by real, verifiable and reported ESG metrics of company's activities and financial risks.
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.
Given the increasingly important role ESG ratings and data products providers play in investment processes, EFAMA welcomes the increased attention of regulators to this issue. In light of the growing regulatory scrutiny on the ESG characteristics of potential investments, improving the usability and reliability of the ESG ratings and data products is a key priority for the European asset management industry.

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