A significant step forward taken to remove tax barriers to the CMU
The European Banking Federation (EBF), the European Fund and Asset Management Association (EFAMA), and the Federation of European Securities Exchanges (FESE) have released a joint report on the development of European capital markets and recommendations to enhance their competitiveness.
The European Capital Markets Report is a joint initiative authored by Oliver Wyman and co-developed by EFAMA, the European Banking Federation (EBF) and the Federation of European Securities Exchanges (FESE). This report reviews progress made towards the CMU and provides recommendations on how to improve the competitiveness of European capital markets.
Today, EFAMA has published our latest Monthly Statistical Release for February 2024.
Latest EFAMA research shows banks hold a 57% market share in EU fund distribution
Today, the European Fund and Asset Management Association (EFAMA) published the latest edition of its Market Insights series, titled “Investment fund distribution channels in Europe”.
The European Parliament today formalised its position on the Retail Investment Strategy, which significantly improves on the original European Commission proposal.
Former Italian prime minister Enrico Letta has released today his report on the future of the Single Market. Together with the recent statement of the Eurogroup in inclusive format on the future of CMU, and the upcoming report of Mario Draghi, there is increasing emphasis on EU competitiveness and the need to make urgent progress towards achieving a well-functioning Capital Markets Union to finance Europe’s necessary transitions.
The FCA’s recent report on the wholesale data market is an important and high-quality study which echoes many long-standing buy-side concerns. It finds evidence of unequal market power in terms of market concentration, highly profitable margins, opaque pricing practices, excessive charging, bundling practices and complex licensing agreements, all of which negatively impact data users. Much of this data is indispensable for users to stay in business and fulfil regulatory obligations.
As the European Union’s financial system has become more complex, it has also opened the door to new risks of money laundering and terrorist financing. EFAMA supports the new regulatory package proposed by the Commission on 20 July 2021, believing this initiative will make strides in ensuring that no loopholes or weak links in the internal market allow criminals to use the EU to launder the proceeds of their illicit activities.
Please download the PDF file above for more details.
EFAMA shared its views on the EBA’s Draft Guidelines on policies and procedures in relation to compliance management and the role and responsibilities of the AML/CFT Compliance Officer under Article 8 and Chapter VI of Directive (EU) 2015/849 (the ‘Draft Guidelines’).
Ever since the term “shadow banking” has emerged from the FSB’s working circles in the immediate aftermath of the 2008 global financial crisis[1], our association has consistently argued that its use as a reference to regulated asset management companies and their funds is inaccurate and mis-leading.
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.

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