Capital Markets Union: Commission launches consultation on MiFID and MiFIR

The European Commission has today opened a consultation on possible reforms to the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive and Regulation (MiFID and MiFIR), which set out rules covering European securities markets. These rules – in force since 3 January 2018 – are a cornerstone of the reforms the EU put in place following the financial crisis. They aim to improve investor protection and ensure transparent, efficient and competitive trading in financial instruments. While the rules have worked well overall, some adjustments may be required. In particular, today’s consultation asks about potential changes to investor protection rules, in order to strike the right balance between promoting investor participation in capital markets, the competitiveness of the EU’s financial sector and safeguarding the interests of investors. It also consults on potential actions to foster research coverage for SMEs. The consultation addresses the possible introduction of a new transparency tool that allows investment managers, investment advisors and their clients to have access to “live” asset prices across the EU in a consolidated format (the consolidated tape).  The introduction of the consolidated tape might require changes to MiFID and MiFIR. Valdis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice-President of the Commission, also in charge of Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union said: “We need well-functioning financial market rules to ensure that EU capital markets work, both for companies raising financing, and for Europeans looking to invest their money. This is an essential component of boosting our Capital Markets Union. Today’s consultation aims to ensure that MiFID contributes to the CMU and our wider policy priorities.” Today’s consultation is available online and runs until 20 April 2020. It will feed into the Commission’s legislative work in the months to come.