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18 February 2009

Commission outlines policy priorities for 2010


Major initiatives to improve financial supervision and enhance macro-financial surveillance and crisis management will be put into practice. The White Paper on the reform package for EU Financial markets will be published on 8 July 2009.

The Commission has presented its Annual Policy Strategy which paves the way for establishing a policy agenda for 2010. The priorities might be subject to a review at the start of the next Commission’s mandate. The impact of the current financial and economic crisis is likely to be significant both in 2009 and in 2010 and can be expected to remain the focus of the Commission's work.

 

The Commission also outlined the outstanding issues for 2009 and plans to publish the White Paper on the reform package for EU Financial markets on 8 July 2009. Main policy objectives include a reinforced prudential legislation, rethinking incentives structures (e.g. remuneration schemes), strengthening risk management in financial institutions, enhanced and more efficient supervisory arrangements.

 

Two more White Papers on early intervention tools to ensure bank stability and on requirements for retail investment products are also forseen to be published before summer 2009.

 

One of the priorities in 2010 will be to manage the impact of crisis-related changes in Europe’s economy through state aid and merger control activity, the paper states. Stepping up the fight against cartels and the enforcement of competition rules in network industries – including financial services - will also aid economic recovery.

 

2010 should see economic recovery alongside a reformed international financial architecture, the Commission expects. The Commission will participate actively in the various international forums that will be shaping new global structures. Major initiatives to improve financial supervision and enhance macro-financial surveillance and crisis management will also be put into practice.

 

The European Economic Recovery Plan provides a solid basis for building the conditions for recovery – its implementation during the rest of 2009 and into 2010 will be a matter of high priority.

 

Depending on the completion of national ratification processes, 2010 may see the Treaty of Lisbon bring about major changes to the EU's institutional framework. Entry into force of the Treaty would require the Commission to submit a number of proposals to give full force to its provisions.

 

As for 2009, the following Commission initiatives are envisaged:

Commission initiatives 2009 – excerpt (full list available here):

 

March 2009

Recommendation on the removal of fiscal procedure barriers in securities post-trading infrastructure

Building on the findings of the FISCO Group, the Commission will recommend the removal of a number of fiscal procedure barriers in securities post-trading infrastructure.

 

April 2009

White Paper on requirements for retail investment products

Analysis of current practices and regulatory frameworks and their impact on markets and investors

 

June 2009

White Paper on early intervention tools to ensure bank stability

There is currently inadequate regulatory coverage and tools for banks that have difficulties with their solvency requirements but are still operational (not bankrupt).The White Paper will seek to scope out options and potential regulatory responses that could be taken up on an EU-wide basis.

 

8 July 2009

White Paper: Reform package for EU Financial markets

The main policy objectives should be the following: Prudential legislation should be reinforced, incentives structures (e.g. remuneration schemes) should be rethought, risk management in financial institutions should be strengthened, more efficient supervisory arrangement should be put in place, international cooperation should be enhanced.

 

July 2009

Proposal for amendment of the Prospectus Directive - Recast

Review certain aspects of the functioning of the prospectus regime

 

September 2009

Report on conflict of laws for intermediated securities

To lay the basis for a comprehensive conflict of laws rule for intermediated securities in order to enhance legal certainty.

 

3rd Quarter 2009

Commission Report on Commodity Derivatives under MiFID and the recast CAD

Legal obligation for the Commission - Evaluation of appropriateness of the relevant provisions of the MiFID leading – eventually – to modifications to the MiFID.

 

November 2009

Second implementation Report on the Ecommerce

The report would highlight that the Directive is working well, and refute the need for a broad evaluation. It would also provide some legal clarifications (mainly clarifying the interpretation of liability provisions for internet service providers).

 

November 2009

Annual Report to the Economic and Financial Committee on the situation of capital markets

 

December 2009

European Financial Integration Report

 

December 2009

Report and, if appropriate, proposals on a harmonisation of the funding mechanisms of deposit-guarantee schemes and the possible introduction of a Community deposit-guarantee scheme

 

4th Quarter 2009

Report on mutual recognition of the supervision of securities markets with US - staff working paper

 

Press release

Commission policy priorities for 2010

Commission initiatives 2009

Work programme is published here

More information available here.

 



© European Commission

Documents associated with this article

Commission Annual Policy Strategy for 2010.pdf
Planned Commission initiatives 2009.pdf


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