ESMA addresses derivatives trading obligation concerns following entry into force of EMIR Refit

12 July 2019

ESMA published a public statement addressing the misalignment between the scope of counterparties subject to the EMIR clearing obligation and those subject to the MiFIR derivatives trading obligation.

 

Following the entry into force of EMIR Refit on 17 June 2019, some counterparties are exempted from the clearing obligation while still being subject to the trading obligation. ESMA’s statement addresses the possible implementation challenges that this misalignment creates for counterparties exempted from the CO. In addition, ESMA clarifies the application date of the trading obligation for those counterparties impacted by the modified application date of the clearing obligation under EMIR Refit.

ESMA’s statement addresses two areas:

Clearing and trading obligations for small financial counterparties and non-financial counterparties; and,

Date of application of the trading obligation for financial counterparties (FC) which are in Category 3 and subject to the CO.

The statement advises National Competent Authorities (NCAs) not to prioritise their supervisory actions in relation to the DTO towards counterparties exempted from the CO following the entry into force of EMIR Refit.

Full statement

 


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