Today in Tilburg, the European Investment Bank (EIB) signed a financing agreement with the Ons Middelbaar Onderwijs (OMO) association. The EUR 60 million financing will enable OMO to undertake the sustainable refurbishment or new construction of a number of schools in the province of North Brabant.

In the coming years various new construction sites will be launched. In addition, individual school buildings will have to be refurbished and/or enlarged in the short term. In both the new construction and refurbishment works OMO will pay great attention to nearly zero-neutral public building requirements, such as energy efficiency and the creation of a healthy indoor environment.

“This is the first time that we support secondary education in the Netherlands” said EIB Vice-President Pim van Ballekom. “Having modern and adequate buildings stands in direct relation to students’ learning performance and the Bank is very happy to be able to contribute to the creation of good facilities in which students can prepare for their future. For the EIB, energy efficiency is an important part of the fight against climate change and the buildings’ expected performance was therefore one of the decisive factors in granting the loan.”

OMO’s CEO Eugène Bernard added: “Providing good education for our students – that is what drives us. And for that we need good facilities. In all our school buildings, we strive to ensure sustainability. Refurbishment and new construction projects like these require very substantial investment, so this loan is vital.”

Because the EIB is a not-for-profit European institution it is frequently able to offer lower interest rates and longer maturities than those found in traditional financing. In OMO’s case the loan has a maturity of 15 years.

The Q&A clarifies the time span for the calculation of the CO2 equivalent emissions and rated thermal input that should be considered to determine whether a participant in the emission allowance market is subject to MAR.

This Q&A document is a practical tool to promote common supervisory approaches and practices in the application of MAR and its implementing measures. ESMA will periodically review these Q&A and update them where required.

MAR is intended to guarantee the integrity of European financial markets and increase investor confidence. Any unlawful behaviour in the financial markets is prohibited. The concept of market abuse typically consists of insider dealing, unlawful disclosure of inside information, and market manipulation.

The Q&A clarifies the time span for the calculation of the CO2 equivalent emissions and rated thermal input that should be considered to determine whether a participant in the emission allowance market is subject to MAR.

This Q&A document is a practical tool to promote common supervisory approaches and practices in the application of MAR and its implementing measures. ESMA will periodically review these Q&A and update them where required.

MAR is intended to guarantee the integrity of European financial markets and increase investor confidence. Any unlawful behaviour in the financial markets is prohibited. The concept of market abuse typically consists of insider dealing, unlawful disclosure of inside information, and market manipulation.

The CSDR Q&As provide common answers to question regarding practical issues on the implementation of the new CSDR regime. The new Q&As cover updates on organisational requirements regarding membership of user committee and record keeping requirements in respect of settlement banks.

 Q&As are an important tool to promote common supervisory approaches and practices in the application of CSDR The content of this document is aimed at competent authorities under the Regulation to ensure that in their supervisory activities, their actions are converging along the lines of the responses adopted by ESMA. It should also help investors and other market participants by providing clarity on the CSDR requirements.

 The aim of CSDR is to harmonise certain aspects of the settlement cycle and settlement discipline and to provide a set of common requirements for CSDs operating securities settlement systems across the EU.

The CSDR Q&As provide common answers to question regarding practical issues on the implementation of the new CSDR regime. The new Q&As cover updates on organisational requirements regarding membership of user committee and record keeping requirements in respect of settlement banks.

 Q&As are an important tool to promote common supervisory approaches and practices in the application of CSDR The content of this document is aimed at competent authorities under the Regulation to ensure that in their supervisory activities, their actions are converging along the lines of the responses adopted by ESMA. It should also help investors and other market participants by providing clarity on the CSDR requirements.

 The aim of CSDR is to harmonise certain aspects of the settlement cycle and settlement discipline and to provide a set of common requirements for CSDs operating securities settlement systems across the EU.