In his statement to mark Orange the World, Parliament President David Sassoli said that the Covid crisis had worsened gender based violence: “This year the Covid-19 crisis has revealed and intensified this violence, especially domestic violence. Often this happened in a hidden way behind closed doors, with no possibility of escape.”

During a debate on Wednesday morning, Parliament again said violence against women must end. MEPs urged EU countries that have not yet ratified the Istanbul Convention to do so. They also advocate stronger EU action to tackle gender-based violence. Parliament has consistently taken a strong stance on the matter and repeatedly called for EU accession to the Convention.

25 November

ESMA sets out its final view on the derivatives trading obligation (DTO)

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the EU’s securities markets regulator, has released a public statementthat clarifies the application of the European Union’s (EU) trading obligation for derivatives (DTO) following the end of the UK’s transition from the EU on 31 December 2020.

23 November

ESAs propose to adapt the EMIR implementation timelines for intragroup transactions, equity options and novations to EU counterparties

The European Banking Authority (EBA), the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) and the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs), have published a final report with draft regulatory technical standards (RTS) proposing to amend the Commission Delegated Regulation on the risk mitigation techniques for OTC derivatives not cleared by a CCP (bilateral margin requirements) under the European Market Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR).

20 November

ESMA CONSULTS ON SUPERVISORY FEES FOR DATA REPORTING SERVICES PROVIDERS​

The European Securities and Markets Authority, the EU’s securities markets regulator, launches a public consultation on supervisory fees for data reporting services providers (DRSPs) to be supervised by ESMA starting in 2022.

20 November

ESMA CONSULTS ON DEROGATION CRITERIA FOR DATA REPORTING SERVICES PROVIDERS

The European Securities and Markets Authority, the EU’s securities markets regulator,  launches a public consultation on criteria to identify Authorised Reporting Mechanisms (ARMs) and Approved Publications Arrangements (APAs) subject to authorisation and supervision by a competent authority of a EU Member States from January 2022.

18 November

ESMA publishes first overview of the size and structure of EU securities markets

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the EU’s securities markets regulator, published its first statistical report on European Union (EU) securities markets. The Report uses new regulatory data sources to give, for the first time, a comprehensive overview of European equity and bond markets in 2019, including the number, characteristics, volumes traded and transparency data on the equity and bond instruments subject to MiFID II.
A webinar open to the public will be held on 25 November to present the report.

16 November

EU derivative clearing showed strong growth in 2019

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the EU’s securities markets regulator, publishes its third Annual Statistical Report(Report) analysing the European Union’s (EU) derivatives markets. It provides a comprehensive market-level view of the EU’s derivatives markets in 2019, which had a total size of €681tn gross notional amount outstanding, a decrease of 5% on 2018. The Report is based on data submitted under the European Markets and Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR).

13 November 

ESMA identifies costs and performance and data quality as new Union Strategic Supervisory Priorities

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the EU’s securities markets regulator, using its new convergence powers, has identified costs and performance for retail investment products and market data quality as the Union Strategic Supervisory Priorities for national competent authorities (NCAs).

13 November

ESMA tells fund managers to improve readiness for future adverse shocks

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the EU’s securities markets regulator, has published a Report on the preparedness of investment funds with significant exposures to corporate debt and real estate assets, for potential future adverse liquidity and valuation shocks. The Report identifies five priority areas for action which would enhance the preparedness of these fund categories.

12 November

ESMA publishes first report on use of sanctions under the AIFMD

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the EU securities markets regulator, publishes its first annual reporton the use by National Competent Authorities (NCAs) of sanctions under the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD).

12 November

ESMA publishes third annual report on use of sanctions for UCITS

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the EU’s securities markets regulator, publishes its 2019 reporton the use of supervisory sanctions by National Competent Authorities (NCAs) under the Undertakings for Collective Investments in Transferrable Securities (UCITS) Directive

11 November

ESMA sees potential for sudden reversal in investors’ risk assessment

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the EU securities markets regulator, publishes its second risk dashboard for 2020 which sees a continued risk of decoupling between asset valuations and economic fundamentals.

11 November

ESMA publishes translations for Guidelines on securitisation repository data completeness and consistency thresholds

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has issued the official translations of its guidelines on securitisation repository data completeness and consistency thresholds.

10 November

ESMA releases Report on post trade risk reduction services

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the EU’s securities markets regulator, has released a Report on Post Trade Risk Reduction services(PTRR) under the European Market Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR). The Report analyses whether any trades that directly result from PTTR services should be exempted from the clearing obligation.

10 November

ESMA updates Brexit statements for the end of UK transition period

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the EU’s securities markets regulator, has updated three statements which address the impact on reporting under EMIR and SFTR and on the operation of ESMA databases and IT systems after 31 December 2020, the end of the UK’s transition from the EU.

09 November

ESMA consults on guidance for funds’ marketing communications

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the EU’s securities markets regulator, launches a consultationon guidelines on marketing communications under the Regulation on facilitating cross-border distribution of collective investment undertakings.

09 November

ESMA ISSUES LATEST DOUBLE VOLUME CAP DATA

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the EU’s securities and markets regulator, has updated  its public register with the latest set of double volume cap (DVC) data under the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID II).

09 November

ESMA updates Q&As for prospectus and transparency rules linked to Brexit

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the EU’s securities markets regulator, has issued Questions and Answers (Q&As) concerning the Prospectus Regulation(PR) and the Transparency Directive(TD) in the context of the Brexit transition period. ESMA has also updated prospectus Q&As as part of an ongoing Q&A revision exercise.

06 November 

ESMA seeks experts in corporate finance to join its industry advisory group

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the EU’s securities markets regulator, has published an open call for candidatesfor industry experts in corporate finance.

06 November

ESMA CONSULTS ON MIFID II/ MIFIR OBLIGATIONS ON MARKET DATA

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the EU’s securities markets regulator, has launched a Consultation Paper (CP) seeking input from market participants in relation to its draft guidelines on the MiFID II/MiFIR obligations on market data.

06 November

Verena Ross speaks about CRA Regulation at ECMI Annual Conference

Today, ESMA Executive Director, Verena Ross, has delivered a speech on the CRA Regulation, and related issues, at ECMI’s 2020 Annual Conference which was held online on 5 and 6 November.

06 November

ESMA publishes new Q&A on product governance

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the EU’s securities markets regulator, has updated its Questions and Answerson the implementation of investor protection topics under the Market in Financial Instruments Directive and Regulation (MiFID II/ MiFIR).

06 November

ESMA updates Q&A on Benchmarks Regulation

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the EU’s securities markets regulator, has updated its Questions and Answers on the European Benchmarks Regulation (BMR).

05 November

ESMA publishes translations for Guidelines on performance fees in UCITS and certain types of AIFs

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has issued the official translations of its guidelines on performance fees in UCITS and certain types of AIFs.

05 November

ESMA publishes first Q&As on SFTR Reporting

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the EU’s securities markets regulator, has published its first set of Questions and Answers relating to reporting under  the Securities Financing Transactions Regulation (SFTR).

05 November

ESMA specifies obligations on environmentally sustainable activities

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the EU’s securities markets regulator, has published its Consultation Paper containing ESMA’s draft advice to the European Commission on Article 8 of the Taxonomy Regulation. This specifies the content, methodology and presentation of the key performance indicators (KPIs) that non-financial undertakings and asset managers are required to disclose.

On 12 October 2020, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2020/1467¹

The Council decided that the restrictive measures should be extended for a further period of 12 months, until 15 October 2021.

The Candidate Countries the Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania², the country of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidate Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Georgia align themselves with this Council Decision.

They will ensure that their national policies conform to this Council Decision.

The European Union takes note of this commitment and welcomes it.

---

¹ Published on 13.10.2020 in the Official Journal of the European Union no. L 335, p.18.

² The Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.

Mr Navalny is one of Russia’s most high-profile opposition politicians, an anti-corruption activist and an outspoken critic of President Vladimir Putin. He collapsed on 20 August whilst aboard a flight from the Siberian city of Tomsk to Moscow. Lab tests carried out in different countries and confirmed by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) have since concluded that he was poisoned with a nerve agent in the Novichok family.

Following the attack, Mr Navalny was airlifted to Germany for medical treatment and recovered from the assassination attempt. On Friday, he is expected to brief Members on the Foreign Affairs Committee on the political and socio-economic situation in Russia in view of next year’s parliamentary elections.

Participating via videoconference, Mr Navalny will be joined by:

• Vladimir Kara-Murza, Chairman of the Boris Nemtsov Foundation. Vice President of the Free Russia Foundation;
• Vladimir Milov, politician, publicist, economist and energy expert. Former Deputy Minister of Energy of Russia;
• Ilya Yashin, politician. Head of the Krasnoselsky Municipality.

More information

On 17 September, the European Parliament adopted a resolution that strongly condemned the assassination attempt on Alexei Navalny. The text noted that the poison used, belonging to the “Novichok group”, can only be developed in state-owned military laboratories and not by private individuals, which strongly suggests that Russian authorities were behind the attack. MEPs also called for an international investigation into the case.

Russia’s next legislative election is expected to be held no later than 19 September 2021 to elect the 450 seats for the 8th convocation of the State Duma, the lower house of the Federal Assembly.

The meeting

WHEN: Friday, 27 November, at 11.00 CET.

Follow it live here.

November 25, 2020 About the EUIPO

Launch of GIview

Today sees the launch of GIview, a new search database for all geographical indications (GIs) protected at European Union level.

GIview provides a single entry point for data on GIs registered in the EU, and is a useful asset for consumers, producers and intellectual property professionals. It also contains detailed information on non-EU GIs protected at EU level through bilateral and multilateral agreements, and on EU GIs protected in non-EU countries.

The database, officially launched at the online conference ‘Strengthening GIs,’ is continually updated with official registered data from the European Commission (Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development) and is developed and maintained by the  EUIPO.

Geographical indications are a key economic asset for the European Union, and form part of the EU-wide system of intellectual property rights. According to research by the EUIPO and the European Patent Office, industries intensive in GI rights support nearly 400 000 jobs across the EU, and contribute over €20 billion to the EU’s GDP.

Additionally, a study published by the European Commission puts the yearly sales value of GI-protected products at €74.76 billion annually, a fifth of which results from exports outside the EU.

The EU Commissioner for Agriculture, Janusz Wojciechowski, said:
I am proud to see the launch of the GIview portal, developed by the EU Intellectual Property Office. This platform is a great tool to give further publicity to our famous European geographical indications and those protected under our international agreements. Every EU registered geographical indication has a story behind it, reflecting the variety and wealth of products that our continent has to offer. My services and I will continue to look into ways to strengthen geographical indications, having shown their added-value for producers and consumers alike.

The Executive Director of the EUIPO, Christian Archambeau, said:
GIs not only guarantee quality, but also create value and support jobs across our Union. They are an important IP right which help to sustain our Europeans traditions, heritage and way of life. As well as assisting users of the EU IP system, we hope that GIview will also help citizens gain a greater awareness of the GI protection system in the EU, and of the contribution of GIs to our economy.

GIview contains data such as GI type (PDO, PGI, GI), priority date, legal status, basis of protection in relation to all GIs covering wines, spirit drinks and aromatised wines, agricultural products and foodstuffs protected at EU level. A special feature of GIview is that it is made open to national authorities and to producer groups to upload extended data, such as the contact data of the GI producer groups and control bodies, maps, photographs of the product, product description, the geographical area, sustainability statements, and other information. This is designed both to maximize information about GIs, and to directly assist anti-fraud authorities who will easily see the descriptions and photos of genuine product and be able to directly contact the concerned authorities and the producer group of the genuine product in case of an investigation.

Watch the video