European Union: Financial Services

ESMA has published its 2027 Annual Work Programme outlining key workstreams and deliverables for fund management companies and their delegates. The programme addresses integrated funds reporting, retail investment strategy, SFDR 2.0 revisions, and transaction reporting reforms that will shape the regulatory landscape for asset managers operating in Ireland and across the EU.

Maltese family businesses often avoid public listings due to fears of losing control, but going public through the Malta Stock Exchange can strengthen governance, facilitate succession planning, and unlock capital without necessarily surrendering ownership. This analysis explores how reduced free-float requirements and strategic use of debt versus equity instruments can help family enterprises build lasting legacies while maintaining meaningful control.

Two years on from the entry into force of Directive (EU) 2024/927, commonly referred to as AIFMD II, the 16 April 2026 transposition deadline has passed, and the state of play across the EU is best described as uneven, with compliance posture increasingly dependent on where an AIFM is authorised. However, Luxembourg, which hosts the largest shares of EU AIFs within the Union, transposed the Directive without material gold-plating.

Germany's financial regulator Bafin has published new risk management requirements specifically designed for small and medium-sized investment firms, marking a significant shift from the previous practice of applying credit institution rules. The WpI-MaRisk framework, effective January 2027, provides tailored supervisory expectations that better align with the unique characteristics and business models of investment firms. Investment firms now face the critical task of conducting gap analyses and restructur

Germany is implementing a stricter licensing regime for consumer credit brokers starting November 2026, requiring proof of expertise and prohibiting sales-based compensation. The new rules expand requirements for intermediaries while exempting small and medium-sized enterprises that finance their own sales, fundamentally reshaping how credit brokerage operates in the German market.

Die BaFin hat die finalen WpI MaRisk veröffentlicht, die ab dem 1. Januar 2027 neue Standards für kleine und mittlere Wertpapierinstitute setzen. Die Regelungen zur Compliance-Funktion wurden grundlegend neugefasst und die Auslagerungsanforderungen verschärft, wobei betroffene Institute frühzeitig relevante Anpassungen vornehmen sollten.

Discover how switching to Revolut's new Italian banking operation can eliminate those frustrating transaction fees that Italian banks charge for basic services like bonifici and bill payments. Learn about the potential annual savings and improved user experience that comes with this digital banking alternative.

Το Τμήμα Φορολογίας ενημερώνει ότι, από τις 5 Οκτωβρίου 2026, τα αιτήματα για καταχώριση ή τροποποίηση του αριθμού τραπεζικού λογαριασμού (IBAN), θα υποβάλλονται αποκλειστικά μέσω της Πύλης Φορολογουμένων Tax For

The Central Bank of Ireland resumes domestic collection of outsourcing registers in February 2027 after a two-year pause, while publishing findings from its thematic assessment of fitness and probity frameworks in MiFID investment firms. New regulatory developments include the commencement of 'Right to be Forgotten' insurance legislation, EBA consultation on operational risk management standards, and EIOPA's technical advice on harmonizing insurance guarantee schemes across the EU.