European regulators back EU capital markets overhaul
The Dutch and French financial watchdogs backed the European Commission’s plan to centralise supervision of capital markets, citing five levers needed to make the system work.
Source: French Financial Markets Authority · August 7, 2026 at 1:46 AM · AI-assisted report
KUALA LUMPUR, 7 AUGUST 2026 —
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The Dutch and French financial watchdogs backed the European Commission’s plan to centralise supervision of capital markets, citing five levers needed to make the system work.
Market Impact
The Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) and France’s Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) said the EU’s Market Integration and Supervision Package must be implemented with risk-based, adaptive oversight, transparent funding and a single data hub. They called for independent governance under the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), with national regulators handling execution.
ESMA’s expanded role would cut redundant compliance costs for cross-border firms and let supervisors focus resources where they matter most, the regulators said in a joint statement. They also urged strict enforcement and proportional, transparent financing for the new structure.
The proposal comes as the EU seeks deeper capital market integration to fund strategic goals. The regulators’ five-point plan—risk-based supervision, proportional financing, independent governance, centralised data and effective enforcement—aims to deliver a unified market without overburdening companies.
The AMF supervises savings products, financial reporting and market conduct in France, while the AFM regulates conduct across Dutch finance since 2002. Both back deeper EU coordination to keep pace with innovation and emerging risks.