The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has published the text of a new multilateral memorandum of understanding (MMoU) between EEA national competent authorities, and between national competent authorities and ESMA which entered into force on 29 May 2014. It has been signed by 33 authorities in the securities and markets area. The new MMoU was agreed in view of the increasing internationalisation, harmonisation and interdependence of financial services and markets in the European Union. It is designed to facilitate cooperation arrangements and the exchange of information between national competent authorities, and between national competent authorities and ESMA, in the application of their responsibilities under Union law relating to the securities and markets area. It also updates and replaces a previous agreement on the Exchange of Information and Surveillance of Securities Activities agreed by the members of the Committee of European Securities Regulators (formerly the Forum of European Securities Commissions) entered into by those members on 26 January 1999. List of Signatories to MMoU on Cooperation Arrangements and Exchange of Information

The European Securities and Markets Authority’s (ESMA) Supervisory Convergence Work Programme for 2016 (2016 SCWP) supplements ESMA’s Annual Work Programme for 2016 (ESMA/2015/1475) by further elaborating the nature and focus of the work ESMA will carry out in order to promote supervisory convergence and how that will contribute to implementing ESMA’s Strategic Orientation for 2016-2020 (ESMA/2015/935).

The 2016 SCWP provides an overview and explanation of the steps ESMA will take in 2016 to promote sound, efficient and consistent supervision in the EU.  It sets out priority areas and how they have been identified and sets them in the context of the wider work programme and environment.

Implementation of the 2016 SCWP will be monitored in the course of 2016 and depending on developments during the year, priorities might be re-adjusted. It will also be used to inform ESMA’s Annual Report and its supervisory convergence work programme for future years which will be risk-based.