Proposed EU Guidelines on MiFID II Appropriateness Requirements

The European Securities and Markets Authority has opened a consultation on proposed guidelines on the appropriateness and execution-only requirements under the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive. The appropriateness requirements under MiFID II require investment firms providing investment advice to assess a potential client's knowledge and experience in the investment field to ascertain whether a particular service or product is appropriate for the client. There are exemptions from these requirements under the execution-only framework, subject to certain conditions being met. Responses to the consultation may be submitted until April 29, 2021. ESMA is aiming to issue the final guidelines in Q3 2021.

ESMA is proposing these new guidelines to enhance convergence across the EU on the application of these requirements. The common supervisory action conducted in the second half of 2019, as well as other supervisory interactions, revealed that firms have different understandings of the appropriateness and execution-only requirements and that Member States apply them differently. The proposed guidelines will apply in full to all investment firms providing non-advised services, regardless of the means of interaction with clients.

View ESMA's consultation on proposed guidelines on the appropriateness and execution-only requirements under MiFID II.

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