afme.eu

AFME is pleased to circulate its European ESG Finance quarterly data report for the second quarter of 2026. The report provides detailed data and analysis on the growing Sustainable Finance market in Europe. The report also gives an overview of the near-term regulatory initiatives in the sector. Among the main findings of this report: ESG bond and loan issuance accumulated €204bn in proceeds in Q2 2026, a 28% increase from Q1 2026, but a 6% decline from Q2 2025.

The competitiveness of the EU banking sector has moved firmly up the policy agenda following the European Commission's publication of its Communication on competitiveness in July 2026. As policymakers seek to strengthen growth and investment across Europe, attention is turning to the regulatory reforms needed to support a more competitive banking sector while maintaining financial resilience.

AFME is pleased to circulate the European Securitisation Data Snapshot for Q2 2026. Key Highlights: Q2 2026 European Issuance In Q2 2026, €64.3bn of securitised product was issued in Europe, an increase of 7.9% from Q1 2026 (€59.6bn) and a decrease of 12.7% from Q2 2025 (€73.6bn). Of this, €52.1bn was placed, representing 81.1% of the total, compared to €43.3bn placed in Q1 2026 (representing 72.8% of €59.6bn) and €34.9bn placed in Q2 2025 (representing 47.5% of €73.6bn).

The Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME) welcomes the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) consultation on the future of UK equity market structure, including proposals for a consolidated tape (CT) incorporating both pre-trade and post-trade data. The reforms represent an important step in strengthening the transparency, efficiency and competitiveness of UK equity markets, while preserving the diversity of execution models that underpin liquidity and investor choice.

The Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME) is pleased to announce that Giulia Pecce, Head of Secondary Capital Markets and Wholesale Investor Protection, has been appointed to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Bank of England’s (BoE) Transaction and Post-Trade Reporting Harmonisation Taskforce (the Taskforce). The Taskforce has been established to inform the design of a long-term approach to harmonising transaction and post-trade reporting requirements.

AFME has today published A Renewed Agenda for UK Financial Markets, calling on the new UK Government to maintain momentum behind financial services reform and focus on measures that deliver investment, growth and competitiveness. The report argues that significant progress has been made in reforming the UK's financial services framework in recent years.

The UK has undertaken a significant programme of financial markets reform, creating a more modern and competitive regulatory framework. The challenge now is to ensure these reforms deliver tangible outcomes for the wider economy: deeper markets, stronger liquidity, more productive investment, and greater capacity for businesses to scale, hire and compete.

The Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME) welcomes the European Commission's report on the competitiveness of the EU banking sector, which recognises that a stronger, more integrated banking market is essential to financing Europe's economic growth, strategic autonomy, and green and digital transitions.

The Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME) welcomes the Financial Policy Committee’s update on its review of UK bank capital requirements and plans for reforms. Jeanie Watson, Director, Capital & Risk Management,  said: “AFME strongly supports the FPC’s review of the UK capital framework and welcomes the commitment from the FPC and PRA to pursue meaningful reform.

AFME welcomes the European Commission's adoption of the simplified European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) as a Delegated Act, marking an important step towards a more proportionate and decision-useful EU sustainability reporting framework.