On 3 October 2025, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) published its annual work programme for 2026.
Verena Ross, Chair of ESMA, said:
“A core focus in 2026 is ESMA’s ambitious, and at the same time pragmatic, approach to simplification and burden reduction. We are pursuing a holistic strategy to streamline rules, enhance risk-based supervision and ensure proportionate reporting requirements across the ESMA remit. In that spirit, we will continue the work linked to three landmark consultations already launched in 2025, on integrated funds reporting, transactional reporting and the investor journey.
We also stand ready to play a central role in the legislative initiatives set out in the upcoming SIU Strategy, including the removal of barriers in trading and post-trading, facilitating cross-border provision of funds, and strengthening supervision across the EU single market.”
Natasha Cazenave, Executive Director of ESMA, said:
“ESMA’s ongoing supervisory responsibilities will expand in 2026, through the authorisation and supervision of Consolidated Tape Providers (CTPs), external reviewers under the European Green Bond framework (EUGBR), ESG rating providers, and the extension of third-country benchmark supervision. ESMA and its fellow European Supervisory Authorities will also, for the first time, jointly exercise the oversight of critical third-party providers under the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA).
These new responsibilities will complement our existing mandates and be subject to our risk based, data driven and outcome focused supervision. Through extensive outreach and preparatory work, ESMA supervisory teams are gearing up to take on these new responsibilities.”