On 10 March 2017, the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (Autoriteit Financiële Markten, the AFM) published its supervisory agenda for 2017 (the Agenda) as well as a calendar setting out the AFM’s envisaged activities (the Calendar). In the accompanying press release, the AFM indicates that it will focus on markets that can have a great impact on consumers, such as consumer credits, mortgages, pensions and investments. The AFM emphasises that the ongoing low interest rates and technological (international) developments become increasingly complex, which results in chances to develop better services for consumers, but also in new risks. To adequately address these risks, the AFM will focus on the following priorities:

• reducing unwanted risks in the financial markets through regular and thematic supervision (e.g. combating parties illegally offering ‘risky’ financial products by introducing a marketing ban for certain products, ensuring that there is an increase in transparency and the provision of information, improving communications in relation to (the performance of) pension funds);

• improving and renewing supervision by investing in technology and methodology (e.g. data-driven supervision techniques, gaining more insight in consumer and investor behaviour); and

• increasing the effectivity, efficiency and agility of the AFM’s organisation (e.g. improving the AFM’s governance system and methods, but also improving and investing in its IT organisation and infrastructure).

The AFM also indicates that it is preparing itself for its new tasks and role under MiFID II, but also in relation to the rapidly growing crowdfunding sector.

View the AFM’s press release (Dutch only), 10 March 2017.

View the Agenda (Dutch only), 10 March 2017.

View the Calendar (Dutch only), 10 March 2017.