European Union: Finance and Banking

On 24 April 2026, the Joint Committee (JC) of the three European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs)—comprising the European Banking Authority (EBA), the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) and the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA)—published its Annual Report for 2025. The JC, chaired in 2025 by EIOPA,1 continued to serve as the central coordinating forum facilitating dialogue and information exchange among the ESAs, the European Commission and the European Systemic Risk Board (ESRB).

EU fund managers are increasingly opting to establish their own Luxembourg-based licensed entities to manage European private funds, known as authorised alternative investment fund managers (AIFMs). This Q&A addresses the practical considerations and key questions that arise when choosing between an in-house AIFM controlled by the fund manager versus engaging a third-party Luxembourg AIFM.

The European Commission has launched dual consultations on the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR), seeking feedback from both retail users and industry stakeholders on whether the regulation remains fit for purpose. Key areas under review include the treatment of decentralized finance, stablecoins, crypto-asset service providers, NFTs, tokenised deposits, and the private-law treatment of tokens, with responses due by 31 August 2026.