The Council today1 set out its position with a view to concluding negotiations with the European Parliament on a draft directive introducing harmonised EU rules for entities engaged in the management of hedge funds and other alternative investment funds.
The draft directive is aimed at:- establishing a harmonised framework for monitoring and supervising the risks that alternative investment fund managers (AIFM) pose to their investors, to counterparties, to other market participants and to the stability of the financial system;
- allowing AIFM to provide services and to market funds throughout the EU single market, subject to compliance with strict requirements.
It is intended to fulfil commitments made by the EU at the G-20, as well as the European Council's pledge to regulate all market operators whose activities might pose a risk to financial stability.
The negotiations with the Parliament are intended to enable adoption of the directive at first reading. There is a large degree of convergence between the two institutions, and the Council hopes to be able to conclude the negotiations in the near future, on the basis of the agreement reached today.
1 The decision was taken at a meeting of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council.