ESMA’s activities in 2024 focused on strengthening the EU capital markets and putting citizens and businesses at the heart of it

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has published its Annual Report for 2024, highlighting its activities and results in support of its strategic objectives. In 2024, the EU transitioned to a new institutional cycle, impacted by economic and geopolitical changes, which reshaped ESMA's priorities. A major milestone was the publication of a position paper with recommendations for strengthening EU capital markets and addressing citizens' and businesses' needs. ESMA finalized measures across its remit, including shortening the settlement cycle, rules for consolidated tape providers, and crypto-asset regulations. It also made progress on the European Single Access Point, optimized financial market data use, and enhanced investor information. The authority strengthened its supervisory effectiveness through risk-based and data-driven supervision, executing EU-wide stress tests, and enhancing third-country oversight. ESMA also focused on preparations for new supervisory mandates, including EU green bond verifiers and ESG rating providers. The authority published its first consolidated report on sanctions and launched supervisory colleges for complex cross-border entities. Finally, ESMA upgraded data collection and analysis, advancing AI-powered tools and improving data accessibility.