ESMA Conference 2026: EU Capital Markets – Agenda & Speakers

February 5, 2026 Victoria Sterling Business
News Context
At a glance
  • The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) will host a high-level conference in Paris on May 21, 2026, titled “A new era for EU capital markets.” The event...
  • The conference will bring together a diverse group of stakeholders, including senior policymakers, regulators, leaders from major market infrastructures and financial institutions, and representatives from the investor community.
  • The agenda will feature keynote speeches and three panel discussions, each addressing a critical aspect of the EU capital markets landscape.
Original source: esma.europa.eu

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) will host a high-level conference in Paris on , titled “A new era for EU capital markets.” The event marks ESMA’s 15-year anniversary and aims to foster discussion on deepening market integration, strengthening supervision, and improving the investor experience within the European Union.

The conference will bring together a diverse group of stakeholders, including senior policymakers, regulators, leaders from major market infrastructures and financial institutions, and representatives from the investor community. Discussions will center on advancing the Savings and Investments Union (SIU) and key priorities for the coming years.

Programme Focus

The agenda will feature keynote speeches and three panel discussions, each addressing a critical aspect of the EU capital markets landscape. The panels will focus on:

  • Deepening market integration through collaborative efforts between the public and private sectors.
  • Strengthening supervision and ongoing regulatory reform.
  • Rethinking the investor journey to build trust and improve access to financial markets.

Confirmed Speakers

A notable lineup of speakers has already been confirmed, including:

  • Maria Luís Albuquerque, Commissioner for Financial Services and the Savings and Investments Union, European Commission
  • Marie‑Anne Barbat‑Layani, Chair, Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF)
  • Roland Chai, President of European Market Services, Nasdaq
  • Francesco Ceccato, Chief Executive Officer, Barclays Europe
  • Christian Hecker, CEO, Trade Republic
  • Kyriakos Pierrakakis, President of the Eurogroup
  • Stephan Leithner, CEO, Deutsche Börse AG
  • Ann Prendergast, State Street
  • Corentine Poilvet‑Clédière, CEO, LCH
  • Augustin Reyna, Director General, BEUC
  • Verena Ross, Chair, ESMA
  • David Schwimmer, CEO, London Stock Exchange Group
  • Valérie Urbain, CEO, Euroclear
  • Laura van Geest, Chair of the Executive Board, Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM)

ESMA’s 2026 Work Programme

The conference comes as ESMA prepares to execute its 2026 Annual Work Programme, published on . This programme builds upon ESMA’s multi-annual strategy for 2023–2028, which prioritizes integration, accessibility, and competitiveness within EU financial markets.

According to ESMA Chair Verena Ross, a core focus in 2026 will be simplification and burden reduction. The authority intends to streamline rules, enhance risk-based supervision, and ensure proportionate reporting requirements. This will include continued work on consultations launched in 2025 regarding integrated funds reporting, transactional reporting, and the investor journey.

ESMA also intends to play a central role in legislative initiatives related to the upcoming SIU Strategy, specifically focusing on removing barriers to trading and post-trading activities, facilitating cross-border provision of funds, and strengthening supervision across the EU single market.

Expanding Supervisory Responsibilities

ESMA’s supervisory responsibilities are set to expand in 2026. The authority will begin authorising and supervising Consolidated Tape Providers (CTPs), external reviewers under the European Green Bond framework (EUGBR), and ESG rating providers. ESMA will extend its supervision to cover third-country benchmarks.

Natasha Cazenave, ESMA’s Executive Director, highlighted the expansion of supervisory duties, signaling a broadening of the regulator’s remit and a commitment to overseeing a wider range of market participants and activities.

Research Conference and ESG Focus

ESMA also held a Research Conference on “Understanding investment funds: Developments and risks in the EU fund market” in 2025. Documentation from this conference, specifically a risk analysis concerning the impact of ESMA Guidelines on the use of ESG or sustainability-related terms in fund names, is publicly available.

Further details regarding registration, the detailed conference programme, and practical arrangements will be published on ESMA’s website in the coming months. The event is expected to draw approximately 300 participants in person, alongside a broader virtual audience.