Building on the success of our inaugural scene-setting Capital Markets Union Summit last May, this event is the first in a series of ECMU implementation events which we plan to hold every six months over the next two years, with the programme in each case focusing on those initiatives that are current at that point (e.g. on recently launched consultation or discussion papers and legislative proposals).

We are delighted that Martin Merlin, Director, Financial Markets, DG Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union, has kindly agreed to deliver the keynote.

For this first event, we will focus on:

1. The Commission’s feedback on its consultation on which pieces of post-crisis regulation stand in the way of capital markets union. The consultation closes at the start of January, so, by April 2016, the Commission should be in a position to give its feedback.
2. The Commission’s report on crowdfunding, due to be published in Q1.
3. Ongoing work on revising the Prospectus Directive.
4. The Commission’s Green Paper on increasing choice and competition in retail services and insurance (Q4 this year).
5. Developing a pan-European framework for covered bonds (recently published consultation).
6. The proposal for standardised securitisation structures (recently published consultation).
7. Initiatives to support institutional infrastructure investment (recent change to Solvency II and ongoing review of CRR)

We are working closely with the European Commission on this series of implementation events. By ensuring that each conference in the series focuses on the latest key issues at that point in time, we are likely to secure a high level of attendance from senior decision-makers.

The confirmed speakers to date for the 7 April event include the following:

• Martin Merlin, Director, DG Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union 
• Mark Hemsley, Chief Executive Officer, BATS Chi-X Europe
• Marc Robert-Nicoud, Chief Executive, Clearstream Holding and Head of the Executive Office 
• David Geale, Director of Policy, Financial Conduct Authority 
• Simon Lewis, Chief Executive, Association for Financial Markets in Europe
• Paul Massey, General Counsel, Crowdcube 
• Lawrence Wintermeyer, CEO, Innovate Finance 
• Guy Sears, Interim Chief Executive, The Investment Association 
• Martin Scheck, Chief Executive, International Capital Market Association 
• Luca Bertalot, Secretary General, European Mortgage Federation & European Covered Bond Council 
• Richard Hopkin, Managing Director, Head of Fixed Income, Association for Financial Markets in Europe 
• Jonathan Manley, Managing Director, Standard & Poor's 
• Jeremy Allcock, Head of Infrastructure Debt, Standard Life Investments