The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has launched a public consultation to explore how private investors engage with capital markets, with the aim of identifying ways to enhance public participation in investment services.
ESMA invites consumer organisations, businesses, industry associations, and other stakeholders to provide their comments to help:
- deepen insight into the experience of private investors in the capital markets;
- identify regulatory or non-regulatory barriers that hinder active participation of the public;
- ascertain whether existing regulations facilitate or hinder the activity of private investors.
This initiative is part of the EU's efforts to reduce administrative burdens and simplify regulatory frameworks, all while ensuring robust investor protection standards are upheld. ESMA's objective is to find out whether potential regulatory simplifications could effectively promote increased public participation in capital markets.
Stakeholders – businesses, industry associations, and consumer organisations – are invited to submit their comments by 21 July 2025.
Drawing on the comments received, ESMA, in collaboration with national supervisory authorities, will assess the necessary regulatory amendments or clarifications to strengthen investor protection and foster greater participation of private investors in financial markets.
Comments can be submitted through ESMA's website in the designated public consultation section.