Updates

Football and Money Laundering by Alexis Dalitis

We would like to bring to your attention that the United Kingdom (UK) as from 01/02/2020, has left the European Union (EU) under an agreement which provides for a transitional period as from 01/02/2020 up to 31/12/2020.

The European Banking Authority ("EBA") issued a public consultation on revised money laundering and terrorist financing ("ML/TF") risk factors Guidelines as part of a broader communication on AML/CFT issues.

With the present Circular, the CySEC wishes to inform the above Regulated Entities ("the Fund Managers") about the Funds Digital Record.

The European Banking Authority ("EBA") launched a public consultation on possible future changes to the EU-wide stress test.

The European Banking Authority ("EBA") launched a consultation on draft Regulatory Technical Standards ("RTS") on how institutions should calculate the own funds requirements for market risk for their non-trading book positions that are subject to foreign-exchange risk or commodity risk under the FRTB standardised and internal model approaches.

The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission ("CySEC") wishes to herein remind the Regulated Entities of the requirements under the Regulation (EU) 2015/2365.

The present Circular is issued pursuant to section 25(1)(c)(ii) & (iii) of the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission Law ("the CySEC Law").

Increase of the personal income tax deduction for life and medical insurance premiums, social insurance, pension and provident fund and GHS contributions.

The European Securities and Markets Authority ("ESMA") has announced that it has extended the recognition decisions for the three central counterparties ("CCPs") established in the United Kingdom ("UK").

We would like to inform you that as per the Decree No. 422/2019 published on the official Gazette of the Republic, the public interest rate imposed on any overdue or refundable taxes has been decreased from 2% per annum to 1.75% per annum.

The European Securities and Markets Authority ("ESMA") has published its findings on potential undue short-term pressures in securities markets. 

The European Insurance and Occupational Pension Authority ("EIOPA") launched a consultation on guidelines on Information and Communication Technology ("ICT") security and governance. 

The European Supervisory Authorities ("ESAs") published joint draft Regulatory Technical Standards ("RTS") to amend the Delegated Regulation on the risk mitigation techniques for non-cleared OTC derivatives ("bilateral margining") as well as a joint statement on the introduction of fallbacks in OTC derivative contracts and the requirement to exchange collateral.

Family offices and Succession Planning for the Next Generation, by Andreas Vladimirou

The European Banking Authority ("EBA") published its final Guidelines on information and communication technology ("ICT") and security risk management.

The European Insurance and Occupational Pension Authority ("EIOPA") has published its second annual European Insurance Overview.

The European Banking Authority ("EBA") published a Consultation Paper on the draft amended Regulatory Technical Standards ("RTS") and Implementing Technical Standards ("ITS") on passport notification.

We would like to bring to your attention that the second installment of temporary tax for the year 2019 is due by 31 December 2019.

The Ukrainian parliament has passed on 30 October 2019 a draft law, ratifying the amending protocol of the Double Tax Treaty between  Cyprus and Ukraine, signed on 11 December 2015.  

The European Securities and Markets Authority ("ESMA") has launched a Consultation Paper on position limits and position management in commodity derivatives.

The European Banking Authority ("EBA") published its second opinion addressed to the EU Commission on the implementation of the Deposit Guarantee Schemes Directive ("DGSD") in the EU. 

The European Securities and Markets Authority ("ESMA"), the EU’s securities markets regulator, publishes the priorities that European enforcers will consider when examining the 2019 annual financial reports of listed companies.

The EBA launched a public consultation on the new comprehensive Implementing Technical Standard ("ITS") for financial institutions' public disclosure, designed to promote market discipline.

The present Circular is issued pursuant to section 25(1)(c)(ii) & (iii) of the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission Law (‘the CySEC Law’). 

Financial Services towards Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, by Cosmas Cosma

The European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority ("EIOPA") published updated technical documentation of the methodology to derive EIOPA's risk-free interest rate term structures.

The European Banking Authority ("EBA") launched a 2-month public consultation on its proposals for a simple, transparent and standardised ("STS") framework for synthetic securitisation. 

Time Value of Money, by Linos Zambas

We would like to bring to your attention that the Cyprus Council of Ministers, approved a Scheme for sponsorship to be granted on the acquisition of undeveloped building land that will be used exclusively for the construction of a qualifying primary residence by private individuals.