This Week in Finance — Brussels (#29, 2026)
Major updates to EU derivatives transparency rules; new clearing thresholds under EMIR; anti-dumping and countervailing duties on solar glass repealed; new formats for beneficial ownership reporting; EU-UK competition law cooperation agreement enters into force; Council moves on AML, asset recove...
October 19, 2026 to October 25, 2026
Major updates to EU derivatives transparency rules; new clearing thresholds under EMIR; anti-dumping and countervailing duties on solar glass repealed; new formats for beneficial ownership reporting; EU-UK competition law cooperation agreement enters into force; Council moves on AML, asset recovery protocols.
📋 In This Week's Newsletter
• ⚖️ EU Legislation
• 🤝 EU Council
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week
EU Legislation (Official Journal)
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/1763: Amendments to Regulatory Technical Standards on Derivatives Transparency
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/1763, adopted on 13 July 2026 and published in OJ L on 23 October 2026, amends regulatory technical standards in Delegated Regulations (EU) 2017/583, 2017/2194, and 2025/1155, and corrects Delegated Regulation (EU) 2017/587. The changes address transparency requirements for trading venues and investment firms in respect of derivatives, package orders, and specify input/output data for the OTC derivatives consolidated tape. The regulation introduces revised methodologies for classifying liquid and illiquid derivatives, updates deferral regimes, and consolidates multiple amendments into a single act. The regulation applies from 1 March 2027.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2388: Amendment to Iraq Sanctions List
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2388 of 21 October 2026 amends Council Regulation (EC) No 1210/2003 by removing one entity from Annex IV, following a decision by the UN Sanctions Committee. The amendment updates the list of persons and entities subject to the freezing of funds and economic resources in relation to Iraq. The regulation enters into force the day after publication.
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/2152: Union Handling Fee for Customs
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/2152 of 21 September 2026 supplements Regulation (EU) 2026/2108 by establishing a Union handling fee of EUR 2 per item for distance sales imports. The fee reflects estimated costs for customs data verification, risk analysis, and control infrastructure. The regulation applies from 1 November 2026.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2384: Update to ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2384 of 21 October 2026 amends Council Regulation (EC) No 881/2002 for the 363rd time, updating Annex I with respect to persons, groups, and entities associated with ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida, following changes decided by the UN Sanctions Committee. The regulation enters into force the day after publication.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2314: Repeal of Anti-Dumping Duty on Solar Glass from China
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2314 of 19 October 2026 repeals the anti-dumping duty on solar glass imports from the People's Republic of China, concluding that the Union industry has ceased production and there is no likelihood of injury recurrence. The regulation terminates the proceeding and applies from the day after publication.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2310: Repeal of Countervailing Duties on Solar Glass from China
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2310 of 19 October 2026 repeals countervailing duties on imports of solar glass from China. The investigation found that, with no active Union industry, the measures no longer serve their purpose. The regulation applies from the day after publication.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2354: Formats for Submitting Beneficial Ownership Information
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/2354 of 16 October 2026 sets out common formats for the submission of beneficial ownership information to central registers, as required under Directive (EU) 2024/1640 and Regulation (EU) 2024/1624. The regulation details the required data points, formats, and derogations, and applies from 10 July 2027.
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/2343: Amendments to EMIR Clearing Thresholds
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/2343 of 14 July 2026 amends Delegated Regulation (EU) No 149/2013, introducing new clearing thresholds for aggregate and uncleared OTC derivatives under EMIR (Regulation (EU) No 648/2012). The regulation also sets the mechanisms for ESMA's annual review of thresholds based on a series of market indicators. The changes enter into force twenty days after publication.
EU Council
Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council: Housing Exclusion Recommendation
On 19 October 2026, the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council adopted a recommendation on housing exclusion, including measures on homelessness. Ministers exchanged views on the forthcoming Quality Jobs Act and approved conclusions on using equality as a driver for growth and competitiveness.
What We're Reading This Week
- The economic cycle is picking up pace once again: Rising consumer activity and business investment signal renewed momentum in the economic recovery.
