European Union: Financial Services

Purchasing property in Cyprus requires navigating complex legal procedures, regulatory requirements, and due diligence checks that protect both buyers and sellers. Understanding the conveyancing process, from initial contract preparation through title deed transfer, helps international investors and property buyers avoid common pitfalls including undisclosed mortgages, planning irregularities, and delayed title deeds.

The European Commission's draft guidelines on classifying high-risk AI systems under the AI Act have significant implications for financial services providers, particularly those using AI for creditworthiness assessments...

On 24 April 2026, the Joint Committee (JC) of the three European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs)—comprising the European Banking Authority (EBA), the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) and the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA)—published its Annual Report for 2025. The JC, chaired in 2025 by EIOPA,1 continued to serve as the central coordinating forum facilitating dialogue and information exchange among the ESAs, the European Commission and the European Systemic Risk Board (ESRB).

The Luxembourg law of March 3, 2026 transposed the AIFMD II Directive into national law, introducing significant changes to the regulatory framework governing alternative investment funds. This article examines the practical implications for financing transactions involving Luxembourg AIFs, analyzing how the new rules on loan origination, leverage caps, concentration limits, and enhanced disclosure requirements affect both lenders and borrowers in structured finance arrangements.

The EU AI Act has now been promulgated as Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 with a staggered implementation timeline through August 2027. This comprehensive analysis revisits six previous briefings...

Malta's anti-money laundering framework faces its most significant transformation as the EU Anti-Money Laundering Regulation becomes directly applicable on 10 July 2027, replacing the current directive-based system with a unified Single Rulebook.

BaFin has released a second consultation draft of the WpI MaRisk circular, introducing more proportionate risk management requirements specifically tailored for small and medium-sized investment firms. The revised framework aims to reduce regulatory complexity while maintaining alignment with MiFID II and related EU regulations, with stakeholder comments due by June 17, 2026.

When lending to an Irish company under English or US law, lenders must conduct specific searches at Irish public registries and asset registers. This article examines the essential due diligence searches...

Ten years after the introduction of Solvency II, Malta’s captive insurance market has evolved into a robust and credible European domicile, blending regulatory rigor with operational agility.